Starting next year, schools in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) will introduce artificial intelligence (AI) as a subject for students from kindergarten to 12th grade.
Facilitating the understanding of technology ethics
Schools in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) will begin teaching artificial intelligence (AI) as a subject for students from kindergarten to 12th grade, starting next year. The inclusion of AI in the country's curriculum aims to prepare the residents of the Middle Eastern nation for a 'new world.'
The change in the UAE curriculum was announced by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, through social media. Mohammed bin Rashid praised the country's Ministry of Education for creating a curriculum that recognizes the importance of AI. He added:
Our goal is to teach our children a deep understanding of AI from a technical perspective, developing their awareness of the ethics of this new technology, deepening their understanding of its data, algorithms, applications, risks, and its connection to society and life.
According to a report in The National, the AI curriculum is divided into three cycles. The first includes comparing humans and machines, developing digital thinking, and studying AI applications. The second cycle focuses on designing AI systems, understanding bias and algorithms, as well as the ethical use of technology.
The last cycle will teach students team engineering with real simulations to prepare for higher education and employment. Certain teachers will conduct AI lessons as part of the subject of computer science, creative design, and innovation, supported by comprehensive ministry guidelines with adaptable resources.
Meanwhile, Mohammed bin Rashid, who has called for increased collaboration on AI issues, claims that its inclusion in the curriculum will also equip students with 'new skills and abilities that will ensure the continued momentum of development and progress in our nation for decades to come.'