Tech Giants Invest $23 Million to Train K-12 Teachers in AI Education
Microsoft, OpenAI, and Anthropic launch a $23 million AI training program for K-12 educators.
Key Points
- • $23 million initiative aims to train 400,000 K-12 teachers over five years.
- • Funding from Microsoft ($12.5M), OpenAI ($10M), and Anthropic ($500K) supports the program.
- • The training will start in Fall 2024 with a New York cohort and include workshops and online courses.
- • A focus on ethical AI use in education is emphasized by industry leaders.
On July 14, 2025, Microsoft, OpenAI, and Anthropic, in collaboration with the American Federation of Teachers (AFT), announced a significant initiative aimed at training K-12 educators in the applications of artificial intelligence. The National Academy for AI Instruction will receive $23 million in funding, with Microsoft contributing $12.5 million, OpenAI providing $10 million (including $2 million in technical resources), and Anthropic committing $500,000.
The program's goal is to train 400,000 teachers over the next five years, starting with a cohort in New York City in the fall of 2024. It will focus on creating an AI-integrated curriculum and will offer a blend of online courses, workshops, and hands-on training, designed by AI experts and educators. AFT President Randi Weingarten emphasized the initiative's importance for ensuring that AI benefits students, stating, "AI holds tremendous promise but huge challenges—and it's our job as educators to make sure AI serves our students and society, not the other way around."
This initiative reflects a broader commitment from tech companies to invest in education while addressing ethical concerns surrounding AI usage in classrooms. Microsoft's vice chair, Brad Smith, highlighted the necessity of empowering teachers in the development of AI tools tailored to educational environments, noting, "We want to ensure that teachers have a strong voice in how AI is used to serve our students." This training initiative is a pivotal step towards integrating technology effectively into educational practices, paving the way for responsible AI use in K-12 settings.