The Krause Center for Innovation (KCI), in partnership with the AI Education Project (aiEDU) recently hosted a groundbreaking event, the Bay Area Summit on AI Education, marking a significant stride toward integrating artificial intelligence into educational paradigms. This full-day summit, held on February 2nd, 2024, at the Krause Center for Innovation at Foothill College, brought together over 100 district leaders, Teachers on Special Assignment (TOSAs), and industry luminaries. Their shared goal was clear: to forge a unified understanding and strategy for AI’s role in education, highlighting the potential of AI to transform educational practices and outcomes.

A Unified Vision for AI in Education

The summit started with a networking breakfast, setting the stage for a day filled with insightful discussions and collaborative planning. Opening remarks by Gay Krause, Executive Director of the KCI, and Justin Sewell, Director of Partnerships and Programs, underscored KCI’s commitment to empowering educators. Additionally, Christian Pinedo, Chief of Staff at aiEDU, spoke on the crucial role of AI education.

The primary objectives of the summit revolved around fostering a collective understanding among Bay Area education leaders about AI’s transformative potential in education. The event aimed to equip these leaders with the necessary frameworks and tools to advocate for AI curricula and teacher professional development (PD) within their communities. Furthermore, the summit sought to build a coalition of high-impact leaders who can champion the adoption of AI education, thereby bridging equity gaps and ensuring all students in California have access to AI literacy.

Expert Panels and Breakout Discussions

The summit’s agenda featured two expert panels addressing crucial topics: AI ethics and policy landscapes and the practical aspects of AI implementation and wellness. These discussions highlighted the ethical considerations and policy challenges facing AI integration in schools and strategies for effective implementation at the site level to support educators and enhance teaching efficiency.

Facilitated regional breakout discussions allowed participants to delve deeper into these themes, fostering collaborative problem-solving and strategic planning tailored to their unique district needs. This interactive format ensured attendees could voice their concerns, share insights, and work together to develop regional AI education strategies.

Building a Community of Support

One of the summit’s key outcomes was the emphasis on building a robust community of support for schools and non-profit organizations aiming to empower their communities through AI education. The event marked a significant step towards inclusive and equitable AI education by raising awareness about the “what, why, and how” of AI in education and highlighting free curricula and PD opportunities available to all schools in California.

Looking Ahead: Next Steps for AI in Education

The closing remarks by aiEDU and KCI laid a roadmap for future collaboration and support, highlighting upcoming professional learning (See below) offerings and curriculum resources. As we reflect on the insights and commitments forged at the Silicon Valley AI Leadership Summit, it’s evident that the path toward AI-integrated education is both promising and challenging. However, with a community of dedicated leaders and the collective resolve to advance AI literacy, the future of education in the Bay Area—and beyond—looks brighter than ever.

Summit Resources:

• Slide deck used during the Summit. 
• Registration link to the AI Plaiground PLC that meets monthly.
• A  list of resources that includes various policy and AI use cases. 
• HERE is a wonderful blog post about the Summit written by one of our panelists, Nidhi Parthasarathy. Thanks, Nidhi!