Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an announced a four-year, NT$9.2 billion (US$288 million) AI education plan yesterday, setting aside funds to install smart screens in every city classroom and build an AI education center-the first of its kind in Asia.
The plan upgrades the Taipei City CooC Cloud digital learning platform into an AI-powered assistant. The system would help students learn independently and reduce teachers' workloads, including grading exams. Each classroom would receive a smart screen, and new technologies such as robots, drones, and AI of Things would be folded into the curriculum alongside a STEAM approach.
The city will also adopt edge computing systems with graphics processing units, giving students direct experience with AI hardware, Chiang said.
Asia's first AI education center
The planned AI education center at Beitou Shilin Technology Park would serve as the core hub for Taipei's AI education policy. Chiang said the facility, the first of its kind in Asia, would coordinate teacher training and course design, foster industry-academia collaboration, and develop students who can use AI responsibly.
Students would be "digital citizens" - competent with technology and able to detect irresponsible or abusive use, Chiang said.
Ethics and responsibility
The Taipei Department of Education said AI education involves more than teaching tool skills; it requires teaching students to use technology ethically and protect personal information. This focus on responsible use anchors the new policy.
Google Taiwan CEO Tina Lin, speaking at the policy event, said education is transforming and that talent development must go hand in hand with digital governance and smart learning.
Why this matters for educators
The Taipei plan shows a city treating AI in schools as long-term infrastructure, not just a gadget rollout. The dedicated center for teacher training and course design signals that professional development is central to the strategy, not an afterthought. For educators worldwide, the plan's dual emphasis on technical skills and ethical responsibility mirrors the growing expectation that AI literacy means understanding both the technology and its societal impact.
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