• by Sarah Mahoney , 2 hours ago

Lego is taking its “Rebuild the World” marketing platform in a new direction, diving deeper into the AI education debate. As experts argue how -- and even if -- AI should be used in classrooms, the toy giant is introducing Lego Education Computer Science & AI, a hands-on curriculum for K–8 students. The system is built to teach core computer science concepts at every grade level, offering basic AI literacy and collaborative problem-solving.

With $340 kits (designed for four students), the effort is aimed squarely at teachers, not parents. And it marks Lego’s most direct move yet into the way children are learning about -- and debating -- emerging tech.

The launch’s most surprising feature, though, is its premise: Kids, who will live with AI the longest and are already using it in ways their parents and teachers don’t understand, should have a voice in how it is used. That’s a contentious stance at a moment when policymakers, parents, and advocacy groups are worried about protecting kids from AI risks, and still arguing whether AI belongs in classrooms at all.

The launch includes a film, featuring one teacher guiding her students in crafting an effective AI policy that makes sense to them. And the entire effort focuses on collaboration between kids. "We have a vision for kids learning, building, and coding together— moving away from classrooms where kids work individually on computers with headphones on," said Atish Gonsalves, the company’s head of product, computer science and AI, in the announcement.

The company says the idea stemmed from growing research that teachers feel ill-equipped to teach AI literacy, and that kids are often bored by current computer science lessons. And 90% of kids say they want to learn more about AI use, with two-thirds reporting they feel shut out of the conversation."The future will be led by children who don't just use technology -- they understand it, question it, and ultimately build a better world with it," said Andrew Sliwinski, head of product experience, Lego Education, in the release. "AI presents incredible opportunities for learning, but it must be introduced with intention and care. This is why we developed a solution for the classroom grounded in the Lego Group's values of child safety, privacy, and well-being.”

The debut lines up with Lego’s consumer-facing launches too: At last week’s CES, the company introduced Lego Smart Play, a new platform that uses sensors, sound and light to make physical Lego builds respond in real time -- without screens or apps.

While there are plenty advocating the benefits of AI for kids, not to mention looking to make monetize it, many oppose it.

Fairplay, an advocacy group that promotes “childhood beyond brands,” argues AI toys pose developmental, emotional, and safety risks to young children by mimicking friendship, harvesting sensitive data, and even using the same AI systems that have already produced harmful outputs for older kids. In their view, these products exploit children’s trust, displace real play and social learning, and introduce corporate surveillance into family life — making them fundamentally inappropriate for kids.