A New Direction for Students in an AI World: Prosper, Prepare, Protect
Source: Brookings Institution
Author: Brookings Center for Universal Education
Original source: https://www.brookings.edu/articles/a-new-direction-for-students-in-an-ai-world-prosper-prepare-protect/
Published: 2026-01-14
Source type: report
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Summary
Brookings’ Center for Universal Education summarizes a yearlong global premortem on generative AI in children’s education. Drawing on consultations with more than 500 students, teachers, parents, education leaders, and technologists across 50 countries, a review of more than 400 studies, and a Delphi panel, the article argues that current risks of generative AI in children’s education overshadow its benefits because the risks threaten foundational student development. It distinguishes AI-enriched learning from AI-diminished learning and proposes three pillars for action: Prosper, Prepare, and Protect. The piece urges governments, technology companies, education leaders, families, and other stakeholders to act quickly to shape AI toward student flourishing rather than developmental harm.
Pull quotes
Agency to bend AI
“We all have the agency, the capacity, and the imperative to help AI enrich, not diminish, students’ learning and development.”
Pedagogy before platforms
“Well-designed AI tools and platforms can offer students a number of learning benefits if deployed as a part of an overall, pedagogically sound approach.”
Overreliance risks development
“Overreliance on AI tools and platforms can put children and youth’s fundamental learning capacity at risk.”
Big ideas
- Learning still needs some struggle, even when AI can make things easier
- Schools should start with learning values before choosing AI tools
- District AI work is a long-term redesign project
- AI tools should be judged by the work they will actually do
- AI simulations need clear boundaries for learning
Claims
- AI can undermine learning when students use it without guidance
- Adult AI productivity gains do not automatically justify the same use for students
- Learning requires some productive struggle that AI can remove
- Rushed school AI plans can worsen wellbeing and equity risks
- AI tool choices should be judged against stated learning values
Key evidence and examples
- Brookings frames the project as a premortem rather than waiting for a future postmortem.
- The evidence base includes more than 500 participants across 50 countries, a review of more than 400 studies, and a Delphi panel.
- The article argues that risks currently overshadow benefits because they can undermine foundational development and prevent benefits from being realized.
- The action framework is Prosper, Prepare, Protect.
Education relevance
Very high for K–12 AI policy, student wellbeing, developmental risk, family guidance, education-system leadership, safety, privacy, and balancing opportunity with child protection.
Durability note
The Prosper–Prepare–Protect frame is likely to remain useful as a policy lens, while the evidence base and risk balance should be rechecked as child-focused AI research matures.