Laptops banned from US university classroom in bid to tackle student AI use

• The University of Chicago Law School has announced a ban on laptops and smartphones for incoming first-year law students.
• Starting from the 2026-2027 academic year, students will be prohibited from using electronic devices during classes.
• The policy aims to develop “AI-resilient pedagogy” and ensure students learn critical, strategic, and independent thinking without relying on artificial intelligence.
• Examinations will also be conducted in-class without access to the internet, electronic files, or apps.
• This initiative comes as the legal sector is identified as highly susceptible to AI automation, with a UK firm recently winning a case using an AI lawyer.

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University bans laptops from classes amid AI backlash