Question to the Department for Education:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of how the rise of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies, such as generative AI, will affect education, particularly in (1) students' use of critical thinking skills, and (2) students' ability to write without the use of AI tools.

The department is committed to playing its part in realising the vision of the recent launched Artificial Intelligence (AI) Opportunity Action Plan. Effective use of technologies like AI can power the future of learning by improving access to education and outcomes, reducing staff workload and running operations more efficiently.

The department has adopted an evidence-led approach to assess how AI technologies will affect education. We are looking domestically and internationally to understand good practice and investing in programmes that generate evidence and build understanding of what works and what the risks may be, including the impact of AI on students. The department published an updated position on generative AI in education in January 2025 which sets out how use by students and pupils should be considered and assessed. This is attached and can also be accessed at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/generative-artificial-intelligence-in-education. It emphasises that intended use should be specified and have clear benefits that outweigh the risks. We have worked closely with regulators, including Ofqual, who provide guidance to education settings. We are funding Ofsted to conduct research into how ‘early adopter’ schools and further education (FE) colleges are using AI to support teaching and learning and to manage administrative systems and processes. This research will provide an up-to-date assessment of what emerging practice is developing in the education sector's use of AI and the role that school and college leaders are playing in supporting innovation through embedding AI and managing associated risks.

The department launched a call for evidence on generative AI in education in June 2023 that sought views and experiences from practitioners across all stages of education as well as the EdTech sector and AI experts.  The department published a report on the views of educators and experts on generative AI in January 2024 and commissioned research on public attitudes towards the use of AI in education with the Responsible Technology Adoption Unit in the Department for Science Innovation and Technology (DSIT). The department’s report is attached and can also be accessed at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/generative-ai-in-education-educator-and-expert-views. We also commissioned a ‘Use Cases for Generative AI’, or ‘Hackathons’, project to further understand possible uses for generative AI in education.

In addition to research, we have launched other major initiatives including the joint pilot Education Content Store with DSIT and associated innovation funding, a set of safety expectations for AI tools created with Google, Microsoft, Adobe and Amazon Web Services and the development of online resources and guidance to help teachers and leaders use AI safely in their setting.