Collaborative effort announced by Microsoft, OpenAI, Anthropic, and the national teachers' union for the launch of a free AI academy for educators
The National Academy for AI Instruction, a groundbreaking partnership between the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) and tech giants Microsoft, OpenAI, and Anthropic, is set to revolutionise K-12 education in the US. With an investment of $23 million, the academy aims to equip educators with the knowledge, skills, and agency to harness artificial intelligence (AI) as a tool that enhances student learning and prepares them for an AI-driven world.
One of the key impacts of the academy will be the provision of free AI training and curriculum for K-12 educators. This will provide AFT’s 1.8 million members, including approximately 400,000 teachers in the first five years, with access to high-quality, structured AI education tailored to classroom needs.
The academy's approach prioritises educators as central drivers, ensuring that AI integration is teacher-led, not dictated by technology companies. This human-centred approach prioritises ethical, safe, and practical AI use in teaching and learning.
The academy offers comprehensive professional development, including credential pathways, continuing education credits, workshops, and online courses that keep teachers updated on AI advancements and equip them with skills to navigate AI’s challenges and opportunities effectively.
Training will also address student safety, privacy, and ethical concerns, helping teachers manage AI tools in ways that protect and prepare students for a future where AI impacts many aspects of society and the economy. Teachers will collaborate directly with experts from Microsoft and Anthropic in dedicated labs, fostering practical, classroom-ready AI applications and innovation.
The academy serves as a blueprint for scalable, responsible AI adoption in education nationwide. It plans to begin with a New York-based trainee cohort in the fall and aims to scale nationwide over time, with the goal of training 400,000 educators over the next five years.
Microsoft, the academy's lead partner, has also partnered with the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO) to start a dialogue on AI's anticipated disruption of global workforces. OpenAI will provide $2 million in technical resources for the Academy, and the academy's Manhattan facility is modeled after other high-tech training centers, aiming to create a "national model for AI-integrated curriculum."
This represents a major shift toward ethical, educator-led innovation in US K-12 education, as the academy seeks to enhance teaching and learning by providing educators with the knowledge on how to use AI wisely, safely, and ethically.
- The National Academy for AI Instruction, a collaboration between the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) and tech giants Microsoft, OpenAI, and Anthropic, will revolutionize K-12 education in the US, aiming to prepare students for an AI-driven world.
- With an investment of $23 million, the academy will provide free AI training and curriculum for K-12 educators, equipping over 400,000 teachers in the first five years with high-quality, structured AI education.
- The academy emphasizes educators as central drivers, promoting a human-centered approach to AI integration that prioritizes ethical, safe, and practical AI use in teaching and learning.
- Comprehensive professional development will be offered, including credential pathways, workshops, online courses, and collaboration with experts from Microsoft and Anthropic in dedicated labs.
- The academy's training will address student safety, privacy, and ethical concerns, preparing teachers to manage AI tools effectively while protecting and preparing students for a future where AI impacts society and the economy.
- The academy serves as a blueprint for scalable, responsible AI adoption in education nationwide, starting with a New York-based trainee cohort in the fall and aiming to train 400,000 educators over the next five years.
- Microsoft, the academy's lead partner, has also partnered with the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO) to discuss AI's anticipated disruption of global workforces. OpenAI will provide $2 million in technical resources, and the academy's facility is modeled after high-tech training centers, aiming to create a "national model for AI-integrated curriculum."
