David Monahan of Fair Play on five-year pause for Gen AI in schools
Monahan from Fair Play describes a position statement signed by 260 organizations and experts calling for a five-year pause on Gen AI products for students. He lists five requirements for reintroduction: improved learning without cognitive offloading, absolute safety, no cheating, privacy and civil rights prioritization, and never replacing teachers for vulnerable populations.
You may begin.
Thank you, Chairs.
I'm David Monahan, Campaign Director at Fair Play.
We're a national nonprofit organization that works to enhance children's well-being by eliminating the harmful business practices of marketers and big tech.
I'm here today on behalf of thousands of our supporters who reside in New York City.
I live in Massachusetts, but I'm a native of Brooklyn and a proud graduate of New York City's school system.
We urge you to hear the voices that are rising among the...
public urging caution and asking our education leaders to not use children as guinea pigs to test out unproven and unexamined technologies.
In April, Fair Play and our Screening Time Action Network led 260 organizations and experts in signing a position statement calling for a five-year pause on Gen AI products for students,
saying those products pose significant harm to children.
The signers included Fordham Law professors Zephyr Teachout, neuroscientist Jared Cooney-Horbath, and member orgs in New York City's AI Moratorium Coalition.
The position statement says a five-year pause on all products using Gen AI that impact children in schools would allow time for school communities to learn about the implications and uses of Gen AI in education, to ask questions,
and to provide feedback.
The statement says that after the pause, Gen AI products should only be introduced into schools if they meet five requirements.
Improve learning outcomes without causing cognitive offloading or impeding human relationships.
Demonstrate absolute safety for students.
They won't be used for cheating or academic dishonesty.
They consider and prioritize privacy, civil rights, ethics, justice, and climate impacts.
And they will never be used in place of teachers, especially for vulnerable populations.
Our letter was cited earlier this month when a majority of members of the City Council signed a letter to Mayor Mamdani and schools.
Chancellor Samuels calling for a two-year moratorium on AI in New York City schools.
Time expired.
Please see the opinion of these experts who say AI does not belong in schools until it's established that AI is safe and effective.
Thank you for the opportunity to speak with you this afternoon.
Thank you.