Teachers have played a crucial role in transforming the use of instructional technology, beginning with the adoption of word processors for lesson planning and computers for compiling student data and filing various reports.
When it comes to artificial intelligence (AI) in schools, Chris Lehane, the Chief Global Affairs Officer of OpenAI, raises an important question: Is AI being used to enhance education for the benefit of students and teachers, or is it disrupting at their expense?
This statement was made during an announcement at the headquarters of the United Federation of Teachers (UFT) in New York City, which has a membership of 200,000.
Hundreds of educators attended a three-day training session that included six hours focused on AI, highlighting practical ways to integrate this emerging technology with established teaching practices.
As teachers face significant changes in the education landscape, they also encounter challenges in navigating AI wisely, ethically, and safely.
To assist educators in utilizing AI as a tool for learning, thinking, and creativity—while ensuring that it supports their teaching efforts—the American Federation of Teachers (AFT), in collaboration with the UFT, lead partner Microsoft Corp., founding partner OpenAI, and Anthropic, announced the launch of the National Academy for AI Instruction on Tuesday.
According to the press release, the idea for the academy was proposed by Roy Bahat, a venture capitalist, educator, activist, and AFT member, who currently heads Bloomberg Beta, the venture capital arm of Bloomberg.
He will also be joining the academy’s board of directors. Based in New York City, the National Academy for AI Instruction will serve as a premier hub for AI education, equipped with cutting-edge technology and guided by the leadership of the AFT and a coalition of public and private stakeholders.
The academy is set to begin instruction later this fall and will expand nationally.
Over the next five years, the program aims to support approximately 400,000 educators—about 10 percent of the U.S. teaching workforce—impacting over 7.2 million students.
This $23 million education initiative will provide free access to AI training and curriculum for all 1.8 million members of the AFT, starting with K-12 educators.
It will operate from a Manhattan facility designed to revolutionize how AI is taught and integrated into classrooms across the United States.
The academy will help bridge the gap in structured, accessible AI training and establish a national model for AI-integrated curriculum and teaching that empowers educators. This program represents the first partnership between a national union and tech companies, aimed at creating a sustainable educational infrastructure for AI.
Designed by leading AI experts and experienced educators, this program will include workshops, online courses, and hands-on training sessions to ensure that teachers are well-equipped to navigate an AI-driven future.
It will bring together interdisciplinary research teams to drive innovation in AI education and establish a national model for AI-integrated teaching environments.
Additionally, the academy will provide ongoing support and resources to help educators stay updated with the latest advancements in AI. Innovation labs and feedback cycles will ensure that these tools are refined based on real classroom experiences.
Through scalable training modules, virtual learning environments, and credential pathways, the program empowers a diverse range of educators to become confident leaders in AI instruction.
As a result, these teachers will bring AI literacy, ethical reasoning, and creative problem-solving into classrooms that might otherwise be overlooked in the digital transformation.
By training thousands of teachers annually and offering credential pathways and continuing education credits, the academy will facilitate broad AI instruction and expand opportunities for all.
The American Federation of Teachers represents 1.8 million pre-K through 12th-grade teachers, paraprofessionals, and other school-related personnel, as well as higher education faculty and professional staff, and government employees at all levels, including nurses and healthcare workers.
The United Federation of Teachers represents nearly 200,000 members and serves as the sole bargaining agent for most nonsupervisory educators in the New York City public schools.
This membership includes teachers, retired members, classroom paraprofessionals, and various school-based professionals, such as school secretaries, counselors, occupational and physical therapists, family childcare providers, and nurses, in addition to employees at several private educational institutions and some charter schools.
Microsoft creates platforms and tools powered by AI to deliver innovative solutions that meet the evolving needs of its customers. The company is committed to making AI broadly accessible and doing so responsibly, with a mission to empower every person and organization on the planet to achieve their full potential.
OpenAI is an AI research and deployment company focused on ensuring that artificial general intelligence benefits all of humanity.
Anthropic is an AI safety and research organization dedicated to creating reliable, interpretable, and steerable AI systems. Its flagship product, Claude, is a large language model trusted by millions of users worldwide.
@OpenAI is partnering with the American Federation of Teachers to launch the National Academy for AI Instruction, equipping 400,000 educators to shape how AI is used in classrooms.
$10M pledged to support real-world training, access, and innovation in K-12 schools. #AI… pic.twitter.com/vs2Sr4ySY7— bosqui (@bosqimano) July 8, 2025
In a world with more AI, what will it take for people to thrive in their jobs? The only way to find out is to try.
Today, an important step: unveiling the National Academy for AI Instruction, a teacher training center led by the American Federation of Teachers @AFTunion, with…
— Roy E. Bahat (@roybahat) July 8, 2025
OpenAI and Microsoft Bankroll New A.I. Training for Teachers.
American Federation of Teachers will use $23 million in funding to set up training hub in New York City. https://t.co/aufnlykrgo
— Jim Roberts (nycjim.bsky.social) (@nycjim) July 8, 2025
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