Starting this fall, schools in Beijing will begin offering artificial intelligence (AI) courses to primary and secondary students as part of China’s broader efforts to lead in the field.
According to reports, a statement from the Beijing Municipal Education Commission stated that schools will be required to provide at least eight hours of AI instruction per academic year.
These lessons can be incorporated into existing subjects like information technology and science or taught as separate courses.
China has long aimed to establish itself as a leader in AI innovation.
The sector gained global attention earlier this year when DeepSeek, a Chinese startup, unveiled an AI model that reportedly matches the performance of top U.S. models while requiring fewer resources.
The introduction of AI education is said to align with the Chinese government’s commitment, announced at the National People’s Congress, to expand the use of large-scale AI models and advance next-generation intelligent technologies in manufacturing and other industries.
Speaking at the annual legislative session, Education Minister Huai Jinpeng emphasized that AI-driven technological advancements present significant opportunities for the education sector.
He also revealed that China plans to release a white paper on AI education in 2025.
