Following a prior ban on smartphones and tablets in classrooms.
Norway has announced a comprehensive ban on the use of generative AI tools for elementary school students. Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stoere highlighted during a press conference that such technology allows children to bypass essential learning processes, emphasizing that educational institutions should prioritize teaching basic skills like reading, writing, and mathematics.
This regulation will take effect at the beginning of the upcoming school year in late August, affecting students in first to seventh grades, typically ages six to 13. The policy will also apply to older students but in a more lenient manner. Adolescents aged 14 to 16 may use generative AI, provided they do so under the supervision of educators, while those aged 17 and above are expected to use AI responsibly on their own.
Norway’s initiative to limit technology in educational settings is not new; in 2024, the country banned smartphones in schools, which resulted in notable benefits. Reports indicated decreased bullying, improved academic performance, and lower rates of mental health issues, particularly among female students.
In addition to the AI restrictions, Norway is preparing to propose a social media ban for children under 16, similar to measures in Australia. A legislative proposal is expected to be submitted to parliament by the end of the year.
In the United States, there have been gradual efforts to regulate children’s interactions with AI chatbots. Congressional discussions are underway regarding a bill that would mandate age verification for AI companies and prohibit access to chatbots for minors.
The proposed legislation, named the Guidelines for User Age-verification and Responsible Dialogue Act (GUARD Act), has cleared the Senate Judiciary Committee but has not yet been voted on. Recent amendments have moderated the bill’s scope, shifting focus from all AI-powered chatbots to what are termed “AI companions.” This change raises questions about whether popular tools like ChatGPT, Gemini, and CoPilot may fall outside the regulations.
Critics of the new legislative wording argue that this narrower focus could permit companies to evade compliance if their chatbot features are considered secondary or incidental, creating a gray area between an “AI companion” and a simple interactive search tool.
