Vancouver School Board plan to deploy Microsoft Copilot, a type of generative AI, into classrooms across the district.
We are concerned that the risks of AI have not been adequately evaluated, and that the school board has bought into the hype surrounding AI.
If you are new to AI, we would recommend starting with our page on the many reasons to be cautious of AI being deployed in schools. The reasons listed on this page are more specific to VSB’s plans to deploy Copilot.
The risks of AI outweigh the benefits
Research into the effects of AI on learning show that there are significant risks and minimal benefits. A recent Bookings Institute report summarized that negatives outweigh the positives.
Negative effects include:
AI users are unable to evaluate how much they know about a subject
Users do not critically evaluate output and defer to AI
Students use AI to solve the problem for them rather than doing it themselves
Research from Microsoft and Cambridge University found that students that used AI performed worse than those that just took notes
“The risks of AI in schools outweigh the benefits, report says”
NPR, January 14 2026
AI is not suitable for classroom use
Students should be using fact-based, reliable sources of information.
AI tools like Copilot fabricate sources, something that VSB staff have admitted in interviews.
When not “hallucinating” facts, tools like ChatGPT use information from the far-right conspiracy site Grokipedia.
AI harms children’s mental health
Chat-bots like Copilot are connected with so many mental health issues that Common Sense Media recommends that no children under 18 use them.
Children that use chat-bots often use them for advice on personal issues. This has lead to children being encouraged by chat-bots to commit suicide and chat-bots talking to children about sexual topics.
In adults, “chat-bot psychosis” caused by prolonged interaction with chat-bots, has affected many and has prompted a class-action lawsuit.
Microsoft Copilot is not safe
VSB have a contract with Microsoft to use its products in computers across the district.
Copilot is not secure
VSB point out that Copilot is better than alternatives like OpenAI or Grok. However it is still susceptible to the same “prompt injection” hacks.
Hackers were able to steal user data through a hack called “Echoleak” in June 2025, again in January 2026 through “Reprompt”, and again in February 2026.
What you can do
- Talk to other parents: Many parents are unaware of the Vancouver School Board’s plans, or are unaware of the negative effects of AI on students’ learning.
- Sign our petition: We have a petition on Action Network that we are using to collect names of parents, guardians and Vancouver residents that are concerned about Vancouver School Board using generative AI in classrooms.
- Email the School Board: You can voice your concerns directly to the school board at info@vsb.bc.ca
- Print the poster: Put up the poster (linked below) wherever you have permission.
- Talk to your school: Ask if administrators are aware of VSB’s plans, and if or how they plan to use Copilot in the classroom. Ask if they know about research on the harms of AI. Ask teachers if they are already using AI in the classroom, many already are!
- Get involved: We are a group of volunteers, if you have time to help out, check out our About page for more info.
Quotes from people who signed our petition
A UBC Professor“The peer-reviewed literature is clear that generative AI harms student learning.”
C. K., VSB Parent“Research on this technology is not sufficient for it to be integrated into learning in a safe and beneficial way.”
L. S., Vancouver Resident“AI is not an appropriate tool for children.”
C. D., Vancouver Resident“AI is going to cause cognitive atrophy in kids and is dangerous for developing brains.”
A. E., Vancouver Resident“Generative AI is most often used for cheating and will slow development of children.”
A UBC Professor“AI does not belong in classrooms. It robs kids of the ability to develop basic cognitive skills in addition to critical thinking.”
Statements by Vancouver School Board
In an interview on CBC with Vancouver School Board Digital Literacy Mentor, the interviewer asked “Have you noticed a decline in students when they’re using AI, whether it’s those critical thinking skills, whether their grades are going down? Is there any metric for that?”
She responded:
“I wouldn’t say that there’s a metric.
Christina Walker — Vancouver School Board Digital Literacy Mentor
There isn’t really a metric just yet”
This is inaccurate. There are a host of metrics being used to evaluate the negative effects of AI on learning.
When asked for scientific research that VSB used when they decided that AI should be put in classrooms, the Vancouver School Board District Principal responded with:
“the interesting thing about research is,
Zhi Su — Vancouver School Board District Principal
if you go looking for it, you’ll find it“
It seems that Zhi Su views scientific peer-reviewed research as no different from articles published online. When pressed further he pointed to the University of British Columbia web page on Guidelines for Generative AI, which is not peer-reviewed scientific research and does not discuss the merits of AI in classrooms.
More Statements by VSB
There is still a lot that is unclear about how VSB plans to deploy Copilot into classrooms, but how they view AI and its role in the classroom is made clearer by what they have said in podcasts.
- CBC Interview with Christina Walker, VSB Digital Literacy Mentor
- This is Vancouver – “What are Vancouver schools doing about AI and fake news?” Transcript
- After the Bell: Episode 23: AI Learning