Improving AI Literacy: A Bipartisan Approach

Building AI Skills: A Community Action Plan

As AI-powered tools and services proliferate across society, communities must ensure that the public is equipped to understand and properly use the technology. Communities must adopt a proactive approach to fostering AI skills that can reach consumers in local, community-specific ways through existing educational pathways and institutions.

Here’s how different sectors can contribute:

Schools (K-12, Higher Education, Community Colleges)

Could AI soon become as important a subject to teach in schools as reading, writing, and math? As AI tools and concepts become more integrated into academic settings, both teachers and students must gain knowledge, training, and experience using AI.

Educators are grappling with methods to integrate AI into schools in safe, equitable, and ethical ways. According to polling by Common Sense Media, teens are optimistic about the future of AI in schools, but also concerned about the potential it creates for academic dishonesty, skill loss, inaccurate information, and bullying. To address these challenges, educators need ongoing professional training on AI fundamentals. Programs like Code.org’s online learning series offer valuable guidance for educators to teach AI best practices and promote students’ critical thinking skills related to AI.

Enhancing students’ knowledge of AI will vary across grade levels. As children increasingly engage with AI through various devices at younger ages (e.g., smart toys, apps, and video games), they will need to be introduced to basic AI concepts earlier in their education through mathematics, science, and reading instructional materials. As their schooling advances, AI curricula should integrate more technical and in-depth knowledge of how AI might be useful for college or career ambitions.

It is essential to empower the next generation with relevant AI skills and knowledge regardless of race, gender, ethnicity, or ZIP code. The bipartisan NSF AI Education Act would direct the National Science Foundation to expand student scholarships, establish Centers of AI Excellence at community colleges, and provide professional development to teachers, principals, and other school leaders. Because low-income school districts tend to have fewer resources and training materials, this bill explicitly invests in STEM education for schools in rural or economically lagging communities.

Community Institutions (Libraries, Nonprofits, Local Businesses)

AI education must extend beyond schools and classrooms to reach the broader population. While there are concerns about job displacement, adults in the workforce have begun cautiously embracing AI tools to boost productivity. For example, small businesses are leading the charge in adopting AI technologies, thus creating the need to upskill employees with AI competencies.

Traditional community centers such as nonprofits, public libraries, and museums are teaching AI skills through workforce training workshops and events. These institutions are vital hubs that provide essential resources such as books, tutoring, and free access to computers and the Internet for online courses. Technology companies can play a crucial role by partnering with communities to enhance access to tech resources and offer hands-on demonstrations of AI products. For example, Google recently launched a $75 million dollar AI Opportunity Fund to back workforce development and education organizations in the United States, with a focus on supporting AI skills training for rural, underserved, and public sector workers, as well as for students and educators, small businesses, and nonprofits.

Cross-sector collaboration between government and community institutions is essential for scaling resources and preparing the workforce for an AI-driven economy. To close the AI talent gap, policymakers should prioritize equitable access and affordability. Loans, grants, and technical assistance programs can support community organizations, enabling them to develop necessary pedagogical tools. The bipartisan AI Literacy Act is one bill that proposes grants for traditional community institutions to implement AI learning experiences, such as certifications, hands-on labs, and hackathons.

Public Awareness Campaigns (Public Messaging, Targeted Outreach, Resource Dissemination)

Throughout American history, public service campaigns have been crucial for raising awareness on critical issues and promoting positive behavior changes that enhance societal well-being. Just as Smokey the Bear educated generations about preventing wildfires, an AI literacy campaign could similarly educate the public about AI’s benefits, risks, and ethical implications. An AI-literate public is more likely to be risk aware, helping protect against deceptive AI misuse such as online fraud, disinformation, or political deepfakes. Targeted outreach is also important for specific populations such as senior citizens, who are particularly susceptible to AI-enhanced scams, or teenagers who are particularly vulnerable to AI-generated sexual exploitation.

The bipartisan Consumers LEARN Act would launch a nationwide campaign to develop and disseminate AI literacy content to a wide and diverse audience. The nationwide campaign’s core messaging materials would involve multiple communication channels utilizing television, radio, internet platforms, and a centralized website offered in English, Spanish, and other languages. Similarly, the bipartisan Artificial Intelligence Public Awareness and Education Campaign Act would create a public awareness and education campaign to promote up-to-date knowledge regarding best practices for detecting and differentiating AI-generated content. These bills align with the 2024 Senate Roadmap on AI and the 2023 NAIAC recommendations to create a national AI literacy campaign.

The Way Forward

Strengthening consumer trust in AI is crucial. From curiosity and excitement to skepticism and concern, public opinion around AI will impact the success of its adoption and innovation. An AI-ready society begins with enhancing AI literacy, and communities should evolve to meet this need. Policymakers should seize the opportunity to invest in robust education and training strategies to prepare students, families, and workers for an increasingly AI-driven society.

This blog post was written by Danielle Draper with research assistance from Noelia Alvarez.