AI is the New Sex Education:

A neon green sticky note with "A.I." written and underlined on it, held by an out of focus man with a dark mustache and beard.
Is AI the new Post-It Note?
(photo credit: Hitesh Choudhary, Unsplash)


Why "Just Say No" to Artificial Intelligence Won't Work (And What Will)

(For the video version, watch here: https://youtu.be/rqJeBwvd1Is)


Picture this: It's 1995, and your health teacher is standing in front of your class saying, "The best way to avoid pregnancy? Just don't have sex!"

Fast forward to today, and school administrators are saying, "The best way to handle AI? Just don't use it!"

Both approaches work about as well as telling teenagers not to text between classes.


A person wearing silver circular glasses and a white T-shirt with a photo of Home Alone's Kevin McCallister screaming on the front, and the person is screaming like Kevin.

The panic has traveled all the way from 1990.

The Great AI Panic: Scholastic Edition


"Abstinence Education Didn't Work for Sex — It Won't Work for AI, Either" isn't just a catchy title for my next TED talk (though I do like it 🙂). It's about harnessing the vitality that comes from bold ideas and pushing boundaries, instead of building walls around them.

What's happening right now is draining the energy right out of our educational systems: 78% of parents think using AI tools equals cheating, while one in five school districts has banned students from using AI entirely. Students who use AI are getting labeled as lazy. Multilingual kids and neurodivergent learners are facing unfair accusations because their writing doesn't fit some imaginary "normal" box. Teachers are stressed out, caught between "Don't let them use it!" policies and the reality that their students are already using ChatGPT to help with everything from essay brainstorming to math homework.

A photo of a small white robot looking at you with big dark eyes, holding a tablet.

“They’re here.”

Prohibition Does Not Work (Ask the 1920s).


Let’s stop trying to put genies back in bottles. Let’s start building momentum toward something better. Students are already using AI. Therefore, how can we fuel innovation by teaching them how to use it responsibly, critically, and ethically?

I have witnessed both the innovation and the productivity that emerges when we get this right. When teachers have the tools and confidence to engage with AI thoughtfully, magic happens. 🪄✨ In fact, 53% of educational institutions report that AI considerably increases student engagement. Students learn to craft better prompts, evaluate sources, and think critically about the information they're getting. They develop digital citizenship skills that will serve them for life. 



A photo of a small hand holding up a red and orange maple leaf, in front of a green background.

Let us look to Canada, represented by this leaf.

Ontario: A Tale of Two Approaches


We don't have to look far (at least, I don’t) to see what this looks like in practice. For example, in Ottawa, we have a living laboratory of what happens when we choose engagement over avoidance. The Ottawa Catholic School Board just won the 2024 EdTech K-12 District of the Year award for their pioneering AI education initiatives. And, I was there to see it. Conversely,  the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board is still developing their AI policy — with students asking for a seat at the table. This is not only about technology; it's about whether we trust our young people to be part of the solution. 


A phone of six adults standing in front of a chalkboard, giving a thumbs up with their right hands.

Our solution? Thumbs.


The Real Solution: Better Conversations, Not More Restrictions


Instead of "Just say no," let's say, "Yes, and..." with resources to back it up. For an economic perspective, the future AI education market will grow to $20 billion by 2027. Will we shape that future, or will we let fear keep us on the sidelines?


A purple photo with the white words, “How do large language models work?”

How do they work? 🤔 Thumbs.

What This Looks Like in Practice


Imagine a classroom where…

- Students learn to craft better prompts and evaluate AI-generated responses.

- Teachers use AI as a teaching assistant, not a replacement.

- Critical thinking about sources becomes second nature.

- Digital citizenship is woven into every lesson.

- Multilingual and neurodivergent students are celebrated for their unique perspectives, not penalized.

This is not some distant utopia. It is happening right now in classrooms where educators have chosen engagement over fear.


A woman in a long sleeved white buttoned down shirt and a black shirt, gesturing to the green chalkboard with the yellow words “Back to school”.

Give this stock photo teacher money. And help.

Be the Change.


My call to action is simple: 

Find one teacher in your community this week and ask them what they need to feel confident teaching AI literacy. Then help them get it — whether that's training, resources, or just moral support. 


A blue photo of a mechanical hand pointing at white constellation.

Where am I going with this? Right there.

The Bottom Line


I want you–yes, you, the person reading this article–to feel energized by the possibility of being part of something bigger. When we stop building walls around innovation and start building bridges to understanding, we don't just change AI, we don’t just change education — we change everything.

How will you be the change that the world of AI needs?

Tell me in the comments. ⤵️