AI in Education in the Media

Moral Panic and Pushback (2022-2025)

Abstract

The brief examines the global moral panic following ChatGPT's release in late 2022 and the subsequent pushback from AI-positive voices. Initially, fears of widespread cheating led to bans in school systems worldwide, with dramatic headlines about "the death of the college essay" and education in "emergency mode." Media used crisis language and metaphors like "arms race" to frame AI as an existential threat to learning.
By mid-2023, the panic began shifting toward adaptation as early bans proved ineffective and educators began seeing potential benefits. Notable events included NYC schools reversing their ban and the International Baccalaureate allowing cited AI content in student work.
Prominent AI-positive voices emerged, including Sal Khan (Khan Academy), professors Ethan Mollick and Siva Vaidhyanathan, and high-profile publications in The New York Times and LA Times. These advocates used historical analogies (comparing AI to calculators), emphasized future-readiness skills, and framed AI as a catalyst for needed pedagogical reform rather than a threat.
By 2024-2025, the discourse had matured from initial hysteria to a more nuanced conversation about responsible integration. Though academic integrity concerns linger, the focus has shifted toward teaching AI literacy and redesigning assessments rather than futilely attempting to ban increasingly ubiquitous technology.