<div class="edu-card" data-widget-id="49" data-cy="edu-card"> <div class="edu-card-banner" data-cy="edu-card-banner"> Advertisement </div> <div class="edu-card-container" data-cy="edu-card-container"> <div class="edu-card-content" data-cy="edu-card-content"> <div class="edu-card-title" data-cy="edu-card-title"> <h1 class="edu-card-title-heading" data-cy="edu-card-title-heading"> Rethink AI and its potential to innovate in this 6-week online course from MIT Sloan. </h1> <p class="edu-card-title-subheading" data-cy="edu-card-title-subheading"> Learn from experts with first-hand experience in implementing AI across industries. </p> </div> <div class="edu-card-content-description" data-cy="edu-card-content-description"> <div class="edu-card-content-description-content"> <p>Join a global network of thought leaders and innovators. Understand the changes required across your organization to drive successful AI adoption.</p> </div> <span class="edu-card-content-description-readmore"> <input type="checkbox" id="edu-card-content-description-readmore-input-49" class="edu-card-content-description-readmore-input" /> <label for="edu-card-content-description-readmore-input-49" class="edu-card-content-description-readmore-label"> <span class="edu-card-content-description-readmore-label-arrow"></span> </label> </span> </div> <a class="edu-card-content-button" target="_blank" href="https://mit-online.getsmarter.com/presentations/lp/mit-artificial-intelligence-online-short-course/">Visit Website</a> <span class="edu-card-content-caption"> </span> </div> <div class="edu-card-action" data-cy="edu-card-action"> <picture class="edu-card-picture" data-cy="edu-card-picture"> <img src="https://fortune.com/img-assets/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/MITSLOAN-CSAIL-onlight-01.png?w=250&amp;h=165" class=""> <span class="edu-card-picture-label"> </span> </picture> <div class="edu-card-action-cta" data-cy="edu-card-action-cta"> <a class="edu-card-action-button" target="_blank" href="https://mit-online.getsmarter.com/presentations/lp/mit-artificial-intelligence-online-short-course/">Visit Website</a> <span class="edu-card-action-caption"> </span> </div> </div> </div></div><script> function checkWidgets() { document.querySelectorAll('.edu-card-content-description-content').forEach((content) => { const readMoreBtn = content.nextElementSibling; if (!readMoreBtn) { return; } if (content && content.clientHeight === content.scrollHeight) { readMoreBtn.style.display = 'none'; } else { delete readMoreBtn.style.removeProperty('display'); } }) } window.removeEventListener('resize', checkWidgets); window.addEventListener('resize', checkWidgets); checkWidgets();</script>

<div class="edu-card" data-widget-id="111" data-cy="edu-card"> <div class="edu-card-banner" data-cy="edu-card-banner"> </div> <div class="edu-card-container" data-cy="edu-card-container"> <div class="edu-card-content" data-cy="edu-card-content"> <div class="edu-card-title" data-cy="edu-card-title"> <h1 class="edu-card-title-heading" data-cy="edu-card-title-heading"> AI & Data Science Certificate </h1> <p class="edu-card-title-subheading" data-cy="edu-card-title-subheading"> Master Python, AI, and data science with expert-led training to launch your tech career. </p> </div> <div class="edu-card-content-description" data-cy="edu-card-content-description"> <div class="edu-card-content-description-content"> <p>Become a skilled data science and AI professional with the AI &amp; Data Science Certificate. Designed by industry experts, this program offers hands-on training in Python, SQL, automation, and AI integration. Master essential skills in data manipulation, advanced querying, and AI-driven problem-solving. Tailor your learning with advanced Python techniques to enhance your coding capabilities.</p> </div> <span class="edu-card-content-description-readmore"> <input type="checkbox" id="edu-card-content-description-readmore-input-111" class="edu-card-content-description-readmore-input" /> <label for="edu-card-content-description-readmore-input-111" class="edu-card-content-description-readmore-label"> <span class="edu-card-content-description-readmore-label-arrow"></span> </label> </span> </div> <a class="edu-card-content-button" target="_blank" href="https://www.nobledesktop.com/certificates/ai-data-science/?utm_source=fortune&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_campaign=[dynamic]post-id[/dynamic]">Learn more</a> <span class="edu-card-content-caption"> </span> </div> <div class="edu-card-action" data-cy="edu-card-action"> <picture class="edu-card-picture" data-cy="edu-card-picture"> <img src="https://fortune.com/img-assets/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/1_noble_desktop_logo-Anna-Kelley.png?w=250&amp;h=165" class=""> <span class="edu-card-picture-label"> </span> </picture> <div class="edu-card-action-cta" data-cy="edu-card-action-cta"> <a class="edu-card-action-button" target="_blank" href="https://www.nobledesktop.com/certificates/ai-data-science/?utm_source=fortune&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_campaign=[dynamic]post-id[/dynamic]">Learn more</a> <span class="edu-card-action-caption"> </span> </div> </div> </div></div><script> function checkWidgets() { document.querySelectorAll('.edu-card-content-description-content').forEach((content) => { const readMoreBtn = content.nextElementSibling; if (!readMoreBtn) { return; } if (content && content.clientHeight === content.scrollHeight) { readMoreBtn.style.display = 'none'; } else { delete readMoreBtn.style.removeProperty('display'); } }) } window.removeEventListener('resize', checkWidgets); window.addEventListener('resize', checkWidgets); checkWidgets();</script>

