Why AI literacy is now a core competency in education

This gap between innovation and education is exactly what the new AI Literacy Framework (AILit) aims to close. A joint initiative by the European Commission (EC) and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), with support from Code.org and international experts, the framework is a major step toward preparing young learners to engage with AI critically, creatively and ethically.

As the OECD highlights, this effort isn’t just about teaching coding or understanding algorithms. It’s about building a foundation of competencies that empower learners to navigate an AI-integrated world with confidence and purpose.

The AILit Framework, currently in draft form, defines AI literacy as a blend of knowledge, skills and attitudes that enable learners to engage with AI responsibly and effectively. It is organized around four practical domains:

1. Engaging with AI – Understanding when and how AI is present in everyday tools and critically evaluating its outputs.

2. Creating with AI – Collaborating with AI tools to support problem-solving and creativity, while considering ethical implications like ownership and bias.

3. Managing AI’s actions – Delegating tasks to AI responsibly, setting guidelines and ensuring human oversight.

4. Designing AI solutions – Exploring how AI works and how to build or adapt systems to solve real-world problems.

Each domain is supported by 23 competencies and classroom-ready learning scenarios, making the framework both aspirational and actionable. It’s designed not just for computer science classes but across disciplines – from language and arts to social studies – reinforcing AI as a cross-cutting theme in education.

Read more here.