Scotland's first AI teacher warns pupils: Don't trust everything it tells you
Jamie Laycock says schools must help youngsters understand both the opportunities and dangers of AI.
By BBC News
Scotland’s first dedicated AI teacher has warned pupils not to accept everything produced by artificial intelligence as fact.
Jamie Laycock, a former biology principal teacher, has taken on the new AI literacy role at Mearns Castle School in Renfrewshire.
The position is believed to be the first in the UK specifically dedicated to teaching AI literacy. Laycock said schools should help young people understand both the opportunities and risks associated with the technology.
His lessons will focus on checking AI-generated information and questioning whether it is accurate. He has also raised concerns that people may treat chatbots as trusted friends or experts because they are designed to communicate in a human-like way.
At Mearns Castle, pupils in S1 and S2 receive lessons about AI. Older pupils will study the subject through citizenship and personal education classes, while senior pupils will also have the option of taking an elective course.
Laycock plans to adapt the teaching for different age groups. Younger pupils will initially concentrate on basic knowledge and critical thinking before moving on to practical uses of AI.
The role also includes helping train other teachers and creating resources that could be used in other schools.
The report said many schools already have teachers who oversee AI-related work alongside their normal responsibilities, but Mearns Castle is the first known school to establish a post dedicated specifically to AI literacy.
The Scottish Government issued national guidance on AI in March. It called for ethical use of the technology, warned against relying on it too heavily in education and stressed the importance of maintaining meaningful human interaction.