Microsoft Teams Up with Teachers Unions to Set AI Guidelines
Microsoft has partnered with two major US teaching federations to develop guidelines for using AI in classrooms. The American Federation of Teachers (AFT) and the United Federation of Teachers have negotiated an agreement with Microsoft, which includes legally enforceable safeguards on AI use in schools.
The National AI Safety & Privacy Standard, developed by the AFT and UFT, ensures that student and teacher data is not used to train or improve AI models. The data will also not be monetized, addressing concerns about screen time and technology overuse in education.
AFT President Randi Weingarten stated that 'we have forged a hard-fought, iron-clad privacy agreement with real teeth that protects students and families.' Microsoft Vice Chair and President Brad Smith added that the standard sets 'a high bar for child privacy and AI safety.'