First major AI education restriction
Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre announced Friday a near-total ban on the use of generative AI tools in elementary schools, making Norway one of the first countries to enact sweeping restrictions on AI in education. Starting in late August, children aged approximately 6 to 13 will be barred from using AI tools in school settings. Older students will face supervised or age-tiered access, the government said.
Cognitive development concerns
The decision stems from mounting evidence that introducing generative AI into education can harm children's ability to develop cognitive and social skills. Støre said using AI increases the risk that young children miss important steps in their education. The move is part of a broader effort to address falling test scores nationwide, with the government also considering increased spending on physical books in classrooms and planning to ban social media use among children under 16.
Global implications
Norway's policy is a warning shot to the edtech industry, signaling that classrooms are becoming the first arena where governments are willing to separate AI capability from educational value. The move follows Australia and other nations in restricting young people's use of electronic devices and comes as the UK enforces a social media ban for children under 16, while US parents and teachers increasingly push back against AI encroachment in schools.