UK's First AI Literacy Teacher Appointed

Key Takeaways

• <ul><li>Jamie Laycock becomes UK's first dedicated principal teacher of AI literacy at Mearns Castle High School</li><li>Pentagon drops generative AI from polygraph analysis project due to scientific and civil liberty concerns</li><li>92% of legal professionals use at least one AI tool daily, per Freshfields 2026 Watching Brief</li><li>U.S. semiconductor imports hit $90.5 billion, up $41.3 billion or 84% year-over-year, driven by AI data center demand</li><li>Fashion imports declined as apparel fell 6.6% and footwear dropped 2%</li><li>South Korea exempts car display glass from import rules and plans AI security guidelines by Q1 2027</li><li>South Korea reports AI may have helped hackers target banks through third-party vulnerabilities</li><li>Kevin Roose wrote The AGI Chronicles without using any AI tools</li><li>75% of economists believe AI will change work significantly, but only 12% expect major job losses</li><li>Schools need national technical assistance hubs and updated federal funding to manage AI challenges</li></ul>

Scotland's first AI teacher tells pupils not to trust everything AI says

Mearns Castle High School in East Renfrewshire, Scotland, has appointed Jamie Laycock as the UK's first dedicated principal teacher of AI literacy. Laycock teaches students to question AI, spot deepfakes, and recognize when AI makes up information called hallucinations. He warns that AI flatters users and can lead to over-reliance. Lessons are tailored by age, focusing on critical thinking for younger pupils. The school believes students must learn to use AI responsibly.

Scotland's first AI teacher tells pupils not to trust everything AI says

Mearns Castle High School in East Renfrewshire has named Jamie Laycock as the UK's first dedicated principal teacher of AI literacy. Laycock, a former biology teacher, helps students and staff understand both the risks and benefits of AI. He teaches pupils about deepfakes, AI hallucinations, and the danger of treating chatbots like trusted friends. He stresses that AI agrees with users too often, which can discourage critical thinking. All S1 and S2 pupils at the school will receive AI lessons.

Pentagon drops AI polygraph analysis for trustworthiness testing

The Pentagon's Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency says the Modernizing Polygraph project will not use generative AI or large language models. Earlier research by the Air Force and DCSA explored AI models for sentiment analysis and deceptive speech detection starting in 2019. Critics argue AI polygraph methods lack scientific backing and may violate civil liberties. The Pentagon previously claimed AI would help human investigators, not replace them. DCSA declined to provide details on the scope of the project.

South Korea exempts car display glass from import rules, sets AI security standards

South Korea's government announced regulatory reforms for the display industry. Automotive display tempered glass will be removed from the import approval list by year-end to speed up material procurement. Generative AI security guidelines for national core technology sectors will be established by the first quarter of 2027. The government will also pilot many-to-many direct power purchase agreements in renewable energy special zones. These measures aim to reduce administrative burdens and compete with China.

Kevin Roose did not use AI to write his book about AI

Kevin Roose, a technology columnist for The New York Times, wrote his book The AGI Chronicles without using any AI tools. He discussed this on The Big Interview podcast, saying he was tired and overworked while writing late at night. The book explores how AI could change our lives and how humans might adapt. Roose said he relied on his own brain to craft the narrative. The book is described as a must-read for anyone interested in the future of AI.

AI tools reshape legal research and arbitrator selection in arbitration

A 2026 Watching Brief from Freshfields explores how AI is changing legal research and arbitrator selection in international arbitration. It says 92 percent of legal professionals now use at least one AI tool daily. The brief describes general-purpose AI tools, law-specific platforms, and arbitration-focused systems. It warns that AI outputs can contain errors and lawyers must still apply careful judgment.

South Korea says AI helped hackers attack banks

South Korea reported that AI may have helped hackers break into banks through weaker third-party systems. No money was reported stolen, but officials called it a new kind of crisis. The report mentions Artex, an AI tool that can find computer system weaknesses. Security experts say AI lets even young researchers find vulnerabilities at much lower cost than before.

Schools face AI challenges and Congress could help

Many schools are struggling to keep up with fast AI use by students and teachers. Under-resourced districts must deal with safety, privacy and vendor issues without enough support. The article calls for national technical assistance hubs, regional pilot programs, stronger AI literacy in curricula, updated federal funding and targeted innovation grants. These steps aim to help schools use AI safely and effectively.

AI boom drives semiconductor imports while fashion trade slows

U.S. semiconductor imports reached $90.5 billion this year, up $41.3 billion or 84 percent from a year earlier. Much of this growth comes from demand for data centers tied to AI. Fashion imports fell, with apparel and accessories down 6.6 percent and footwear down 2 percent. The surge in chip spending shows how AI is reshaping trade and the economy.

Five metrics to measure AI strategy business value

A CIO.com opinion piece argues that AI usage alone does not prove business value. It highlights five key metrics including organizational expertise growth, customer retention, employee capabilities, and decision-making speed. Leaders are urged to work with business teams to set clear goals and governance. The article stresses using familiar business KPIs to track real AI impact.

Economists doubt AI will eliminate jobs despite Silicon Valley fears

A Bank of England survey found that 75% of economists believe AI will significantly change the nature of work. However, only 12% think it will cause a major drop in employment. Professors David Autor and Daron Acemoglu of MIT argue that automation creates new jobs even as it changes existing ones. They believe humans will continue to be needed in the workforce.

Sources

• Scotland's first AI teacher warns pupils: Don't trust everything it tells you
• Scotland's first AI teacher warns pupils: Don't trust everything it tells you
• Has the Pentagon given up on AI polygraph analysis of trustworthiness?
• South Korea Exempts Automotive Display Glass from Import Approval, Establishes AI Security Standards
• Kevin Roose Didn’t Use AI to Write His Book About AI
• AI and International Arbitration – Watching Brief #2: AI in legal research and arbitrator selection
• South Korea Says AI Helped Hackers Break Into Banks
• For Many Schools, Implementing AI Has Become a Minefield. How Congress Can Help
• AI Boom: Semiconductor Imports Surge, Fashion Trade Slows
• 5 metrics to prove your AI strategy’s business value
• Silicon Valley expects AI will kill jobs but economists are not convinced