Kaspersky CEO slams AI in schools as a 'scourge'—maths matters more

Eugene Kaspersky, the CEO of cybersecurity firm Kaspersky Lab, has spoken out strongly against the use of AI in education. He calls it a 'scourge' and argues that children should focus on learning maths rather than relying on neural networks for schoolwork. Kaspersky does not use neural networks himself, despite recognising their usefulness in quickly finding information. His main concern is the potential for AI malfunctions caused by incorrect or flawed data. He believes that even a catastrophic failure linked to AI would not stop people from using the technology.

For education, he takes a firm stance. In his view, letting students use neural networks to solve school tasks is the wrong approach. Instead, he insists that traditional subjects like mathematics should remain the priority in classrooms. His warnings extend beyond education. Kaspersky has repeatedly highlighted the broader risks of AI systems failing due to bad data. Yet, he acknowledges that society is unlikely to abandon the technology, no matter how severe the consequences might be.

Kaspersky’s position is clear: AI has its place for quick information retrieval, but education should not depend on it. He sees maths as far more valuable for children’s development than interacting with neural networks. His concerns also reflect wider worries about the reliability of AI systems in critical areas.