# What is AI literacy?

> AI literacy is knowing what AI can and can't do and using it well and responsibly. Here's what it covers for students, teachers and staff.

Learn · Glossary

AI literacy is knowing what AI is, what it can and can't do, how to use it well for real work, and how to use it responsibly, including its risks to privacy, fairness and truth.

- Page: https://sparkmentis.ai/learn/ai-literacy

## What it covers

- How AI tools work, in plain words
- Asking well and checking the output
- Where AI fails: made-up facts, bias, overconfidence
- Privacy, safety and honesty in schoolwork

## Why schools need it

Students already use AI. Without AI literacy they use it to skip the thinking; with it, they use it to think better. Teachers need it too, to set work that AI can't simply do.

## Questions

**At what age should AI literacy start?**

Basics can start in middle school; SparkLab's student programs start at grade 7.

**Do students need to code?**

No. AI literacy comes before coding.

## Related

- [AI literacy program](https://sparkmentis.ai/features/ai-literacy-program.md): SparkLab
- [AI training for teachers](https://sparkmentis.ai/features/ai-training-for-teachers.md): SparkLab
- [Generative AI in education](https://sparkmentis.ai/learn/generative-ai-in-education.md): Glossary

## Book a demo

Email info@sparkmentis.ai (subject "SparkMentis demo request") with your organization, your role and the products you're interested in.