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Artificial intelligence at school: rules, risks and how to use it well

By the FAIND newsroom · Updated on 17 October 2026

Regular lattice of glowing connected dots on a dark blue background, like a grid

In brief: since September 2025 Italian schools have official guidelines on artificial intelligence. It can be used, but with rules: the teacher stays responsible for educational choices, students' data must be protected, and AI must help students learn, not do their homework for them.

In brief

Italy's school guidelines (decree 166/2025) apply from September 2025.
AI cannot decide marks and assessments: they stay with the teacher.
Used as a tutor it helps; used to copy it removes the learning itself.

The rules in Italy

The Italian Ministry of Education and Merit adopted its guidelines with decree 166 of 9 August 2025, in force since 2 September 2025. They rest on four principles: the centrality of the person, equity and inclusion, ethics and responsibility, transparency. AI may not take educational, assessment or disciplinary decisions: responsibility stays with the teacher. Schools that introduce AI tools must proceed in stages, from trials in small groups to evaluating the results, and share their projects on the ministry's Unica platform.

Privacy and student data

Schools must check that suppliers comply with the GDPR and update their privacy notices. Students, or families for minors, have the right to refuse the use of their data to train systems, without penalties and with an alternative. Many services also have a minimum age: ChatGPT, for example, cannot be used under 13, and between 13 and 18 parental consent is required.

How to use it to study (without copying)

It works well as a tutor: having a topic explained again in different words, being quizzed before a test, asking for examples and exercises, checking reasoning you have already done. It works badly if you ask it to do the homework: the text arrives, the learning does not, and often with mistakes. A practical rule: try on your own first, then use AI to check and understand where you went wrong.

The risks

The first is learning less: handing over writing and reasoning does little to train the very skills school must build. Then there are mistakes stated with confidence, invented sources and the gap between those who have tools and guidance at home and those who do not. And detectors of AI-written text are not reliable: a judgement should never rest on them alone. Why AI gets things wrong is explained in is AI reliable?

What teachers and parents can do

Teachers can use it to prepare materials, tailored exercises and alternative explanations, and say clearly in class when and how it is allowed. Parents do better talking about it with their children than banning it: ask how they use it, try it together, explain that it must always be checked. To get started there is the guide how to use artificial intelligence.

Frequently asked questions

Can artificial intelligence be used at school?

In Italy, yes: since September 2025 the Ministry of Education's guidelines regulate its use, with rules on privacy, transparency and teacher responsibility.

Is using ChatGPT for homework cheating?

It depends how. Having something explained or corrected is like using a good book; having the homework written and handing it in as your own is copying, and it removes the learning.

At what age can you use ChatGPT?

According to OpenAI's terms, from 13, and up to 18 with parental consent.

Sources

Italian Ministry of Education and Merit, decree 166 of 9 August 2025 and guidelines for introducing artificial intelligence in schools
OpenAI, terms of use