Tech's New Trick: AI in Schools - A Cause for Concern?

Tech giants and politicians are pushing AI into classrooms, but is this a good idea? They see a future where AI tutors help students, teachers get less work, and kids become tech whizzes. Sounds great, right? But let's think about this carefully. First, remember when laptops were supposed to revolutionize education? Billions were spent, but test scores dropped, and kids spent more time on YouTube than learning. Now, AI is the new shiny object. Google wants every high school to use its AI tools. But does this mean better learning, or just more screen time? Studies show too much screen time isn't good for kids. Yet, AI in schools means even more time staring at screens. And early research isn't promising. Adults using AI like ChatGPT for writing actually get worse at critical thinking. Imagine what this could do to kids' developing brains. Some AI tools show potential, but they're not perfect. For example, Khan Academy's AI bot can help, but long sessions can make conversations repetitive and off-topic. Plus, AI can't teach important values like trustworthiness. Should schools really be rushing into this? Instead of jumping on the AI bandwagon, schools should focus on what works: great teachers, high standards, and less screen time. Some schools are already doing this by locking away phones and laptops. Guess what? Kids are more engaged and happier. Before AI takes over classrooms, there needs to be more research. Until then, caution is key. Let's not repeat the laptop mistake. Kids deserve better than being guinea pigs in a tech experiment.