Kids to Learn About AI in Beijing Schools

Starting 1 September, primary and secondary students in Beijing will begin receiving artificial intelligence (AI) education, marking a significant step in China’s ongoing drive to lead the global AI sector.

According to the Beijing Municipal Commission, schools will be required to offer at least eight hours of AI instruction annually.

These courses may be integrated into existing subjects or taught as standalone classes, giving schools flexibility in their approach.

This initiative is part of China’s broader strategy to solidify its position as a pioneer in AI technology.

Earlier this year, the country garnered global attention when Chinese startup DeepSeek introduced its advanced AI model, which experts say outperforms other models in terms of reasoning and capabilities.

DeepSeek’s open-source platform was developed at a fraction of the cost compared to major language models like OpenAI’s ChatGPT and Google’s Gemini.

The move comes on the heels of Beijing’s call for AI education to be introduced to children as young as six years old, with the aim of cultivating a strong domestic talent pool.

As competition intensifies between China and the United States in the tech space, this initiative reflects Beijing’s commitment to nurturing the next generation of AI innovators.

Integrate AI Into School’s Curriculum & Make it a Norm by 2030

The decision to integrate AI into China's education system follows a broader commitment made by the National People’s Congress to support the widespread use of large-scale AI models.

The government’s strategy includes facilitating tech firms' access to onshore debt, directing these funds toward innovation, mergers, and acquisitions.

Furthermore, the People’s Bank of China, led by Governor Pan Gongsheng, aims to increase the tech-lending programme from 500 billion yuan to 1 trillion yuan (approximately $138 billion).

Just last Monday, Shenzhen, China's southern technology hub, unveiled an ambitious action plan aimed at growing the city’s AI terminal industry to a value of 1 trillion yuan (approximately $139.38 billion) by 2026.

This initiative reflects Shenzhen's commitment to becoming a global leader in AI innovation and technology.

Minister of Education Huai Jinpeng emphasized that the AI revolution presents significant opportunities for the education sector.

In line with this, the government plans to release a whitepaper on AI education by the end of the year.

The "Beijing Work Plan for Promoting Artificial Intelligence Education in Primary and Secondary Schools (2025-2027)" has already been outlined, which mandates schools to implement AI curricula across various educational levels.

Additionally, a specialised expert committee will oversee the integration of AI into schools, drawing from academia, research institutions, and tech companies to guide the initiative.

By 2030, AI education is expected to be fully integrated into the curriculum for young students, laying the foundation for a technologically advanced workforce.

This initiative extends beyond primary and secondary schools, with universities such as Shenzhen and Zhejiang already introducing AI courses based on the DeepSeek model.

Jiao Tong University and Renmin University have also adopted DeepSeek technologies to enhance AI learning tools and research applications, underscoring China's focus on advancing technological innovation throughout its educational system.