Business leaders want to turn all schoolchildren into AI creators

250 executives of major US companies have put their signatures on an open letter published in the New York Times newspaper. They call for making artificial intelligence and computer science core elements of the school curriculum. From grades 1 to 12. Among the signatories are Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella, Etsy CEO Josh Silverman, and Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi. All of them claim that education in computer science and artificial intelligence is necessary for, I quote, “maintaining America’s competitiveness.”

Here is an excerpt from the letter. “Countries like Brazil, China, South Korea, and Singapore have already made computer science or artificial intelligence mandatory subjects for every student. The United States is falling behind. In the era of artificial intelligence, we must prepare our children for the future. So that they become creators of artificial intelligence, not just consumers.” That’s the deal. What touching concern for the future of young people from the leaders of companies whose business is built on turning all of us into passive consumers of their products.

This letter appeared at a time when the Trump administration is working on shaping a new US policy in the field of artificial intelligence. At the same time, there is a risk that significant cuts to federal programs could damage fundamental research in this area. Last week, Trump issued an executive order on the development of artificial intelligence in school and higher education, as well as in workplaces through partnership between industry and academia.

This call from business leaders reflects their current growing need for specialists who can not only use but also create solutions based on artificial intelligence. Moreover, such words as “Growing need for specialists” are usually translated as “we want so many artificial intelligence engineers that their salaries fall to the level of cashiers in supermarkets.”