Melania Trump has come under fire for gifting elementary school kids AI literacy training, as concerns continue to grow over the use of AI in education and how it could impact young children.
The first lady visited Mountain View Elementary School in Jefferson, North Carolina, on Tuesday, September 15th, nearly two years after Hurricane Helene devastated parts of Western North Carolina. The White House framed the visit around the community’s recovery and its efforts to embrace new educational opportunities through AI and technology. And the first lady didn’t arrive empty-handed, with the gift she brought with her seemingly dividing people on social media…
Women Are Swapping Their Boring Water For This Ice Pop Electrolyte Mix!
Melania Trump Gifts Students AI Literacy Training And Schools Robotics Kits
The mom-of-one's visit focused on the community's recovery, as well as the role of technology and artificial intelligence in education. During her visit, she learned how the rural school is incorporating AI, robotics, and engineering into the classroom. And the gift she brought for students and schools across the district certainly fit right in!
Through her BE BEST Fostering the Future initiative, Melania teamed up with NVIDIA and StudyFetch to provide 1,500 students across Ashe County with AI literacy training licenses. Mountain View Elementary and other schools in the district are also set to receive 100 robotics learning kits powered by Jetson Nano.
"I have a special surprise to help jumpstart that curiosity," Melania told the students before announcing the new technology. "Dream big and use these AI tools to build something never created before," she continued.
She then exclaimed: "Maybe one of you will create the next great robot. And if you do, make sure you bring it to the White House to show me!"
@nbcnewsDuring a visit to a STEM elementary school in North Carolina, first lady Melania Trump spoke to NBC News' Monica Alba about what she wants students to know about AI. ♬ original sound - nbcnews
During a visit to a fifth-grade science classroom, Melania sat alongside students as their teacher led an experiment demonstrating pressure changes in the human chest cavity using balloons and a bottle. The children then used tablets and AI to transform images of their model into a video simulation.
Melania later headed to the school's media center, where she watched students build chatbots designed to research potential future careers, work with 3D printers, and manipulate robotic arms. "You can do anything. Anything is possible," she told the children. "The sky is the limit, right? Just never give up."
Asked about concerns surrounding children's use of AI during the visit, Melania stressed the importance of preparing young people for a future in which the technology is expected to play an increasingly significant role.
"I think they need to learn. We need to lead," she said, while acknowledging that children also need to be vigilant. "But this is our future. And we need to guide them and teach them what is available. If not, they will stay behind."
The Internet Reacts To Melania Trump's Comments About AI In Schools
NBC News shared a clip from the visit on social media, captioning it: "During a visit to a STEM elementary school in North Carolina, first lady Melania Trump spoke to NBC News' Monica Alba about what she wants students to know about AI."
The comments quickly filled with people weighing in on Melania's stance, with many expressing concerns about the increasing use of AI in education, and others not passing up the opportunity to mock her and her husband, Donald Trump!
"Disagree. Students need in person, professional relationships. Student management is also crucial. AI will break down if it had to handle what educators do every day. Ask those with experience in the classroom," wrote one Facebook user in the comments.
"It's true. AI is the future. But regulations and community understanding and input are a must," thought a second, as a third chimed in: "AI will do only one thing for our children and that's to show them how to take the easy route."
"We don't need AI," declared a fourth, as a fifth asked: "What does she know about AI?" "Oh for the love of... what a joke," a sixth wrote. "This is ridiculous," a seventh critic added.
"The tone deafness astounds me. Children should be vigilant about AI... as in how?" an eighth questioned. "Ignorance at its finest!" a ninth exclaimed, as a tenth added: "Cacophony of nonsense." "She should be monitoring her addled husband's use of AI," an eleventh quipped.
