China to provide AI classes for primary, secondary schools

ISTANBUL

China plans to provide artificial intelligence (AI) lessons for primary and secondary school students to foster their talents in the subject.

Starting in the upcoming fall semester, children in the capital Beijing will be able to take at least eight class hours of AI instruction per academic year, the state-run Xinhua News Agency reported on Wednesday, citing the Beijing Municipal Education Commission.

The AI classes are set to be offered either separately or alongside other subjects like information technology.

Primary schools will offer hands-on courses to introduce AI concepts, while junior high schools will provide courses that focus on using AI in learning and daily life. Senior high schools will offer practical courses aimed at enhancing AI application and innovation.

The Chinese startup DeepSeek sent shockwaves through the AI industry earlier this year with its cost-effective and free chatbot due to its rapid progress in rivaling the US-based OpenAI’s ChatGPT with far fewer resources, gaining unprecedented popularity in mobile app stores across the globe.

China's President Xi Jinping last month held a meeting with tech leaders and entrepreneurs, during which he encouraged business leaders to maximize their potential, saying: “It’s the right time for private enterprises and entrepreneurs to give full play to their potential.”

Other Chinese tech companies have also launched AI initiatives, including Alibaba's AI model QwQ-32B and general AI agent Manus.

China's Education Ministry announced last December that AI education in primary and secondary schools would be improved, aiming to promote collaboration between industry, academia, and research.