From Disney+ to College Degrees: What today’s A.I. headlines mean for K–12 classrooms
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Disney’s A.I. move creates a teaching opportunity for digital literacy
The Gist: Disney recently announced a partnership with OpenAI that will allow users to create short-form videos using iconic characters like Mickey Mouse, Cinderella, and Yoda through the A.I. video tool Sora. Once created, certain fan-created videos will also be available to stream on Disney+. This move reflects how entertainment is adapting to the platforms and formats younger audiences already use and creates a teaching moment about A.I.’s capabilities, ethical considerations, and future opportunities for students, tying directly into digital literacy and real-world tech awareness
What to Know: As part of the three-year agreement, Sora users will be able to generate short videos featuring Disney characters using text prompts. It’s important to note that Disney is placing limits on how characters can be portrayed. A curated selection of these videos will also be available on Disney+, giving the platform a foothold in short-form, A.I.-assisted content that has proven popular on platforms like YouTube and TikTok.
As A.I.-generated media spreads to new platforms and streaming services, students may find it harder to tell how content is made or who is behind it. Understanding whether content is human-created, A.I.-assisted, or fully generated helps students think critically about originality, ownership, and ethical use. This shift continues to highlight the importance of A.I. Literacy as an essential skill for navigating modern media and digital creativity.
TSI’s Take: Disney’s move highlights why students need tools to understand the media they consume every day. A.I. can expand creativity, but students benefit most when they know how these tools work and what responsibilities come with navigating them. Schools can support students by encouraging them to:
- Help students become critical viewers, not just consumers: Encourage students to ask: Who created this? What choices did A.I. make? What might be missing or exaggerated?
- Emphasize creativity with A.I., not replacement by A.I.: Remind students to focus on their ideas, storytelling choices, and intentions when engaging with or discussing A.I.-generated videos. Remember: A.I. can be a creative assistant, but should never be the author or artist.
- Connect A.I. videos to digital citizenship: Just because A.I. can create content doesn’t mean everything should be created or shared. With skills like critical thinking, character, and confidence, students can know when to create with A.I. and when not to.
In the #WinAtSocial Lesson, A.I and human creativity, students learn how technology shapes the content they see and share online. Request a demo to preview the lesson now!
McDonald’s A.I. ad backlash proves we still value human creativity
The Gist: McDonald’s recently pulled an A.I.-generated holiday advertisement after viewers described it as unsettling and inauthentic. The public response sparked conversation about creativity, trust, and how large companies should be using emerging technology. This moment highlights an important lesson for students about balance, intention, and the role A.I. should play in creative work and careers.
What to Know: The 45-second advertisement that was created using artificial intelligence quickly received criticism from viewers who felt the content lacked authenticity, emotional connection, and did not portray the spirit of the holidays. As part of the backlash, many expressed concern about the growing use of A.I. in creative industries and questioned whether large corporations should rely on technology instead of hiring human creatives.
While A.I. may be a cost-effective tool for small businesses with limited resources, critics pointed out that companies with significant budgets are not bound by the same constraints. In response to the backlash, Melanie Bridge, CEO of the production company The Sweetshop Films, defended the use of A.I. by stating, “It’s never about replacing the craft, it’s about expanding the toolbox.” The reaction revealed that audiences still value storytelling that feels human, thoughtful, and intentional.
TSI’s Take: The backlash this A.I.-generated ad received reinforces that A.I. works best when it supports creativity rather than leads it. Helping students understand this balance prepares them for a future where A.I. will be present across many careers, but never replaces effort and creativity. Here are three key ways to prepare students for a future where A.I. is a tool, not a replacement for work:
- Build human skills A.I. can’t replace: Prioritize skills like communication, problem-solving, creativity, and emotional intelligence across subjects.
- Teach students how to work with A.I.: Model how A.I. can support brainstorming, organizing ideas, or exploring other perspectives, while students remain responsible for the thinking and the final product.
- Practice responsible decision-making: Huddle with students about ethics, fairness, and accountability in each class. When students learn to navigate A.I. with intention and respect, they’re not just learning a tool; they’re building future-ready skills.
Want to help students navigate A.I. with confidence and integrity? Explore the #WinAtSocial Lesson, Impact of A.I. on creative careers, where students learn how to use tools within creative careers, while staying true to their voice and values.
Higher education continues to place value in A.I. fluency
The Gist: Purdue University has approved a new graduation requirement that will ask all undergraduates to demonstrate basic A.I. competency, signaling a growing shift in how higher education prepares students for the future. This move highlights how A.I. fluency is quickly becoming a foundational skill and reinforces the importance of preparing students earlier, well before they reach college.
What to Know: Starting in 2026, incoming students at Purdue University will be required to demonstrate a working knowledge of artificial intelligence before they graduate. Rather than adding extra courses, the requirement will be embedded into existing programs, ensuring students understand that A.I. is now embedded across all disciplines. Purdue leaders emphasized that the goal is not technical mastery, but practical understanding that supports critical thinking and responsible decision-making.
While Purdue’s announcement marks a major step, it is part of a broader trend in higher education. The Ohio State University has launched a similar A.I. fluency initiative that integrates A.I. learning into coursework and workshops across disciplines. At the same time, students are already using A.I. long before college. Through #WinAtSocial Insights, we discovered that 57% percent of 10th-grade students regularly use A.I., reinforcing that A.I. Literacy must start earlier than their freshman year of college.
TSI’s Take: As colleges continue to see the importance of teaching their students about artificial intelligence, K–12 schools have an opportunity to prepare students now by building awareness, accountability, and balance around A.I. Helping students understand how A.I. works, when it should be used, and when human judgment should lead sets them up for long-term success. Schools can support students by encouraging them to:
- Build foundational A.I. awareness early: Understanding how tools work supports safer and more informed choices.
- Strengthen accountability: Put together a strong A.I. policy (co-created with your students) to make sure A.I. does not replace responsibility for learning or decision-making.
- Prepare for future expectations: Career readiness now includes knowing how to use A.I. thoughtfully and ethically.
Want to help students build A.I. fluency while balancing privacy and safety? Explore the #WinAtSocial Lesson, A.I. for everyday help, where students learn how to navigate A.I. responsibly, think critically about its impact, and stay accountable for their choices.
When schools help students think critically, create responsibly, and understand where human judgment still leads, A.I. becomes a powerful tool — not a shortcut or substitute. Start building A.I. literacy early with #WinAtSocial to equip students to navigate technology with confidence, integrity, and purpose.
The Social Institute (TSI) is the leader in equipping students, families, and educators with modern life skills to impact learning, well-being, and students’ futures. Through #WinAtSocial, our interactive, peer-to-peer learning platform, we integrate teacher PD, family resources, student voice insights, and more to empower entire school communities to make positive choices online and offline. #WinAtSocial Lessons teach essential skills while capturing student voice and actionable insights for educators. These insights help educators maintain a healthy school culture, foster high-impact teaching, and build meaningful relationships with families. Our unique, student-respected approach empowers and equips students authentically, enabling our solution to increase classroom participation and improve student-teacher relationships. Through our one-of-a-kind lesson development process, we create lessons for a variety of core and elective classes, incorporating timely topics such as social media, A.I., screen time, misinformation, and current events to help schools stay proactive in supporting student health, happiness, and academic success.