A Conceptual Framework for AI Literacy with a Focus on Competency

This conceptual paper outlines what artificial intelligence education can consider and aim for holistically by proposing a new competency framework for AI literacy. Although many researchers have agreed on the need to enhance artificial intelligence (AI) literacy through AI education, the existing studies introducing AI literacy tend to discuss the term using a variety of meanings. Since literacy is a fundamental ability to solve high-level problems as a competency, a holistic perspective is needed to ensure a full comprehension of AI education. To clarify this issue, this article starts by providing an overview of the various perspectives on AI literacy taken from 16 previous studies, classifying them into four main categories, and discussing each perspective. Since AI literacy is considered the major outcome of proper AI education, this article explores the concept of competency as a holistic lens through which to synthesize the classification. A competency learning framework (CoLeaF) is discussed as a rationale for proposing a new conceptual framework for AI literacy by mapping each component of knowledge, skills, dispositions, and context with the classifications derived in this study. A new conceptual framework, the AI Literacy Framework from a Competency Perspective, is then proposed by integrating various perspectives on AI literacy from existing studies into one holistic approach. Based on the proposed framework, this conceptual paper provides a holistic view of AI literacy from a competency perspective and highlights the need to continue discussing competencies within the field of AI literacy.