AI Company AFT Collaborates with OpenAI on AI Education Program: Key Details Revealed
The National Academy for AI Instruction: Bridging the Gap Between Education and Technology
The National Academy for AI Instruction, a groundbreaking initiative, is set to launch in fall 2025 in Manhattan, New York City. This $23 million project, a collaboration between the American Federation of Teachers (AFT), Microsoft, OpenAI, Anthropic, and the United Federation of Teachers, aims to provide free AI training and curriculum for all 1.8 million AFT members, starting with K-12 educators.
Located in the heart of Manhattan, the state-of-the-art bricks-and-mortar facility will be home to multiple classrooms, meeting rooms, and even AI labs. However, the physical space will not be ready at the initial launch. Instead, sessions will take place in temporary spaces.
The academy is not just a physical location; it's a platform for collaboration between educators and tech developers. Recognising the need for a two-way dialogue, the academy aims to foster an environment where educators can share their concerns about the impact of technology on classroom environments and student mental health, and tech developers can respond with practical, classroom-level solutions.
The academy will offer a blend of online and in-person learning experiences. The online component will feature workshops, online courses, and hands-on training sessions designed to develop practical AI fluency in educators. Priority access will be given to educators and course developers to OpenAI’s technology and future education-specific AI tools.
Educators will also be provided with tokens and API credits to build custom classroom-specific AI tools. Technical support will be available to integrate AI tools into the academy’s learning platform as well as schools' existing learning systems.
Credential pathways and continuing education credits focusing on the ethical, safe, and practical integration of AI in classrooms will also be offered. Privacy, safety, and teacher choice will be emphasised at the academy.
The academy is not just about teaching AI skills; it's about empowering educators with a strong voice in shaping how AI is used in education. Participation in existing AI trainings provided by the AFT tends to reduce teacher skepticism about AI. Weil, the AFT president, encourages teachers skeptical of AI to work with the academy and see if it fits their classroom needs.
In addition, the academy will have a partnership with the Share My Lesson website, a platform where educators can share resources and ideas. The academy will serve as a national model, establishing hubs across the U.S. by 2030 to expand access and impact.
The National Academy for AI Instruction is poised to prevent the disconnects that have occurred in the past between educators and tech developers. By opening up a dialogue, the academy will ensure that AI is used in a way that benefits both students and educators, fostering a positive and productive learning environment.
- The National Academy for AI Instruction, launching in fall 2025, will offer free AI training and curriculum for K-12 educators, bridging the gap between education and technology.
- Located in Manhattan, the academy will provide a platform for educators and tech developers to collaborate, fostering an environment that addresses concerns about the impact of technology on classroom environments and student mental health.
- The academy will offer a mix of online and in-person learning experiences, with priority access to OpenAI’s technology and education-specific AI tools for educators and course developers.
- The academy aims to empower educators with a strong voice in shaping the use of AI in education, with credential pathways and continuing education credits focused on ethical AI integration in classrooms.
