  Artificial intelligence (AI), which enables machines to learn to perform a
task by training on diverse datasets, is one of the most revolutionary
developments in scientific history. Although AI and especially deep learning is
relatively new, it has already had transformative impact on medicine, biology,
transportation, entertainment, and beyond. As AI changes our daily lives at an
increasingly fast pace, we are challenged with preparing our society for an
AI-driven future. To this end, a critical step is to ensure an AI-ready
workforce through education. Advocates of beginning instruction of AI basics at
the K-12 level typically note benefits to the workforce, economy, and national
security. In this complementary perspective, we discuss why learning AI is
beneficial for motivating students and promoting creative thinking, and how to
develop a module-based approach that optimizes learning outcomes. We hope to
excite and engage more members of the education community to join the effort to
advance K-12 AI education in the USA and worldwide.
