Digital Equity in the Age of AI: Insights From Digital Promise

• In Event: Roundtable Session 6
  In Refereed Roundtable Session: Future-Proofing Education: The What, Why, and How of Building a Digitally Intelligent Generation

Proposal

What happens to students left behind in the race for AI literacy? As artificial intelligence transforms industries and societies, the question of who gets access to the skills and tools of the future and who doesn’t is urgent and vital. This presentation tackles the growing concern over the digital divide in education and its far-reaching consequences. This formal presentation will explore how inequitable access to AI literacy and digital intelligence education perpetuates social and economic exclusion, particularly among marginalized communities.

Drawing on Digital Promise’s work in underserved communities, this presentation will dive into the digital disparities and showcase how the lack of access to devices, broadband, and digital literacy leaves whole communities behind. The research will stress that without immediate intervention, the educational divide will only deepen, making it harder for marginalized students to compete in the increasingly digitally-driven economy.

It also expands current conversations on the digital divide to focus on AI literacy as a transformative factor. While much of the existing literature has focused on traditional gaps in technology access, this work aims to shed light on how AI can create new layers of inequity if not addressed through deliberate policy and practice. It posits that AI literacy should be a fundamental aspect of educational reform, especially for students in underserved communities, and provides a strong case for it.

In this presentation, insights from Digital Promise’s AI literacy initiatives, along with program evaluations and data from communities impacted by the digital divide, will offer a thorough understanding of how digital inequity manifests on the ground. It will suggest strategies to overcome systemic barriers, emphasizing the creation of culturally responsive AI literacy curricula and professional development programs for teachers. It will also examine how governments and policymakers can establish supportive policy frameworks that guarantee equitable access to AI tools and learning experiences. The aim is not only to bridge the technical skills gap but also to promote ethical engagement with AI technologies in classrooms worldwide.

Pairing a critical analysis of existing disparities in AI literacy with evidence-based actionable solutions, this presentation outlines a potential roadmap for expanding AI education to all students. It stresses what needs to be repeated time and again and is still not enough - the importance of collaboration among policymakers, educators, and communities to close the digital divide.

Author

• Charles Camden Hanzlick-Burton, Digital Promise