Norway Restricts AI for Students Amid Learning Concerns

Norway is enacting strict regulations on the use of generative artificial intelligence tools for students, with a near-total ban for elementary school pupils aged 6 to 13. The government, led by Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stoere, aims to prevent negative impacts on fundamental learning skills like reading, writing, and mathematics.

For students in lower secondary school (ages 14-16), AI tools will be permitted only cautiously and under direct teacher supervision. Students in upper secondary education (ages 17-19) are encouraged to learn appropriate AI usage to prepare them for future studies and employment.

This initiative is part of a larger educational overhaul, which previously saw smartphones banned from schools in 2024. In a related policy shift, the government also plans to propose legislation to increase the funding and use of physical books in classrooms, reversing the trend towards digital tablets.

These changes reflect a growing concern over declining educational test scores and a desire to re-emphasize foundational learning methods. The new standards are set to be imposed from the new school year commencing in late August.