Hand in Hand: Schools’ Embrace of AI Connected to Increased Risks to Students

Artificial intelligence (AI) has continued to alter the educational experiences of teachers, students, and parents during the 2024-25 school year. The frequency and variety of AI uses continues to grow; at the same time, the increased use of AI in educational settings is correlated with heightened risks to students. The following section details the current status of AI use in schools along with four emerging risks associated with this technology, all of which increase the more that a school uses AI:

• Data breaches or ransomware attacks;
• Tech-enabled sexual harassment and bullying;
• AI systems that do not work as intended; and
• Troubling interactions between students and technology.

Identifying the concrete risks that accompany the use of AI in schools enables educators, school administrators, policymakers, and communities to mount prevention and response efforts such that the positive uses of AI do not inadvertently harm students.