<div class="edu-card" data-widget-id="152" data-cy="edu-card"> <div class="edu-card-banner" data-cy="edu-card-banner"> Advertisement </div> <div class="edu-card-container" data-cy="edu-card-container"> <div class="edu-card-content" data-cy="edu-card-content"> <div class="edu-card-title" data-cy="edu-card-title"> <h1 class="edu-card-title-heading" data-cy="edu-card-title-heading"> AI for Business Bootcamp </h1> <p class="edu-card-title-subheading" data-cy="edu-card-title-subheading"> Unlock the potential of AI in this immersive two-day course. </p> </div> <div class="edu-card-content-description" data-cy="edu-card-content-description"> <div class="edu-card-content-description-content"> <p>Transform your business skills with ChatGPT and Microsoft Copilot in this comprehensive training. Gain practical skills to leverage AI for many of your daily tasks.</p> </div> <span class="edu-card-content-description-readmore"> <input type="checkbox" id="edu-card-content-description-readmore-input-152" class="edu-card-content-description-readmore-input" /> <label for="edu-card-content-description-readmore-input-152" class="edu-card-content-description-readmore-label"> <span class="edu-card-content-description-readmore-label-arrow"></span> </label> </span> </div> <a class="edu-card-content-button" target="_blank" href="https://www.nobledesktop.com/classes/ai-for-business/?utm_source=fortune&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_campaign=[dynamic]post-id[/dynamic]">Visit Website</a> <span class="edu-card-content-caption"> </span> </div> <div class="edu-card-action" data-cy="edu-card-action"> <picture class="edu-card-picture" data-cy="edu-card-picture"> <img src="https://fortune.com/img-assets/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Noble_logo-n-only.png?w=250&amp;h=165" class=""> <span class="edu-card-picture-label"> </span> </picture> <div class="edu-card-action-cta" data-cy="edu-card-action-cta"> <a class="edu-card-action-button" target="_blank" href="https://www.nobledesktop.com/classes/ai-for-business/?utm_source=fortune&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_campaign=[dynamic]post-id[/dynamic]">Visit Website</a> <span class="edu-card-action-caption"> </span> </div> </div> </div></div><script> function checkWidgets() { document.querySelectorAll('.edu-card-content-description-content').forEach((content) => { const readMoreBtn = content.nextElementSibling; if (!readMoreBtn) { return; } if (content && content.clientHeight === content.scrollHeight) { readMoreBtn.style.display = 'none'; } else { delete readMoreBtn.style.removeProperty('display'); } }) } window.removeEventListener('resize', checkWidgets); window.addEventListener('resize', checkWidgets); checkWidgets();</script>

ad_Art-intel

cat_AI

Low Intent

ptype_Explainer

Preston Fore

<p>AI is the talk of the town these days in the schools across the country. Many students and teachers alike are aware of AI’s existence—and a possible future with its widespread use—but currently, a majority of K-12 educators have yet to embrace the software.</p><div class="paywall-selector"></div><div class="paywall">



<p>This is according to new <a href="https://www.aft.org/sites/default/files/media/documents/2023/ME-14570_AFT_Teacher_Parent_Tech_Surveys_MEMO.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">research</a> conducted on behalf of the <a href="https://www.aft.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">American Federation of Teachers</a>—one of the largest unions in the country—which found that the students in 3 out of 4 educators’ classrooms have never used generative AI such as <a href="https://chat.openai.com/auth/login" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ChatGPT</a> or <a href="https://bard.google.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Google Bard</a> for learning. Moreover, 76% of K-12 educators have never used it for their own work.</p>



