Oslo will impose a near-total ban on artificial intelligence (AI) in primary schools, in a measure announced on Friday, June 19th.

Starting in the new academic year beginning in late August, the proposals will apply to most children in the age groups 6–13.

According to Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre, using AI increases the risk of young children skipping important steps in their education:

The most important thing in school is that our children learn to read, write and do mathematics.

Støre’s press conference presentation said lower secondary school pupils aged 14–16 would be able to cautiously adopt large-language model tools under teachers’ supervision. In contrast, students in upper secondary education (ages 17 to 19) will learn to use AI “appropriately,” partly in order to prepare for future employment.