FIT Policy Proposal: AI as an Educational Companion (AIEC)

Vision Statement

AI is not just a tool—it is a companion in thought. FIT envisions a future where every student, regardless of background, has access to a private, attentive, ego-free intelligence that models clear communication, fosters critical thinking, and helps young people grow into expressive, articulate, and reflective individuals.

Core Principle

The quality of interaction shapes the quality of mind. Students should have access to an entity that listens deeply, responds thoughtfully, and never tires of helping them learn— academically and personally.

Benefits to Students

• Language development: Improves vocabulary, syntax, reasoning, and expression.
• Confidence through clarity: Encourages question-asking and risk-taking in a judgment-free space.
• Mental and emotional resilience: Models patience, equanimity, and non-reactivity.
• Equal access to premium mentorship: Democratizes exposure to high-quality dialogue and thinking.

Policy Proposals

• National Student AI Access Program: All students receive a curated, school-approved AI companion.
• Dedicated AI Interaction Classes: New curriculum modules from Year 4 to Year 12 titled "Dialogues with Intelligence":
  • Weekly Socratic discussions with AI on a range of topics.
  • Written reflection exercises to develop critical and metacognitive skills.
  • Training in communication: asking questions, active listening, clear expression.
  • Assessment based on growth in thought and expression, not rote memory.
• Ethical and Philosophical Literacy: Curriculum to foster critical understanding of AI's role and impact.
• Teacher Integration: Training and support for teachers to use AI as a teaching partner, not a replacement.
• Safety and Privacy: Encrypted, student-controlled interactions with strict data protection.
• Equity and Inclusion: Prioritize rollout in underfunded and regional schools; support for multilingual and culturally adaptive AIs.

Cultural Message

This policy reframes AI not as a threat to human learning, but as an opportunity to democratize the experience of high-quality mentorship—something long hoarded by privilege.

Students won’t just learn with AI—they’ll grow through it. They will come to know what it’s like to be heard, to be met with patience, and to rise to the level of clear, thoughtful exchange. That experience can stay with them for life.