Estonia Debuts AI Chatbots for High School Classrooms
IEEE Spectrum - AI
Jun 25, 2025 12:33
Eliza Strickland
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Summary
Estonia is launching the AI Leap 2025 program, introducing AI chatbots and tools to 20,000 high school students this September as part of its ongoing efforts to integrate technology into education. The initiative aims not only to provide access to AI but also to equip students with the skills to use it ethically and effectively, setting a precedent for responsible AI adoption in schools. This move reinforces Estonia’s leadership in digital innovation and could serve as a model for other countries considering AI integration in education.
Estonia has a reputation as one of the most digitally advanced nations in the world, thanks to its efficient digital platforms for government services and its startup-friendly culture. Its citizens’ digital prowess is largely due to the government’s decades-long campaign to bring technology into schools. Now, the government is launching AI Leap 2025, which will bring AI tools to an initial cohort of 20,000 high school students in September. Siim Sikkut, a former member of the Estonian government and part of the launch team, says the AI Leap program goes beyond just providing access to new technology. Its goal is to give students the skills they need to use it both ethically and effectively. Slim Sikkut Siim Sikkut served as the Estonian government’s chief information officer from 2017 to 2022, a role in which he created policies regarding digital government operations, cybersecurity, and connectivity. He is currently a managing partner at Digital Nation, an Estonian consulting firm tha