Big Tech Invests in Teacher Training for AI Integration
Introduction to AI in Education
On a scorching hot Saturday in San Antonio, dozens of teachers traded a day off for a glimpse of the future. The topic of the day’s workshop: enhancing instruction with artificial intelligence. After marveling as AI graded classwork instantly, one high school English teacher asked: “Are we going to be replaced with AI?” To help teachers use the technology wisely, their unions have forged an unlikely partnership with the world’s largest technology companies. The two groups don’t always see eye to eye but say they share a common goal: training the future workforce of America.
Partnerships and Funding
Microsoft, OpenAI and Anthropic are providing millions of dollars for AI training to the American Federation of Teachers, the country’s second-largest teachers union. In exchange, the tech companies have an opportunity to make inroads into schools. Union President Randi Weingarten said skepticism guided her negotiations, but the tech industry has something schools lack: deep pockets. “There is no one else who is helping us with this. That’s why we felt we needed to work with the largest corporations in the world,” Weingarten said. “We went to them — they didn’t come to us.” Weingarten first met with Microsoft Chief Executive Brad Smith in 2023 to discuss a partnership. She later reached out to OpenAI to pursue an “agnostic” approach that means any company’s AI tools could be used in a training session.
Tech Money Will Build an AI Training Hub for Teachers
With the money, the union is planning to build an AI training hub in New York City that will offer virtual and in-person workshops for teachers. The goal is to open at least two more hubs and train 400,000 teachers over the next five years. The National Education Assn., the country’s largest teachers union, announced its own partnership with Microsoft last month. The company has provided a $325,000 grant to help the NEA develop AI training in the form of “microcredentials” — online training open to the union’s 3 million members, said Daaiyah Bilal, NEA’s senior director of education policy. The goal is to train at least 10,000 members this school year.
Ensuring Educational Integrity
Both unions set similar terms: Educators, not the private funders, would design and lead training that includes AI tools from multiple companies. The intellectual property for the training is owned by the unions and covers safety and privacy concerns, alongside AI skills. The Trump administration has encouraged the private investment, recently creating an AI Education Task Force as part of an effort to achieve “global dominance in artificial intelligence.” The federal government urged tech companies and other organizations to foot the bill. So far, more than 100 companies have signed up. Several recent studies have found that AI use in schools is rapidly increasing but training and guidance are lagging.
Balancing Benefits and Concerns
The industry offers resources that can help scale AI literacy efforts quickly. But educators should ensure any partnership focuses on what’s best for teachers and students, said Robin Lake, director of the Center on Reinventing Public Education. “These are private initiatives, and they are run by companies that have a stake,” Lake said. Microsoft’s Smith agrees that teachers should have a “healthy dose of skepticism” about the role of tech companies. “While it’s easy to see the benefits right now, we should always be mindful of the potential for unintended consequences,” Smith said in an interview, pointing to concerns such as AI’s possible effect on critical thinking. “We have to be careful. It’s early days.”
Teachers See New Possibilities
At the San Antonio training for the American Federation of Teachers, about 50 educators turned out. The day started with a pep talk. “We all know, when we talk about AI, teachers say, ‘Nah, I’m not doing that,’” trainer Kathleen Torregrossa told the room. “But we are preparing kids for the future. That is our primary job. And AI, like it or not, is part of our world.” Attendees generated lesson plans using ChatGPT, Google’s Gemini, Microsoft CoPilot and two AI tools designed for schools, Khanmingo and Colorín Colorado. “It can save you so much time,” said Gabriela Aguirre, a first-grade dual-language teacher. She walked away with a plan to use AI tools to make illustrated flashcards in English and Spanish to teach vocabulary.
Conclusion
The integration of AI in education is a rapidly evolving field, with Big Tech companies investing millions in training teachers to effectively use AI tools. While there are concerns about the role of private companies in public education, the partnerships between tech giants and teachers’ unions aim to equip educators with the skills needed to prepare students for a future dominated by artificial intelligence. As the use of AI in schools continues to grow, it’s crucial for educators, policymakers, and tech companies to work together to ensure that these technologies enhance teaching and learning without compromising educational integrity.
FAQs
Q: Which tech companies are providing funding for AI training in schools?
A: Microsoft, OpenAI, and Anthropic are among the companies providing millions of dollars for AI training to teachers’ unions.
Q: What is the goal of the AI training hubs being built by the American Federation of Teachers?
A: The goal is to train 400,000 teachers over the next five years and open at least two more hubs in addition to the one in New York City.
Q: How do the teachers’ unions ensure that the AI training is educationally sound and not biased towards specific companies?
A: The unions design and lead the training, which includes AI tools from multiple companies, and own the intellectual property for the training, covering safety, privacy, and AI skills.
Q: What are some of the concerns about the increasing use of AI in schools?
A: Concerns include the potential effect on critical thinking, the role of private companies in public education, and ensuring that AI tools are used to enhance teaching and learning without compromising educational integrity.
