AI & Education News — 2026-11-11 (Wed)

Overview

Google's AI features in school accounts and search drew the most attention, with a US Senator, LAUSD and Japanese outlets all covering the topic (LAist, TechTimes, Kodomo to IT). In higher education, headlines say AI use is already universal and that institutions are being urged to adapt (The Conversation, Chemistry World). In Japan, activity centered on AI teaching materials and research in middle schools, AI-related qualifications for adults, and beginner AI courses for seniors (PlusWeb3, Niconico News).

AI literacy

- Carson faculty discussed building AI literacy on an Adobe podcast (WSU Insider). - Anutin met with Google on data centres and AI skills for all Thais (Khaosod English). - Chen Lin left ByteDance to start a new venture, and an AI education project called Xiaolu Aixue has emerged (BigGo Finance). - An OpenAI report says 79% of students use AI for homework, but only 47% were taught how to use it (BigGo Finance). - Khanh Hoa province will introduce AI in schools from the 2026-2027 school year (Lao Dong). - Unite.AI ran a piece titled "Teaching AI to Read the Hidden Text That Humans Can See" (Unite.AI). - In Japan, Kindai University's affiliated Toyooka high school and junior high held their first AI education lecture for all students. It covered copyright and information ethics in the social media era (AtPress). - In Japan, dott will hold a webinar on the 27th about using "AI STUDIO" in MDASH literacy-level courses (ICT Education News).

Early childhood education

The source feed files these items under this heading, but all of them concern school accounts and school-run services rather than early childhood. - LAist asked how LAUSD will respond to Google's AI mandate and said the public can weigh in (LAist). - A US Senator urged Google to let schools block AI without losing Search access (TechTimes). - In Japan, Yokosuka's municipal schools are using an AI character called "Yokosuka AI Friend AI-chan" as a consultation desk for sexual abuse (Shonanjin). - In Japan, Google is turning off AI features on student accounts by default (Kodomo to IT). - In Japan, Mynavi News asked whether integrating AI into Google Search is an improvement or an imposition. It reports that schools want an option to turn it off (Mynavi News).

Elementary school

- Salinas school district will delete its social media accounts over AI privacy concerns (KSBW). - A former headteacher launched free AI lessons for primary school pupils (North Wales Pioneer). - Ahn Minseok declared a "Gyeonggi Education Grand Transformation" for the AI era and vowed to move beyond memorization and right answers (Asia Economy). - Vietnam.vn reports that elementary students are being guided in systematic and proactive AI practice (Vietnam.vn). - In Japan, 16 works are in the finals of the U-22 contest on November 29, and elementary school students are among the finalists (FINDERS via Yahoo! News). - In Japan, two elementary schools are running a trial that uses AI to detect bears near the schools early (Nikkyoweb). - In Japan, Loilo TV will stream an expanded five-part series on using generative AI from November 17 (Resemom). - In Japan, a limited-time free trial event on "thinking for oneself" in the AI era is being offered for elementary school children (PR TIMES).

Middle school

- In Korea, four cases of cheating with AI glasses on middle and high school exams were caught, and the subjects concerned were scored zero (Dong-A Ilbo). - In Korea, students were caught cheating while wearing AI smart glasses, and most showed suspicious behavior (wowKorea). - In Japan, Kyotamba town is introducing AI teaching materials in all its junior high schools, aiming at individualized learning and the GIGA School program (PlusWeb3). - In Japan, School Agent and Kobe University have started joint research on a generative AI system to support inquiry-based learning (ICT Education News). - In Japan, COMPASS worked with an Osaka University research team to verify how the AI-based material Qubena affects academic achievement in Kesennuma, Miyagi, and announced the results (iza!).

High school

- South Portland School Board voted down a proposed ban on generative AI (WGME). - Students in Orange County showcased AI innovations at an annual convening (OCDE Newsroom). - In Japan, SpeakMode, an AI English conversation service for junior high and high school classes, has launched. The whole class speaks at once, and the AI evaluates on four criteria and keeps a record (Infoseek).

