Norway, following its previous ban on smartphones, is now imposing a near-total ban on generative artificial intelligence (AI) tools for elementary school students. The Norwegian government is also placing strict limits on AI use for older children to protect them from a negative impact on their learning.
Declining Test Scores Prompt Action
According to a report by news agency Reuters, the decision comes as Norway faces a decline in educational test scores. The first response was in 2024 when the government banned smartphones from schools and gave teachers more power to enforce classroom discipline.
Prime Minister Warns About AI Risks
Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stoere warned that using AI increases the risk of young children skipping critical steps in their basic education. “The most important thing in school is that our children learn to read, write and do mathematics,” Stoere stated during a press conference, announcing that the new AI restrictions will take effect at the start of the upcoming school year in late August.
New Rules on AI Usage in Norwegian Schools
Under the new standards, the rules vary by age group:
- Ages 6 to 13 (First through seventh grade): As a general rule, these younger students will not be using AI at all.
- Ages 14 to 16 (Lower secondary school): Students can cautiously adopt AI tools, but only under the direct supervision of their teachers.
- Ages 17 to 19 (Upper secondary education): Students will be taught how to use AI appropriately to help prepare them for higher education and future employment.
Reversing Digital Trend
Norway was an early adopter of classroom technology, introducing computers in the 1990s and tablets like the iPad after 2010. This position greatly reduced the dependence of the school system on handwriting and physical books. Now the government is actively reversing that trend. Besides the AI restrictions, officials said they will introduce new legislation to fund the return of physical books to classrooms, decreasing the use of digital tablets.
Broader Screen Time Limits
The new rules on AI use in schools are part of a broader national push to limit the amount of time young people spend in front of screens. In April, the Norwegian government announced separate plans to ban children from using social media until they turn 16, following similar legislative trends by countries like Australia.
