Artificial Intelligence (AI) has been introduced as a subject in classes VIII, IX and X from the session 2019 to 2020 in CBSE schools, said the Union Minister for Human Resource Development (HRD), Dr Ramesh Pokhriyal'Nishank' in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha on 5 December 2019. The initiative has been undertaken in schools affiliated with Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) in order to enhance the multidisciplinary approach in teaching-learning and to sensitize the new generation, according to a PIB release. While AI has been introduced as a subject for class IX students, a twelve hours'Inspire' module on artificial intelligence has also been announced, which schools can take up with the students of class VIII. The study material for teaching artificial intelligence in classes VIII and IX has already been provided to schools through the official CBSE website. CBSE has collaborated with several organizations such as Intel, IBM, Microsoft, Private Schools, and so on.

HYDERABAD: Data acquisition, Python and neutral networks are few topics that students of classes 8 and 9 will be exposed to as part of the artificial intelligence (AI) curriculum, which many Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE)-affiliated city schools are set to adopt from academic year 2020-21. Early this year, the CBSE had proposed to offer AI as a skill-set to keep up with the changing technology. Following this, the CBSE recently released the AI curriculum facilitator's handbook, which details various topics such as AI ethics, problem scoping, data acquisition, exploration and modelling. Curated by Intel, the curriculum will not only make students inquisitive but will also teach them basic tools that are required to develop AI-based solutions. For example, in Unit 1, students will be asked to prepare a dream smart home by including any gadgets or devices that they think will make their homes unique.

After introducing Artificial Intelligence (AI) as an optional skill subject in its schools, the CBSE is now pushing to integrate it with other subjects across all classes. It plans to begin training teachers to this end in the coming months. AI was introduced as an optional skill subject for class IX in the beginning of this year, with the curriculum introducing students to the three domains of AI -- data, computer vision and natural language processing. "…AI is a cognitive science which can be linked to various subjects that concern themselves with cognition and reasoning. Almost every school subject would fall in this domain… It is therefore mandated by the CBSE that all its schools would begin to integrate AI with other disciplines from classes I-XII," read a handbook prepared by the board.

For those unaware, artificial or machine intelligence is the ability of computer systems to learn skills and perform tasks requiring human intelligence and decision making. It is being employed in a range of fields and is already beating biological intelligence of mankind in many ways. Put simply, from speech recognition and automobiles to simple gaming, AI is driving the future of almost every industry.