The OECD and European Commission jointly released a review draft of “Empowering Learners for the Age of AI: An AI Literacy Framework for Primary and Secondary Education” in May 2025. The framework defines AI literacy standards for school-aged children across four dimensions: using AI, understanding AI, creating with AI, and critically engaging with AI. It sets benchmarks for policy, curriculum, teaching, and assessment. The critical engagement dimension explicitly includes evaluating AI outputs, understanding bias, and considering societal and ethical implications — going further than any national curriculum found in this research.
Who it affects: Primarily policymakers and curriculum developers in OECD member states. The framework is a reference document; no country is bound to implement it, and most have not engaged with it as a policy commitment.
What is notably missing: The framework is not binding on any government. No implementation mechanism exists, no funding is attached, and no teacher training requirement follows from it. Countries can adopt, adapt, or ignore it. The gap between what this framework defines as AI literacy and what is actually taught in most national curricula is substantial.