Artificial intelligence is growing in U.S. education. This year Google and Microsoft announced investments in AI training for teachers, and school districts are introducing new tools to support classroom work.
A research team from the University of Washington interviewed teachers in a Colorado district to learn how they use these tools. Teachers had mixed reactions. Many welcomed help with routine tasks and planning because it could save time. Others worried that AI might change how teachers and students interact and harm social parts of learning. Researchers say more study is needed to understand effects and fairness.
Difficult words
- artificial intelligence — Computer systems that can perform human tasksAI
- investment — Money given to start or support somethinginvestments
- training — Teaching to learn skills or knowledge
- district — A local area for schools or governmentdistricts
- researcher — A person who studies and finds informationResearchers
- routine — A regular, repeated task or activity
- fairness — The quality of being just or equal for all
Tip: hover, focus or tap highlighted words in the article to see quick definitions while you read or listen.
Discussion questions
- Would you like AI help with school tasks? Why or why not?
- Which routine tasks could AI help with in a classroom?
- How could teachers keep social parts of learning when they use AI?
Related articles
AI audio summaries of research can help — and err
Researchers tested Google’s NotebookLM, which turns research papers into podcast-style audio. The summaries were engaging and clearer for teaching, but every audio overview contained mistakes, so the authors advise reading the original papers to check claims.
