Microsoft, OpenAI, Anthropic Fund AI Training for Teachers

A group of major tech companies is partnering with two major teachers’ unions to launch a new effort aimed at training 400,000 K–12 teachers in artificial intelligence over the next five years.

The initiative, called the National Academy of AI Instruction, was announced Tuesday and comes with $23 million in funding.

Backed by Microsoft, OpenAI, Anthropic, and National Teachers’ Unions

The academy is supported by Microsoft, OpenAI, Anthropic, the American Federation of Teachers (AFT), and the United Federation of Teachers (UFT) in New York.

The plan is to create an AI training curriculum for educators that will be delivered through:

Online courses
Workshops
In-person training at a new campus in New York City

Why This Matters: AI Is Already Changing the Classroom

This announcement comes at a time when schools across the U.S. are debating how—or even if—AI should be used in education.

Some educators see AI as a helpful tool to:

Automate grading and lesson planning
Free up time to focus more on student interaction
Teach students digital skills that will be critical in the future workplace

But AI use in schools also raises questions around:

Academic integrity (e.g., using ChatGPT for homework)
Fairness and bias
The role of teachers vs. tech

From AI Bans to Embracing the Future

Not all schools have welcomed AI with open arms. For example, New York City’s Department of Education initially banned ChatGPT in 2023 due to concerns about misuse. Months later, it reversed the decision and launched an AI policy lab to explore how the technology could be used responsibly.

The new academy aims to provide clarity by creating a national model for AI education—helping teachers integrate AI into their classrooms while reducing extra administrative burdens.

“AI Must Serve Students—Not Replace Teachers”

AFT President Randi Weingarten emphasized that the academy isn’t just about teaching what AI is, but how to use it in smart, safe, and ethical ways.

“AI holds tremendous promise but huge challenges,” Weingarten said. “It’s our job as educators to make sure AI serves our students and society, not the other way around.”

What the Training Will Include

Starting this fall, the academy will offer:

Hands-on workshops
Online modules
In-person instruction from AI experts and experienced educators

The goal is to equip teachers with both the technical know-how and practical classroom strategies.

Big Investments from Tech Companies

The financial backing includes:

$12.5 million from Microsoft over five years
$10 million from OpenAI, with $2 million in cloud resources
$500,000 from Anthropic in the first year (with more likely to follow)

These investments will support both the development and delivery of training programs.

Why Tech Companies Are Involved

This isn’t just charity. By working closely with educators, tech companies can:

Gather real-world feedback to improve their AI tools
Introduce their platforms to classrooms nationwide
Potentially inspire new AI products co-created with teachers

This model has worked before—Google Chromebooks became a staple in schools thanks to early adoption by educators.

Training Focus: Skills for the Intelligence Age

At the program’s launch in New York, Chris Lehane, Chief Global Affairs Officer at OpenAI, said the training will cover both general AI knowledge and hands-on use of tools developed by Microsoft, OpenAI, and Anthropic.

“We need to equip students for the intelligence age,” Lehane said. “And that starts with teachers.”

There’s also room for innovation. Teachers may even help develop new AI tools or adapt existing ones for classroom use.

The Big Picture

The National Academy of AI Instruction could become a blueprint for responsible AI integration in U.S. schools. With thoughtful leadership from educators and support from top tech companies, this effort aims to ensure that teachers—not algorithms—stay at the center of learning in the age of AI.

Microsoft, OpenAI, and Anthropic Invest in AI Training for Teachers