The nonprofit organization Digital Promise has recently launched a new initiative aimed at simplifying the selection of AI-driven educational tools. The Responsibly Designed AI Product Certification program seeks to assist school administrators in choosing technology that aligns with crucial requirements pertaining to student learning and safety.

As outlined in a recent news release, the certification focuses on several key aspects:

• Clear data collection and usage explanations.
• A robust response plan for potential data breaches.
• Monitoring for algorithmic bias throughout development.
• Specification of how and when AI is utilized in the product.
• Options for educators to override AI outputs when necessary.

School districts across the United States are encouraged to incorporate this certification into their purchasing processes. Lorne Rodriguez, Enterprise GenAI Manager from Chicago Public Schools, shared insights from his district’s experience with a pilot program designed to refine the certification. He stated, ‘The Responsibly Designed AI certification provides a simple and transparent way for district leaders to validate that these tools are implementing AI in a way that is fair, unbiased, and beneficial to all students.’

Digital Promise’s call to action encourages educational institutions to explore third-party certifications to facilitate vendor evaluation, emphasizing the importance of high standards in educational technology. As highlighted on their website, over 150 ed-tech product certifications are currently available, including six directly issued by Digital Promise.