It’s no surprise, then, that more than 250 CEOs have united to sign an open letter. They’re calling on educators and policymakers to ensure artificial intelligence (AI) and computer science are core, foundational pieces of K-12 curricula. A very important letter to the editor appeared in The New York Times on Monday. It underscores the desperate need for educational reform to better equip American students to compete in a technology-centric global economy.
The CEOs call attention to the fact that the United States is falling behind other countries in AI and computer science education. Brazil, China, South Korea, and Singapore are just a few of the countries that have taken the leap to require computer science — or AI — for every student. The letter underscores the urgency of this educational shift, stating, “The United States is falling behind. In the age of AI, we must prepare our children for the future — to be AI creators, not just consumers.”
The demand for reform coincides with President Donald Trump’s administration advancing a new U.S. AI policy. An executive order issued by Trump aims to promote the integration of AI in K-12 education, higher education, and workplaces. The executive order aims to promote cooperation among academia and industry to make this integration smoother. These proposed deep cuts to the very federal programs that support cutting-edge AI research are an existential threat. This absurdity has caused alarm among the business men who signed the letter.
You can view the open letter at csforall.org/unlock8. It does propose a vision for how education can and should change to prepare tomorrow’s workforce. The signatories are clear, though—immediate action is essential. Without it, the U.S. risks falling even further behind in this fast-moving global space.
Accompanying the article is an image featuring a man standing in front of a large blue screen displaying charts and data. Featured photo by Weiquan Lin/Getty Images That last point is what makes the film such an important contribution to the conversation around AI and its broader implications for education.