Microsoft Agrees to Student Data Protections for AI Tools

A major breakthrough in AI education has been announced by Microsoft, which is committing to new student privacy protections for its AI-based curriculum tools. The move comes after years of concerns over how AI models are being trained on sensitive data from students and teachers.

The agreement between Microsoft and the National Academy for AI Instruction in New York City includes legally binding provisions that will apply to existing contracts with Microsoft products as of November 1. Under these new standards, student data cannot be used to train or improve AI models without explicit consent from parents or guardians.

Microsoft's vice chairman and president, Brad Smith, emphasized the importance of having 'teeth' in the agreement, including audit and legal enforcement provisions. The company has also pledged to minimize unnecessary data collection and provide transparent guides on how its AI tools work and protect student privacy.

The move is seen as a significant step towards addressing concerns over student data protection in education. However, not all are convinced that this is enough. Michael Mulgrew, the president of the United Federation of Teachers, has called for a moratorium on student use of AI tools in elementary, middle, and most high schools until teachers can be trained to properly implement them.