Preparing Students for an AI World: Key Takeaways from Brookings’ New Report
Brookings’ latest report reinforces the importance of AI literacy in preparing students to navigate AI responsibly and thoughtfully.
The Brookings Institution recently released a major new report, A New Direction for Students in an AI World: Prosper, Prepare, Protect, examining how artificial intelligence is already shaping the lives, learning, and well-being of children and young people around the world.
The Day of AI team was excited to see our work recognized in the report, alongside our partners at MIT RAISE, as an exemplar of AI literacy efforts that help students understand how AI works, where it has limits, and how it can be used responsibly.
Brookings’ central conclusion is one we strongly agree with: AI’s impact on students depends on how it is introduced and taught. Rather than avoidance or unquestioning adoption, the report calls for intentional approaches that help young people navigate an AI-shaped world with knowledge, agency, and judgment.
At the same time, the authors offer a clear warning. At this point in its trajectory, the report finds that “the risks of utilizing generative AI in children’s education overshadow its benefits.” These risks include threats to students’ cognitive development, social and emotional well-being, privacy, and trust in education.
Importantly, Brookings also emphasizes that it is not too late to change course. The report outlines a framework for action organized around three pillars:
- Prosper - using AI only when it strengthens learning and human relationships
- Prepare - building AI literacy for students, educators, and families
- Protect - safeguarding student privacy, safety, and well-being
This framework closely aligns with Day of AI’s mission to support educators, families, and students globally through free, research-based AI literacy resources. We believe that helping young people understand AI is one of the most important steps in ensuring that AI use supports learning rather than undermines it.
If you agree with the need for intentional, student-centered approaches to AI in education, we encourage you to explore the Brookings report and share the Day of AI curriculum with educators, school leaders, policymakers, families, and communities. Together, we can help ensure that AI is used in ways that genuinely benefit students, now and in the future.
👉 Read the Brookings report: A New Direction for Students in an AI World: Prosper, Prepare, Protect