<p>What’s striking is that nearly an identical number of educators say they utilize education technology for things like communication, planning, and instruction. </p>



<p>But looking at college classrooms, <a href="https://newsroom.wiley.com/press-releases/press-release-details/2023/Generative-AI-Already-Being-Used-in-Majority-of-College-Classrooms-According-to-Instructors-in-New-Wiley-Survey/default.aspx" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">58% of instructors say</a> they or their students are using AI in the classroom.</p>



<p><a href="https://www.aft.org/about/leadership/randi-weingarten" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Randi Weingarten</a>, president of the AFT, says there is optimism among teachers about AI—but they desperately want to see safeguards before it gets out of hand. </p>



<p>“Teachers see the potential, both in terms of limiting their own paperwork as well as helping kids, but teachers are also smart, and they know the obstacles, and they want to make sure that the guardrails are there,” she tells <em>Fortune</em>.</p>



<p>At the same time, she notes that worries about the perils of educators being replaced by AI have been subdued.  </p>



<p>“We’re actually teaching children, it can be a really powerful supplement and complement for themselves and for their kids,” Weingarten says. “So they’re pretty much ahead of the policymakers.” </p>



<p>According to the new AFT research, an overwhelming majority of teachers—85%— say they want more control over how educational technology is introduced and deployed in classrooms.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-safeguard-pillars">Safeguard pillars</h2>



<p>Weingarten identified three main focuses when it comes to establishing guardrails for education technology and AI: privacy, security, and ethical issues.</p>



<p>Many teachers believe social media companies like TikTok and Meta have algorithms that really hurt kids, she says. The use of social media in children has been linked with anxiety and shorter attention spans.</p>



<p>To avoid similar outcomes stemmed from AI, the AFT believes having having safeguards such as against disclosure of children’s privacy, dis- and misinformation as well as deepfakes is crucial.</p>



<p>The AFT recently announced a new partnership with GPTZero to help teachers identify when students may be using generative AI content. This includes a strengthened collaboration with NewsGuard to place an increased emphasis on media literacy and fighting misinformation.</p>



<p>“We have to not just talk the talk about guarding against disinformation, and things that are insightful,” Weingarten says. “And the privacy of particularly young people, we have to actually act on it.”</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-future-of-learning">Future of learning</h2>



<p>Figuring out how AI can truly be used to benefit students and teachers—as well as its limitations—is important, Weingarten says. Concerns about plagiarism, for example, have the ability to be solved with tools.</p>



<p>“I think it’s important for us to have, you know, tech literacy and media literacy as part and parcel of classwork in the United States,” she says.</p>



<p>The classroom of the future—say in five or 10 years—will be focused on projected-based, experiential learning, something that AI can really help facilitate, Weingarten adds</p>



<p>“Every classroom is not going to look the same,” Weingarten says. “Yeah, but the application of knowledge is really what’s gonna be the be all and the end or in the classroom of the future.”</p>



<p>Learning application—versus memorization— as well as building relationships and social emotional development are also important, she adds.</p>



<p>“We understood the importance of in-person learning,” she says. “And so, let’s take those lessons into the AI future with us.”</p>



<div class="wp-block-group pro-tip-box-widget"><div class="wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained">
<h3 class="wp-block-heading pro-tip-box-heading">Read more</h3>



<ul>
<li>Interested in learning more about how AI can help your career? Check out our list of <a href="https://fortune.com/education/articles/ai-bootcamps/">AI bootcamps</a>.</li>
<li>Our ranking of the <a href="https://fortune.com/education/information-technology/best-online-masters-in-data-science/">best online data scientist masters programs</a> can help you find the program that best fits your schedule.</li>
<li>Choose from our ranking of the <a href="https://fortune.com/education/information-technology/best-online-masters-in-computer-science/">best online masters in computer science programs</a> to help you make your next career move.</li>
<li>Looking into learning more about cybersecurity? Check out our ranking of the <a href="https://fortune.com/education/information-technology/best-masters-in-cybersecurity/">best masters in cybersecurity programs</a>.</li>
<li>Find the <a href="https://fortune.com/education/business/best-mba-programs/">best MBA program</a> for you to explore the next phase of your educational journey.</li>
<li>To help you pick the program that’s the best fit for you, we made this list of the <a href="https://fortune.com/education/business/best-executive-mba-programs/">best executive MBA programs</a>.</li>
<li>Interested in earning your MBA online? Here’s our ranking of the <a href="https://fortune.com/education/business/best-online-mba-programs/">best online MBA programs</a>.</li>
</ul>
</div></div>
</div>

