Recently, the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) announced that it will establish the National Academy for AI Instruction in New York City this fall, to help educators better utilize artificial intelligence (AI) tools. This project is supported by $23 million in funding from Microsoft, OpenAI, and Anthropic, aiming to provide free hands-on training workshops for teachers.

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As the second-largest teachers' union in the United States, AFT has 200,000 members. The establishment of the academy marks the first collaboration between a national union and a tech company to promote the sustainable development of AI education projects. According to a report by The New York Times, Microsoft will be the main partner, providing $12.5 million in funding, while OpenAI has committed to donating $10 million over five years, and Anthropic will provide $500,000 in support during the first year.

In recent years, educators have faced significant technological changes. How to use artificial intelligence wisely and ethically, as well as concerns about being replaced by technology, are challenges they need to face. AFT hopes that this AI training center will help teachers master new technologies and ensure their leading role in education. Randi Weingarten, president of AFT, said: "Artificial intelligence is full of potential, but it also brings great challenges. Our responsibility is to ensure that AI serves students and society, not the other way around."

Brad Smith, vice chairman and president of Microsoft, also emphasized: "To better serve students, teachers must have a strong voice in the development and use of artificial intelligence." This collaboration not only helps teachers better utilize AI, but also gives them the opportunity to provide feedback to tech companies, promoting the development of AI tools that better serve students.

Chris Lehane, chief global affairs officer at OpenAI, added: "Regarding the application of AI in schools, we need to ensure its use supports students and teachers, rather than harming them. We hope this technology will help teachers learn, think, and create better." He believes that the AI academy will ensure that technology helps educators perform their best, promoting the democratization of education.

As the education sector develops, how to introduce AI technology will affect future teaching models. Jack Clark, co-founder and policy lead at Anthropic, said: "We are at a critical moment in education. How we introduce artificial intelligence to educators today will have a profound impact on the teaching of future generations."

Key Points:

🌟 The Teachers' Union is collaborating with tech companies to establish an AI education training center, offering free workshops.

💰 The project has received $23 million in funding, with Microsoft, OpenAI, and Anthropic as the main sponsors.

📚 It aims to help teachers effectively use AI technology, improve the quality of teaching, and ensure the leading role of teachers in education.