The American Federation of Teachers (AFT), one of the largest labour unions in the US, has launched a new National Academy for AI Instruction. The academy began offering in-person and virtual AI training last year, with the goal of training 400,000 educators over five years.
The initiative, which aims to help teachers understand AI's benefits and potential harms and shape its use in the classroom, is funded entirely by Microsoft, OpenAI, and Anthropic, totalling $23 million. Microsoft is contributing $12.5 million, OpenAI $10 million, and Anthropic $500,000 for the first year.
Randi Weingarten, the AFT president, described teaching educators about AI as a "moral imperative," stating that the training empowers teachers to make informed decisions about AI use. However, the funding model has drawn criticism, with some arguing it gives more political power to big tech companies and pushes AI into classrooms.
A Pew Research Center survey conducted last autumn found that over half of polled teens use AI for schoolwork, and nearly six in 10 believe using AI to cheat is a regular occurrence. An NPR/Ipsos poll indicated that only about four in 10 teachers say their schools offer AI-related professional development or training.