WASHINGTON (WDNews) — U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberville on Tuesday chaired a Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Education and the American Family Subcommittee hearing focused on the growing role of artificial intelligence in K-12 education.
The hearing, titled “The Future of K-12 Education in the Age of Artificial Intelligence,” examined how AI can be used in classrooms while addressing concerns about student privacy, accuracy, critical thinking skills and access for rural communities.
Before entering politics, Tuberville spent decades working with students as a teacher and coach. During his opening remarks, he said artificial intelligence is already becoming a significant part of students’ lives and future careers.
“Artificial intelligence is changing the world our kids are growing up in, and whether you like it or not, AI is going to be part of their education, their careers, and their daily lives,” Tuberville said. “The question isn’t whether it’s coming. AI is here. The real question is whether we’re going to help students use it the right way.”
Tuberville said AI has the potential to help students learn at their own pace, provide additional support for those who need it and give teachers more time to focus on instruction.
“Technology can be a valuable tool, but it will never replace a great teacher, a strong mentor, or the hard work that learning requires,” he said.
He also highlighted several concerns lawmakers must address as AI becomes more common in education, including student privacy protections, ensuring accurate information, preventing overreliance on technology and making sure rural schools have access to emerging tools.
“How do we protect students’ privacy? How do we make sure AI is giving accurate information? How do we prevent students from becoming dependent on technology instead of developing critical thinking skills? How do we ensure that rural America isn’t left behind?” Tuberville said.
Tuberville emphasized that policymakers should focus on what benefits students, parents and teachers rather than simply adopting new technology because it is available.
“Our job isn’t to chase every new trend. Our job is to figure out what works, what doesn’t work, and what’s best for students, parents, and teachers,” he said.
The hearing included testimony from Joshua Jones, CEO of QuantHub, a Birmingham-based technology company.
Tuberville also announced that he and the subcommittee’s ranking member recently requested a Government Accountability Office study on the effects of artificial intelligence in K-12 education. He said the agency has agreed to begin the review.
“The students sitting in classrooms today will enter a workforce that looks very different from the one many of us grew up in,” Tuberville said. “We have a responsibility to make sure they’re prepared—not just to use AI, but to compete, innovate, and lead in a world where AI will be everywhere.”
