NEW YORK CITY (WABC) — Mayor Zohran Mamdani joined the Norway Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stre at P.S. 59 to discuss artificial intelligence and education, highlighting their shared approach to limiting AI use among younger students.
The visit brought city leaders and students together for a roundtable discussion focused on the role of artificial intelligence in classrooms. The event took place near the United Nations General Assembly and included participation from students and school officials.
Some students met the visiting leaders firsthand. Madeline Auslander, a member of the kindergarten coalition, was among the first to speak with them.
The discussion centered on policies governing artificial intelligence in education.
Norway has banned AI for children in first through seventh grade, while students ages 14 to 16 may cautiously adopt AI tools under a teacher’s supervision.
The Mamdani administration has implemented a one-year moratorium on student-facing AI in grades 2K through eighth grade, with limited access in high school. The mayor views the Norwegian model as a potential roadmap for city schools.
“Learning through play is so important. If they don’t get hands-on, they lose that time,” the principal of P.S. 59 said.
School leaders said the event reflected the student body’s international focus and the school’s connection to the United Nations.
“I think it’s very cool they came to visit PS 59,” one student said.
“We have several diplomat students here, our students take field trips to the UN. We said it only feels right that our school that they have that conversation with our students,” the principal said.
The visit provided an opportunity to discuss education policy while giving students a chance to engage directly with elected and international leaders.
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