Introducing CALS™
Global Council for
AI Literacy Standards

Introducing CALS™
Global Council for
AI Literacy Standards

Artificial intelligence now shapes how we learn, work, and interact, yet the world still lacks a shared definition of AI literacy and a reliable way to measure it.
CALS exists to provide that foundation.

Download Whitepaper

Download Whitepaper

Our Mission

A global standard for AI literacy grounded in equity, clarity, and responsibility.

Architecture that stands for clarity and purpose.

Architecture that stands for clarity and purpose.

CALS exists to define and steward internationally recognized standards for AI literacy, ensuring that individuals, institutions, and societies can collaborate with AI responsibly and confidently. Guided by scientific rigor and global consultation, our work focuses on making AI literacy measurable, equitable, and accessible: across education, workforce development, and public life.


We believe AI literacy is not merely technical knowledge but a foundational human capability. As AI becomes embedded in everyday decision-making, communication, and learning, CALS establishes the structure needed for responsible adoption: a shared language, validated measures, and transparent governance. By grounding our work in independence, neutrality, and public benefit, we support systems, not just users, in navigating an AI-enabled future.

About

About

The CALS™ 15 Standard
AIL - 1.0

At its core is CALS-15, a structured competency model grouped into five capability domains. These domains apply across age groups, cultures, languages, and professional contexts, forming a foundation for curriculum alignment, assessment, and policy design.

RESET 7 LABS

Implementation in Practice

Discover the full range of services that shape lasting architecture.

Discover the full range of services that shape lasting architecture.

The CALS Standard is designed for real-world use across education, workforce development, and public sector systems. As adoption expands, organizations may align instruction, policy, assessment, and accreditation to the framework.


Reset7 Labs serves as the first accredited implementer of the standard. Their assessment platform operationalizes CALS-15 through scenario-based tasks and AI-mediated interaction, providing measurable proficiency levels and individual reporting aligned to CALS™ 15 Standard AIL - 1.0. As the standard matures, additional implementers will be accredited to ensure regional relevance, multilingual access, and diverse application across sectors.


*The conceptual model behind the standard was originally developed at Reset7 Labs, but full stewardship was voluntarily transferred to CALS to ensure neutrality, open research access, and independent global governance.

From early strategy to detailed delivery, we combine expertise and vision to ensure that every project feels cohesive, intentional, and built to last.

From early strategy to detailed delivery, we combine expertise and vision to ensure that every project feels cohesive, intentional, and built to last.

CALS™
Global Consortium

Join a team of global collaborators

Join a team of global collaborators

The CALS Global Consortium brings together ministries, universities, research groups, and organizations working to advance responsible and measurable AI literacy worldwide. The consortium creates a shared space for collaboration, policy alignment, and field implementation — ensuring the standard reflects diverse educational, cultural, and sector contexts.

Members contribute insight, research, and feedback from practice, supporting translation, localization, and evidence-building as the standard matures. While the consortium informs development, formal governance remains independent under CALS to protect neutrality, scientific rigor, and global relevance.

Apply to Join

Apply to Join

01

Institutional Members

Universities, school networks, and workforce development organizations participating in implementation, curriculum alignment, and adoption pathways.

01

Institutional Members

Universities, school networks, and workforce development organizations participating in implementation, curriculum alignment, and adoption pathways.

02

Government & National Bodies

Ministries, regulators, and accreditation agencies contributing policy alignment, national frameworks, and responsible governance of AI literacy.

02

Government & National Bodies

Ministries, regulators, and accreditation agencies contributing policy alignment, national frameworks, and responsible governance of AI literacy.

03

Research Partners

Academic labs, think tanks, and evaluation bodies supporting validation studies, cultural adaptation, longitudinal measurement, and open research access.

03

Research Partners

Academic labs, think tanks, and evaluation bodies supporting validation studies, cultural adaptation, longitudinal measurement, and open research access.

04

Expert Fellows

Scholars, educators, and practitioners who contribute domain expertise, contextual knowledge, and critical review during standards development.

04

Expert Fellows

Scholars, educators, and practitioners who contribute domain expertise, contextual knowledge, and critical review during standards development.

What partners and institutions ask most.

FAQ

FAQ

Choosing a standards framework is a long-term decision. Institutions, ministries, and partners need clarity on what CALS is, how it is governed, and how it can be adopted. The questions below reflect the issues most often raised in early conversations with education systems, workforce leaders, and public-sector stakeholders.

What is CALS International?

CALS International (Global Council for AI Literacy Standards) is an independent, nonprofit standards body that defines, governs, and validates global standards for AI literacy and human–AI capability. Its role is to provide a neutral framework that education systems, employers, and governments can align to—rather than to sell tools or curricula.

How does CALS define AI literacy?

CALS defines AI literacy as the knowledge, skills, dispositions, and ethical grounding required to understand, evaluate, and collaborate effectively with AI systems in ways that enhance human decision-making, creativity, problem-solving, and societal well-being. The focus is on human capability, not on building AI systems themselves.

What is AIL-1.0 and the CALS-15 model?

AIL-1.0 is the first CALS standard for AI literacy. At its core is CALS-15, a competency model made up of 15 measurable items grouped into five domains: Clarity, Creativity, Collaboration, Criticality, and Conscience. These competencies are assessed through observable behaviors and proficiency levels, enabling cross-age, cross-sector, and cross-cultural comparability.

How is CALS different from digital literacy or vendor certifications?

Digital literacy frameworks typically focus on general technology use—using devices, browsing, or basic ICT skills—while vendor certifications often measure familiarity with a specific platform or tool. CALS instead defines human–AI capability: how people reason with, question, co-create with, and ethically supervise AI systems across any platform. It is tool-agnostic, grounded in cognitive and ethical constructs rather than product features.

