AI and Machine Learning is already turning into a massive sector. Because this field is changing so rapidly, if pupils learn Python, AI and Machine Learning, they will have less competition in the job market and get better paid jobs.
If you are look for jobs, look at the specs for the most highly paid job on jobsites, they will tell you the technologies that companies are looking for. So learn new technologies that have the most job postings and are the most highly paid and are relatively new technologies.
https://www.cwjobs.co.uk/jobs/machine-learning
Pupils could then learn these skills on youtube and apply for jobs. There will be a lot of highly paid jobs in companies for people with skills in AI development, large language model tuning and development, integration and deployment into the cloud. Pupils could also learn these skills and set up AI companies or become AI consultants. Companies invest when they see that there is return on investment. Its about the return on investment for companies, investors and the banks that fund them.
The job adverts tell you the skills that are currently in demand and then you could learnt these skills by watching videos on youtube videos and getting a student subscription on a cloud provider to practice these skills. Or if you have a Nvidia graphics card try this out on your PC or laptop. Or get a Nvidia Jetson Orin Nano or a PC with a Nvidia graphics card to practice this locally.