The Coming AI Tsunami
Written by: Christian Talbot (posted Mon, April 28th, 2025 | 9:33 am)
Have you been struggling to keep up with the constant updates, upgrades, and announcements about AI?
Had you sort of checked out, because it had all become too much?
There is a tsunami coming. And Middle States is here to help you prepare.
Last week, the White House issued an Executive Order (EO), “Advancing Artificial Intelligence Education for American Youth,” which articulates a significant federal commitment to AI literacy and education in the American K12 system.
The EO outlines five policy points:
Promote AI literacy and proficiency.
Promote the appropriate integration of AI into education.
Provide comprehensive AI training for educators.
Foster early exposure to AI concepts.
Foster technology to develop an AI-ready workforce and the next generation of AI innovators.
The EO underscores what Middle States has been saying since late 2022: AI literacy is now as essential as traditional literacy and numeracy. (We would add AI safety and AI ethics to the list.)
Since late 2022, Middle States Association has advocated for education that is “human driven and AI informed.” And because we are “human driven” first, we view this EO as a wake-up call for schools to:
Develop institutional capacity for AI literacy, safety, and ethics.
Define what powerful learning looks like and align their use of AI to those experiences, not the other way around.
Powerful learning has always been about human connection, critical thinking, creativity, and character development. AI can enhance these experiences, but it cannot replace the human essence of education.
So what can you do right now?
Since OpenAI released ChatGPT in November 2022, Middle States has been helping schools to navigate a world of increasingly abundant AI. The Executive Order may feel disruptive, but you can do three things to position your school to thrive:
Attend our webinar on “Implications of the Executive Order on AI in K12 Schools” on May 6, 11 am ET. Our VP of AI & Strategy, Amber Berry, will be joined by special guests to talk about the potential impact of the EO on your school.
Sign up for AI 101 and AI 201 on the Evolution Academy from Middle States. Get ahead of the EO expectations that schools “equip [educators] with the tools and knowledge to not only train students about AI, but also to utilize AI in their classrooms to improve educational outcomes.”
Apply for the endorsement in “AI Literacy, Safety, and Ethics” from Middle States. 72 leading schools from around the world serving over 60,000 students have already used this endorsement to ensure that their entire system can “stay safe and stay ahead.”
If I were in the casino right now, I would be betting everything I have that we will see more AI in the next decade, not less.
If that bet is correct, the best time to get ready is now.
