One question comes up every time a parent walks through the door of our Rabat campus: "Isn't it too soon?" For children of seven, AI seems an adult subject, a technical terrain, an abstract matter. And yet, cognitive science research, the observation of pilot cohorts and plain common sense all converge: it is precisely at this age that one must begin — provided things are done well.

A cognitive window open between 6 and 11 years

The work of Piaget and contemporary developmental psychology shows that the 6-11 age range is the period of concrete operational thought. The child handles, classifies, orders — it is the ideal age to grasp the concepts of algorithm, rule and classification, which lie at the heart of AI. Later, in adolescence, critical thinking develops: we then teach biases, limits, and how models are built. But without the familiarity acquired early, critique remains theoretical.

An economy that values a rare skill in Morocco

The Kingdom currently trains a few thousand AI engineers a year. Yet the need already runs into the tens of thousands, and demand is growing. Preparing a child today means opening up access to a labour market in which the shortage will be lasting. This is not a cynical calculation: it is a responsible parental act, in a country that is transforming.

A cultural stake that goes beyond the individual

For centuries, Morocco was a leading scientific home. The astronomers of Fez passed on to Europe the very word zenith from which our centre takes its name. To reconnect with this tradition of rigorous transmission is also to give back to Moroccan children a pride no school textbook tells well enough.

But on one condition: no screen without creation

All of this only holds if the pedagogy is right. That is why our AI Explorers workshops strictly limit screen time (45 minutes maximum out of 90), systematically pair screen time with hands-on time, and involve parents. Without this rigour, exposing a 7-year-old to AI would be counter-productive. With it, it is one of the most lasting gifts one can offer.

To find out more, read the detailed presentation of the AI Explorers programme or visit the campus on a Saturday morning.