In a move aimed at bringing artificial intelligence into the heart of US classrooms, the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) has launched the National Academy for AI Instruction, a $23 million joint initiative with Microsoft, OpenAI, Anthropic, and the United Federation of Teachers (UFT).
The initiative, unveiled in New York City, aims to provide free, comprehensive AI training to all 1.8 million AFT members—starting with K-12 teachers—via a new physical and digital hub housed in Manhattan.
It marks the first major partnership between a US teachers’ union and the technology sector on this scale, offering a national model as educators worldwide grapple with how to adapt to the rapid rise of AI in classrooms.
The announcement comes amid growing global concern about the pace of AI adoption in education, with governments and unions in Canada, Australia, the UK, and Singapore all launching varying forms of AI literacy programs for teachers.
In the UK, the Department for Education has funded pilot projects to embed AI tools into school leadership and lesson planning. In South Korea, the government has pledged to provide AI education in all schools by 2027. But the US initiative stands out for its union-led structure and its strong public-private coalition.
“Educators are overwhelmed by the speed of change in AI,” said AFT President Randi Weingarten. “This academy puts them in the driver’s seat. It’s not about replacing teachers—it’s about giving them the tools and ethical frameworks to use AI to enhance what they already do best.”
The academy will operate from a purpose-built centre in New York, with plans to scale nationwide. Within five years, it aims to train 400,000 educators—roughly 10 per cent of the US teaching workforce—and reach more than 7 million students.
The curriculum will offer credentialed pathways and ongoing professional development, with both in-person and virtual components.
Educators as architects of AI
Brad Smith, vice chair and president of Microsoft, called the project “a model for responsible AI integration” in schools. “This partnership will not only help teachers learn to use AI—it gives them a voice in shaping how we build it,” he said.
Microsoft and the AFT began laying the groundwork for the initiative two years ago in collaboration with the AFL-CIO, through summer symposiums aimed at exploring AI’s role in labour and education.
OpenAI, whose technology underpins popular tools like ChatGPT, echoed the call for teachers to take the lead. “AI should be a coach, not a critic,” said Chris Lehane, chief global affairs officer. “This academy will ensure AI is being deployed to support the educator’s mission—not disrupt it.”
Anthropic, known for its AI model Claude, said the partnership reflects the urgency of responsible AI adoption in schools. “We’re at a pivotal moment,” said co-founder Jack Clark. “How we teach AI now will shape the next generation’s relationship with it.”
The curriculum will cover AI literacy, ethics, classroom applications, and workflow enhancements—from grading and lesson planning to generating differentiated instructional materials. Innovation labs will allow educators to co-design tools with AI developers, and feedback from classroom use will inform future updates.
Lessons from the past
For some teachers, the initiative is reminiscent of previous technological shifts. “It’s like when we first got word processors, but ten times bigger,” said Vincent Plato, a K–8 educator in New York City. “AI can become a teacher’s thought partner—especially when you’re lesson planning at midnight.”
Marlee Katz, a teacher for deaf and hard-of-hearing students, noted how AI tools are already enhancing communication. “Sometimes you struggle to find the right tone or phrase—these tools don’t replace your voice, they help you express it better.”
The initiative’s roots lie with Roy Bahat, a venture capitalist and AFT member who proposed the idea after helping facilitate early dialogues between Microsoft and the labour movement. Bahat, who leads Bloomberg Beta, will join the academy’s board.
A global challenge
The launch underscores growing awareness that educational AI cannot be left solely to the tech sector. The union-led approach offers a counterbalance to top-down government mandates or unregulated edtech rollouts seen elsewhere.
Across Europe, AI guidelines for schools have largely been issued by education ministries with limited teacher consultation. In contrast, the AFT initiative positions educators not as adopters but as co-designers.
“Too often, new technologies are weaponised against teachers,” said UFT President Michael Mulgrew. “This time, we’re building something that works for educators.”
The academy is expected to begin instruction this autumn. With bipartisan support from policymakers and a groundswell of demand from schools already experimenting with generative AI, its success may serve as a blueprint for how unions and industry might collaborate more broadly on the future of work.
