Microsoft Agrees to AI Safety Standards in Schools

The use of AI in schools has become a growing concern for educators, parents, and kids as artificial intelligence becomes a ubiquitous part of the school day.

In response to this concern, Microsoft announced last week that it had agreed to adopt guardrails and privacy standards for its AI in schools, negotiated with the American Federation of Teachers (AFT), the country's second-largest teachers union.

The agreement sets limits on using student data for training AI, prohibits the use of AI companions or features designed to foster emotional attachment or dependency, and includes a range of audit and transparency measures that require the company to disclose to families how its tools work.

The standards will apply to all schools that Microsoft has contracts with starting November 1. AFT President Randi Weingarten called the agreement 'the first of its kind' and an important step in setting an industry standard for AI safety and privacy in schools.