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John,
This morning, we launched the National Academy for AI Instruction—a groundbreaking initiative from the AFT and the United Federation of Teachers, in partnership with Microsoft, OpenAI and Anthropic. The academy will offer free, high-quality artificial intelligence training and curriculum to all 1.8 million AFT members, starting with K-12 educators.
We have been working internally as a union since ChatGPT was released in November 2022, developing guardrails and other criteria to ensure AI can be used in education safely, wisely and ethically. Microsoft has partnered with us for much of that time through the AFL-CIO collaboration we announced in December 2023.
But now, given the hostility shown by the Trump administration to public and higher education—as exemplified by a new budget law that enshrines vouchers and attempted to block all AI regulation for a decade—we’ve recognized a new urgency around this training. No one is going to help us but us.
Of course, there are legitimate concerns about AI and the role of tech companies in education. I want to speak to that directly.
AI is already in our schools, shaping how lessons are planned and how students learn in and out of the classroom. We must ensure that educators, parents and students are the ones shaping how AI is used so it’s not simply imposed on them.
The National Academy for AI Instruction was created with and for AFT members. Educators helped design the curriculum, test tools and develop commonsense guardrails. And we are engaging critically: demanding privacy, transparency and real protections every step of the way.
I share many of the concerns being raised on behalf of our members and their communities. Last year, the AFT passed a resolution that set our path forward on AI. We’ve been outspoken about the lack of regulation and guardrails. That’s why we’re organizing, not reacting, to make sure AI works for us, not against us.
We’ve never been ones to shy away from tough conversations and challenges. Educators and students are facing enormous obstacles right now, and we need to be open to new, innovative—and yes, sometimes controversial—approaches to make sure public education is safe, relevant, engaging and welcoming for all.
We’ve been preparing for this moment for years through AI symposiums (with another one coming later this month), regular webinars about educators and AI with Share My Lesson, and educator-developed AI guardrails—all guided by the AFT resolution on AI passed in 2024.
This is about protecting public education, supporting our members, and making sure AI serves our students and society, not the other way around. As I said during today’s event, we need AI to be more like a GPS, where educators are in control and it helps us navigate, not like we’re being run over by a driverless car.
In unity,
Randi Weingarten
AFT President
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