Norway bans AI tools for schoolchildren 6‑13, limits use for older teens

Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre announced on 19 June that, from the start of the 2026‑27 school year (August 2026), pupils aged 6 to 13 will be prohibited from using generative AI tools such as ChatGPT in classrooms and at home. The ban is framed as a safeguard for fundamental learning skills, after a MIT study linked AI assistance to reduced neural connectivity and poorer retention.

For students aged 14‑16, AI may be used only under direct teacher supervision, while those 17‑19 will receive training on responsible use. The policy follows a series of Norwegian pilot programmes that began in 2023 and is presented as a counter‑trend to wider European moves that aim to broaden AI access in education. The government emphasises that technology firms, not minors, must enforce age‑verification mechanisms.