University

- Chemistry students shared how and why they use AI tools, under the headline "Everyone now uses AI" (Chemistry World). - Colleges and universities across Chicago aim to embrace AI (Chicago Tribune). - Valdosta State University reports that generative AI has become a lesson in intergenerational learning (Valdosta State University). - Nursing students using generative AI for theses report both benefits and concerns (Bioengineer.org). - The Conversation states "AI use is now universal in higher education" and asks why universities are failing to adapt (The Conversation). - In Japan, the dean of the University of Chicago's business school said AI will lead the MBA to evolve and that human qualities will matter more (Nikkei). - In Japan, Jisc in the UK published a guide for senior executives on leading AI use in universities (Current Awareness Portal). - In Japan, Ryutsu Keizai University will begin a new admission format next year that evaluates how applicants solve problems using AI (Nikkyoweb).

Adult learning

- In Japan, SmartDB certification holders have passed 5,000. The new "Practical AI" grade, which focuses on AI use, reached 200 holders in about three months (Sanyo Shimbun). - In Japan, searches for the Generative AI Passport rose 3.7 times in a year and overtook the G Test for the first time. Searches for past exam questions rose 6.8 times (Niconico News, citing a TECH NOISY survey).

Older adults

- In Japan, Sumida Ward is offering a practical AI course to update community activities, open to everyone (Sumida Ward). - In Japan, a "Yurukute Sugoi AI" course, an introductory AI course for daily life aimed at seniors and beginners, is opening (Niconico News). - Vietnam.vn reports on access to digital technology through an AI popularization education program (Vietnam.vn).

Statements by key figures

No notable developments. 【Integrated analysis: how lifelong learning is changing】 Common across age groups: - Use appears to be running ahead of instruction. The OpenAI report gap between 79% using AI for homework and 47% taught how to use it, and the claims of universal use in higher education, point the same way (BigGo Finance, The Conversation, Chemistry World). - Responses at the institutional level appear to be shifting from bans toward guidance and adoption. South Portland voted down a ban, Chicago institutions aim to embrace AI, and Jisc issued a guide for senior leaders (WGME, Chicago Tribune, Current Awareness Portal). - Control over tool settings is becoming a decision for schools. Google's default-off setting for student accounts, the Senator's request, LAUSD's public consultation and schools' call for an opt-out all concern who decides when AI is on (Kodomo to IT, TechTimes, LAist, Mynavi News). - Assessment integrity is also an issue at the secondary level and for admissions. AI glasses were used to cheat in Korea, and a Japanese university will evaluate AI use in admissions (Dong-A Ilbo, Nikkyoweb). This likely means educators are redesigning assessment rather than only restricting tools.

Differences by age group: - For children, the headlines center on privacy, safety and thinking skills (KSBW, Shonanjin, PR TIMES). - In middle and high school, the focus is on adopting AI materials and tools and on joint research and verification (PlusWeb3, ICT Education News, Infoseek, iza!). - In university, the focus is on policy, student practice and curriculum change (Chemistry World, Nikkei). - For adults, interest appears to be moving toward certifications (Niconico News, Sanyo Shimbun). - For older adults, the offerings are beginner and community courses (Niconico News, Sumida Ward).

What changes for teachers and learners: teachers and administrators now appear to be deciding how to teach AI use rather than whether to allow it, and they also need to decide which AI features to enable. Learners who already use AI may need guidance more than access. Most items are announcements or plans. Only the Qubena study is described as a completed verification, and its headline gives no result. Effects on children cannot be concluded from these headlines.

What to watch

How LAUSD and other districts respond to Google's AI settings, and whether schools are given a way to block AI while keeping Search access (LAist, TechTimes). 2. Whether the plans in Kyotamba, Khanh Hoa and Gyeonggi move from announcement to implementation, and what the Qubena verification results show (PlusWeb3, Lao Dong, Asia Economy, iza!). 3. Whether other schools and universities follow Ryutsu Keizai University's AI-use evaluation in admissions and respond to AI-glasses cheating, which may signal a broader redesign of assessment (Nikkyoweb, Dong-A Ilbo).