CASPER (WNE) — The Wyoming Deparment of Education is embracing artificial intelligence. Local school districts must still create their own artificial intelligence policies, but the state is encouraging districts to find ways to embrace AI in the classroom and teach students how to use it ethically. 

“The WDE is committed to leading the state in AI education and preparing the next generation of learners and leaders for a future that is built with, and alongside AI,” reads the guidance resource put out by the state. 

It states that artificial intelligence may be able to free up teachers for more instructional time and more innovation and outlines clear definitions of artificial intelligence.

The department recommends that when writing policies, districts should direct that AI tools be used ethically and responsibly to help students achieve educational goals, promote AI literacy and maintain human decision-making when using AI.

As part of the guidance manual, the department includes a continuum of AI usage to guide schools on how to integrate AI. The categories for AI usage are AI-free, AI-assisted, AI-enhanced and AI-empowered. Each category has increasing usage of artificial intelligence.