250+ CEOs to states: Teach AI in schools or Watch America fall behind

Over 250 CEOs, including those from Microsoft, Uber, Meta, Zoom, Airbnb, Dropbox, and more, have signed an open letter urging states to mandate AI and computer science as a graduation requirement. The reason behind this push is twofold: only 12 states currently require computer science as a graduation requirement, and only 6.4% of high school students are taking it. In contrast, countries like China and South Korea have made it mandatory.

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The letter highlights the importance of computer science education beyond just learning; it addresses income disparities, job skills development, and maintaining U.S. competitiveness in AI. Students in computer science classes earn 8% more, with even greater benefits for underrepresented groups. The recent establishment of an AI education task force by President Trump underscores the urgency of teaching AI to children to prevent them from lagging in this rapidly evolving field.