OpenAI, Microsoft, and Anthropic have joined forces with the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) to launch an ambitious educational initiative that will train approximately one in ten U.S. teachers in artificial intelligence technologies by 2030.
The National Academy for AI Instruction, announced on July 8, 2025, will be headquartered in Manhattan at the United Federation of Teachers' facility. With $23 million in combined funding—Microsoft contributing $12.5 million, OpenAI providing $10 million, and Anthropic adding $500,000 for the first year—the academy aims to address the growing need for structured AI training in education.
"AI holds tremendous promise but huge challenges—and it's our job as educators to make sure AI serves our students and society, not the other way around," said AFT President Randi Weingarten. The initiative will offer free workshops, online courses, and in-person training designed by both AI experts and experienced educators, with instruction beginning this fall.
The academy comes at a critical time when schools nationwide are grappling with how to implement AI technologies. According to recent data, nearly three-quarters of school districts are expected to provide AI training to educators by fall 2025. The program will help teachers learn not only how AI works but how to use it "wisely, safely, and ethically" in classroom settings.
While supporters see the initiative as essential for maintaining technological leadership and preparing students for an AI-driven economy, some critics have raised concerns about tech companies' motivations. "Positioning tech companies to lead the conversation around how to do this in education has messy incentives," noted one education technology expert. Others have questioned whether the partnership primarily benefits the tech companies by providing them with valuable feedback to improve their products.
The initiative aligns with broader efforts to build national AI literacy, including a recent White House pledge signed by 68 organizations to support AI education in schools. As OpenAI's Chief Global Affairs Officer Chris Lehane emphasized, "How can we make sure that we're equipping those kids with the skills they're going to need to succeed in what we think of as the intelligence age?"