Is the standard tied to any commercial tool or body?

No. CALS is explicitly neutral and independent from vendors or platforms. The standard governs conceptual frameworks, competencies, assessment principles, and ethical requirements—not specific technologies. Implementation can be carried out by accredited organizations, but governance remains fully separate to protect neutrality and scientific integrity.

What is the relationship between CALS and Reset7 Labs?

The underlying C5 conceptual model was originally developed and prototyped by researchers at Reset7 Labs. To ensure neutrality, transparency, and global participation, Reset7 voluntarily transferred stewardship of the framework to CALS. CALS now governs the standard, while Reset7 serves as the first accredited implementer of a CALS-aligned assessment. Additional implementers may be accredited under CALS policies as the standard evolves.

How is the standard validated and updated over time?

CALS coordinates a multi-year research and validation agenda including psychometric validation, cross-cultural and linguistic studies, longitudinal research, and impact evaluation. Revisions follow a formal cycle: proposal, working-group drafting, public consultation, pilot testing, technical validation, and council approval. This ensures the standard remains empirically grounded and responsive to technological and societal change.

How can institutions, ministries, or organizations adopt CALS?

Adoption can take several forms: aligning curricula and learning outcomes to CALS-15, integrating AI literacy benchmarks into assessments, using CALS as a reference for teacher or workforce training, or embedding it in national AI strategies and accreditation frameworks. Many systems begin with pilots or alignment studies before moving to formal policy integration.

What is the CALS Global Consortium, and who can join?

The CALS Global Consortium is a participation framework for universities, school networks, ministries, research organizations, and expert fellows who wish to collaborate without holding a formal governance role. Members contribute to pilots, research, localization, and knowledge exchange, while decision-making authority remains with the CALS governing bodies to preserve independence.

How can an organization become an accredited implementer?

Organizations that wish to operationalize the standard in assessments or tools may apply for accreditation. Accreditation requires adherence to CALS assessment principles, ethical and privacy requirements, and technical quality standards, including evidence of validity and reliability. Accredited implementers are listed by CALS but do not influence the governance of the standard itself.

What is CALS International?

CALS International (Global Council for AI Literacy Standards) is an independent, nonprofit standards body that defines, governs, and validates global standards for AI literacy and human–AI capability. Its role is to provide a neutral framework that education systems, employers, and governments can align to—rather than to sell tools or curricula.

How does CALS define AI literacy?

CALS defines AI literacy as the knowledge, skills, dispositions, and ethical grounding required to understand, evaluate, and collaborate effectively with AI systems in ways that enhance human decision-making, creativity, problem-solving, and societal well-being. The focus is on human capability, not on building AI systems themselves.

What is AIL-1.0 and the CALS-15 model?

AIL-1.0 is the first CALS standard for AI literacy. At its core is CALS-15, a competency model made up of 15 measurable items grouped into five domains: Clarity, Creativity, Collaboration, Criticality, and Conscience. These competencies are assessed through observable behaviors and proficiency levels, enabling cross-age, cross-sector, and cross-cultural comparability.

How is CALS different from digital literacy or vendor certifications?

Digital literacy frameworks typically focus on general technology use—using devices, browsing, or basic ICT skills—while vendor certifications often measure familiarity with a specific platform or tool. CALS instead defines human–AI capability: how people reason with, question, co-create with, and ethically supervise AI systems across any platform. It is tool-agnostic, grounded in cognitive and ethical constructs rather than product features.

Is the standard tied to any commercial tool or body?

No. CALS is explicitly neutral and independent from vendors or platforms. The standard governs conceptual frameworks, competencies, assessment principles, and ethical requirements—not specific technologies. Implementation can be carried out by accredited organizations, but governance remains fully separate to protect neutrality and scientific integrity.

What is the relationship between CALS and Reset7 Labs?

The underlying C5 conceptual model was originally developed and prototyped by researchers at Reset7 Labs. To ensure neutrality, transparency, and global participation, Reset7 voluntarily transferred stewardship of the framework to CALS. CALS now governs the standard, while Reset7 serves as the first accredited implementer of a CALS-aligned assessment. Additional implementers may be accredited under CALS policies as the standard evolves.

How is the standard validated and updated over time?

CALS coordinates a multi-year research and validation agenda including psychometric validation, cross-cultural and linguistic studies, longitudinal research, and impact evaluation. Revisions follow a formal cycle: proposal, working-group drafting, public consultation, pilot testing, technical validation, and council approval. This ensures the standard remains empirically grounded and responsive to technological and societal change.

How can institutions, ministries, or organizations adopt CALS?

Adoption can take several forms: aligning curricula and learning outcomes to CALS-15, integrating AI literacy benchmarks into assessments, using CALS as a reference for teacher or workforce training, or embedding it in national AI strategies and accreditation frameworks. Many systems begin with pilots or alignment studies before moving to formal policy integration.

What is the CALS Global Consortium, and who can join?

The CALS Global Consortium is a participation framework for universities, school networks, ministries, research organizations, and expert fellows who wish to collaborate without holding a formal governance role. Members contribute to pilots, research, localization, and knowledge exchange, while decision-making authority remains with the CALS governing bodies to preserve independence.

How can an organization become an accredited implementer?

Organizations that wish to operationalize the standard in assessments or tools may apply for accreditation. Accreditation requires adherence to CALS assessment principles, ethical and privacy requirements, and technical quality standards, including evidence of validity and reliability. Accredited implementers are listed by CALS but do not influence the governance of the standard itself.

Get in Touch

CONTACT

CONTACT

Email

hello@cals.foundation


Phone

+1 (555) 123-4567