NEW YORK — The American Federation of Teachers (AFT), in partnership with Microsoft Corp., OpenAI, Anthropic, and the United Federation of Teachers (UFT), has announced the launch of the National Academy for AI Instruction, a first-of-its-kind program designed to integrate artificial intelligence into K-12 and higher education.
This $23 million initiative aims to provide free AI training and curriculum for all 1.8 million AFT members, beginning with K-12 educators. Anchored at a state-of-the-art Manhattan facility, the program will serve as a national model for AI-integrated teaching, empowering educators to utilize AI ethically, safely, and effectively in classrooms.
Bridging the AI Education Gap
The academy addresses the growing demand for structured AI training for educators. Over the next five years, it plans to train 400,000 teachers—approximately 10% of the U.S. teaching workforce—reaching 7.2 million students nationwide.
“To best serve students, we must ensure teachers have a strong voice in the development and use of AI,” said Brad Smith, vice chair and president of Microsoft. “This partnership will not only help teachers learn how to better use AI, it will give them the opportunity to tell tech companies how we can create AI that better serves kids.”
A Teacher-Centered Approach
The program will offer workshops, online courses, credential pathways, and continuing education credits, ensuring educators remain updated with the latest AI advancements.
AFT President Randi Weingarten emphasized the ethical dimension of AI adoption in schools:
“AI holds tremendous promise but huge challenges—and it’s our job as educators to ensure it serves our students and society, not the other way around.”
Industry Leaders Unite for Ethical AI in Education
Chris Lehane, Chief Global Affairs Officer at OpenAI, stressed the role of educators in shaping AI’s classroom use:
“We’re at a pivotal moment in education, and how we introduce AI to educators today will shape teaching for generations to come,” said Anthropic Co-founder and Head of Policy Jack Clark. “That’s why we’re thrilled to partner with the AFT to empower teachers with the knowledge and tools to guide their students through this evolving landscape. Together, we’re building a future where AI supports great teaching in ethical and effective ways.”
Transformative Potential
The academy will combine innovation labs, virtual learning environments, and real-time classroom feedback to refine AI tools for education. Teachers will gain access to AI-assisted lesson planning, student data analysis, and enhanced communication tools, helping them personalize learning experiences.
The program will officially begin instruction later this fall and will scale nationally over the coming years.
For more information, visit AIinstruction.org.
