This year, AI is on many educators’ lists of back-to-school essentials. The technology has become increasingly common in K-12 classrooms, with around 60% of teachers already incorporating it into their practice. There is a drive within academic circles to find new ways to harness AI, and education leaders across the country have begun to explore its potential through task forces, study committees, and other learning venues. AI is experiencing a similar popularity amongst K-12 students, with 70% reporting a favorable view of chatbot style tools.

Increasingly sophisticated AI tools have emerged to suit different needs, subjects, and grade levels. AI can personalize lesson plans to suit the specific needs of students, aid in providing feedback on assignments, and augment the classroom experience through creative activities. Some educators are even using it to teach students time management and create customized timelines for completing assignments.

In Louisiana, the literacy program Amira will help thousands of students this fall. Amira offers real time assistance to students struggling with reading. The program works with students reading out loud to identify exactly which pillar of reading they are struggling with and generates reports for teachers to review after each session. Programs like Amira help students in the learning environment as the mistake happens, instead of hours to days after. Some of the world’s most successful tech companies are also turning their attention and resources to the classroom. For example, one of Google’s new AI models, LearnLM, was made specifically for students and education settings.

While the practical uses of AI in the classroom (like personalized learning and workload management) are obvious, AI can also evoke the wonder and curiosity that impact education the most. Just as the calculator expanded the way students learn and do mathematics, artificial intelligence can deepen their experience in other subjects. Teachers can use the technology to create assignments that ask students to think critically and beyond traditional essay prompt or short answer structures. Students can interact with machine learning creatively to solve problems. Just last year, at Arizona State University, humanities students participated in a “Hackathon,” where they were challenged to “build storified personas – through text, imagery and narrative — to test the limits of generative AI tools and gain a deeper understanding of how humans and machines collaborate.”

AI is not slowly making its way into schools; it’s already there. Policymakers, educators, and students alike are tasked with finding ways to ensure that AI is used to its fullest potential in the classroom. The Louisiana Department of Education (LDOE) seized the opportunity to empower teachers and students by implementing an AI task force. This month, the task force released guidelines with the goal “to equip educators, leaders, and families with a foundation for understanding and harnessing the power of AI to improve teaching and learning practices in Louisiana.” The guidelines cover common concerns and offer support and resources for successfully integrating AI. The learning approach of the LDOE is one worth imitating, because it avoids rushes to regulate and limit the technology and instead looks to existing legislation and academic practices. Now is the time to leverage AI’s capabilities and prioritize helping teachers and students embrace its benefits.