Google is announcing today a three-year partnership to teach artificial intelligence to all six million K-12 teachers and higher education faculty in the United States. The free training is one of the biggest corporate forays into AI education to date. Imagine telling your colleagues in the staff room, “This is the one time when they’re giving something to teachers for a change and not just for our students.”
This is what Google is counting on with this initiative. It wants to bring AI to the practical level and make it accessible and fun for educators, most of whom have a lot on their plate. It ranges from answering e-mails to planning lessons to collecting lunch money. This partnership is part of an effort to bring AI out of the realm of science fiction and into the classroom to help with everyday problems.
Google is offering micro-credentials, such as badges, and short lessons and tools, including Gemini and NotebookLM. It is telling teachers, “Here, use this to make your life easier, not harder.” But there’s more to it than just badges and credentials. The initiative is also part of a larger story of how big tech is influencing education around the globe.
Not too long ago, for example, OpenAI and Microsoft partnered with unions to bring AI literacy to U.S. classrooms, pitching in millions to train teachers through union programs. Just days ago, Google announced it was teaming up with India and DeepMind to roll out AI-powered tools to nearly 10,000 schools reaching more than 11 million students. Naturally, the question arises as to whether this is an educational opportunity or an ad.
As usual, some people are saying yes, and others no. Part of the controversy arises from the discussion around AI itself and whether it is a good or bad thing. Some of the arguments for AI in the classroom, according to proponents, include greater efficiency and the ability to personalize education. Detractors argue it will only increase inequality and that teachers are not equipped to handle it.
According to Encyclopaedia Britannica, while AI mimics human thinking, it doesn’t actually think. There are a lot of opinions on the matter, but one thing is for sure: You can’t ignore AI in education anymore. Google is setting the tone here. This is partly a game to get teachers’ attention and partly a game to get them to embrace AI. Teachers are not being asked to play the role of consumer; they’re being asked to be participants.
Frankly, they need the help. With so many AI-powered tools available, where do you even begin? Ultimately, the success of this program will depend on how teachers, students, and school districts decide to use it. But one thing is certain: AI in education is here to stay.
It’s not something that is going to happen tomorrow; it’s something that is happening today. And it’s making teachers think not just about what we’re teaching but how we’re teaching it. If you have questions about this initiative and would like information on how it will affect teachers or students in a specific grade or subject area, let me know.