U.S. Department of Education Releases AI Guidance for EdTech Developers

The U.S. Department of Education has released a comprehensive guide aimed at edtech developers, focusing on the safe, secure, and trustworthy development and use of artificial intelligence (AI) in educational settings.

The guidance — called “Designing for Education with Artificial Intelligence: An Essential Guide for Developers” — includes extensive recommendations for both vendors and school district officials.

This guide is a continuation of the Department’s efforts to promote innovative educational technology while ensuring compliance with federal guidelines and addressing potential risks.

What is the guide?

The guide, building on the Department’s 2023 report, “Artificial Intelligence and the Future of Teaching and Learning: Insights and Recommendations,” is designed to assist product leads, innovators, designers, developers, customer-facing staff, and legal teams. It provides non-regulatory, education-specific guidance aligned with federal standards to help developers create AI products and services for education. The document offers core recommendations, discussion questions, development processes, and resources to support the creation of safe and effective AI applications in education.

What are the guidance and key recommendations?

The guide covers a broad range of topics relevant to edtech developers, including:

• Safety, Security, and Trust: Emphasizing the importance of these elements in AI development.
• Shared Responsibility: Highlighting the need for collaboration across the edtech ecosystem, including developers, educators, parents, students, and policymakers.
• Compliance with Federal Guidelines: Providing information on existing laws and resources to ensure that AI products meet regulatory standards.
• Promoting Innovation: Encouraging developers to push the boundaries of AI capabilities while maintaining ethical considerations.
• Addressing Vulnerable Communities: Ensuring AI tools do not discriminate and are accessible to underserved communities.

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Why does it matter?

Today and in the future:

1. Enhancing Education: AI has the potential to revolutionize education by providing personalized learning experiences, improving administrative efficiency, and supporting teachers and students in innovative ways.
2. Ensuring Safety and Trust: With the rapid integration of AI in education, it is crucial to address safety, security, and ethical concerns to build trust among all stakeholders.
3. Regulatory Compliance: As AI technologies evolve, developers must stay informed about and comply with federal guidelines to avoid legal issues and ensure the responsible use of AI.
4. Supporting Vulnerable Communities: The guide emphasizes the importance of making AI tools accessible and non-discriminatory, thus ensuring that advancements in technology benefit all students, including those from underserved communities.
5. Building a Collaborative Ecosystem: The guide promotes a collaborative approach, recognizing that the successful integration of AI in education requires input and cooperation from a diverse range of stakeholders.

Responding to the Executive Order

The guide is part of the response to President Joe Biden’s October 2023 Executive Order on the Safe, Secure, and Trustworthy Development and Use of Artificial Intelligence. This order mandates the development of resources, policies, and guidance for the responsible use of AI in education. The guide reflects insights from extensive public listening sessions with students, parents, educators, developers, and industry experts, ensuring it addresses real-world challenges and opportunities in the edtech landscape.

The U.S. Department of Education’s AI guide for edtech developers is a crucial resource for fostering innovation while ensuring the ethical and responsible use of AI in education. By addressing safety, security, trust, and compliance, the guide aims to support the development of AI tools that enhance learning experiences and are accessible to all students.

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