Norway bans AI tools for primary schools over learning concerns

Norway has announced plans to significantly limit the use of generative artificial intelligence tools among primary school pupils, while also placing tighter controls on their use for older students, in an effort to protect learning outcomes, the prime minister said on Friday.

The move comes amid a wider effort by the government to address falling academic performance, including a 2024 ban on smartphones in schools and measures giving teachers greater authority to enforce classroom discipline.

Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stoere said the growing use of AI among young children risks allowing them to bypass essential stages of learning.

“The most important thing in school is that our children learn to read, write and do mathematics,” he said, adding that the new rules will take effect from the start of the school year in late August.

Under the policy, pupils aged six to 13 (grades one to seven) will generally be discouraged from using AI tools. Students aged 14 to 16 in lower secondary school will only be allowed to use such tools under teacher supervision.

For upper secondary students aged 17 to 19, AI use will be permitted but regulated to ensure they develop appropriate skills for higher education and the workforce.

Norway, which began integrating computers into classrooms in the 1990s and later adopted tablets widely after 2010, is also moving to reintroduce more traditional learning materials. The government said it will propose legislation to increase the use of textbooks in schools, reversing the earlier shift toward digital devices.

In a related policy direction, authorities have also announced plans to restrict social media access for children under 16, aligning with similar efforts in other countries aimed at reducing excessive screen use among young people.