Fortune talks with the American Federation of Teachers leader about AI and the use of educational technology in the classroom

AFT President Randi Weingarten says AI can be a powerful tool for students and teachers—with privacy, security, and ethical guardrails

Photo of Randi Weingarten, President of American Federation of Teachers on a green grid background

F-Search

Education

Education Articles

Jasmine Suarez

Tech

Fortune earns a commission for purchases made from affiliate partners via some links on our site; other links are not affiliate partner links. <a href='/affiliate-disclosure/'>Click here</a> to read the full Fortune advertiser disclosure and how we earn commissions.

We have independently evaluated the products and services below. We may earn affiliate revenue from links in the content.

Fortune Editors

Fortune Education is designed to be your guide to navigating this new, rich and somewhat overwhelming world of education. Our team of experienced editors is committed to scouring the universe of online offerings in order to rank, rate, provide comparisons and recommend the right solutions for you and your career.

Fortune Education

Uncategorized

homepage

articles

Articles Hub

By Region

By State

By Cost

Business

Career Hub

Health and Wellness

EDUCATION

EDUCATION ARTICLES

AFT PRESIDENT RANDI WEINGARTEN SAYS AI CAN BE A POWERFUL TOOL FOR STUDENTS AND TEACHERS—WITH PRIVACY, SECURITY, AND ETHICAL GUARDRAILS

AFT President Randi Weingarten says AI can be a powerful tool for students and teachers—with privacy, security, and ethical guardrails | Fortune Education

Rich Griset

10 free data analytics courses you can take online

https://fortune.com/education/articles/free-data-analytics-courses/?itm_source=parsely-api

2024 real estate school review: AceableAgent

https://fortune.com/education/articles/real-estate-school-review-aceableagent/?itm_source=parsely-api

Brad Haft

Best health coach certifications for 2024

https://fortune.com/education/articles/best-health-coach-certifications/?itm_source=parsely-api

Brit Morse

A law associate making $300,000 a year at Skadden Arps quit over the firm’s deal with Donald Trump

/article/rachel-cohen-making-300k-year-law-associate-skadden-arps-quit-protest-firms-deal-trump/

Get ready to pay more than $2,000 for a new iPhone: Experts say Trump’s 125% tariff on China is a ‘complete disaster for Apple’ akin to ‘Armageddon’

/2025/04/10/apple-iphone-16-price-complete-disaster-china-trump-tariffs/

It’s about to get a lot harder for job seekers as tariffs are set to make the hiring landscape even more daunting

/2025/04/07/trump-tariffs-labor-market-more-challenging-job-seekers-economists-say/

This company does peer performance reviews—And then lets everyone read each other’s evaluations

/2025/03/24/performance-review-process-company-allows-all-workers-read-garner-health-workplace-culture/

2024 health coach certification review: Catalyst Coaching Institute

/education/articles/health-coach-certification-review-catalyst-coaching-institute/

A guide to a nurse’s salary: Broken down by all 50 states and industry type

/education/careers/nurse-salary/

2024 health coach certification review: Institute for Integrative Nutrition

/education/articles/health-coach-certification-review-institute-for-integrative-nutrition/

10 high-paying public health jobs right now

/education/careers/public-health-jobs/

Jason Del Rey

Is eBay actually sexy again as the ecommerce old-timer’s stock surges to an all-time high?

/2025/07/31/ebay-earnings-live-sports-cards-trading-pokemon/

Erik German

Meet the CIA-backed venture fund behind Palantir, Anduril—and a spy tool that might be on your phone

/2025/07/29/in-q-tel-cia-venture-capital-palantir-anduril/

Dana Hull

Kiel Porter

Bloomberg

Tesla engineering VP Moravy says company in ‘big swing moment’

/2025/07/27/tesla-engineering-vp-lars-moravy-big-swing-moment-musk-robotaxi-optimus-semi/

Christiaan Hetzner

Volkswagen seeks audience with Trump, dangling more than $10 billion in U.S. investments in exchange for tariff exemptions

/2025/07/25/volkswagen-trump-tariffs-exemptions/

Whether you’ve just completed your undergraduate degree or you are a professional with years of experience, Fortune is here to guide you on the next step of your educational journey.

AFT President Randi Weingarten says AI can be a powerful tool for students and teachers—with privacy, security, and ethical guardrails

About the Contributors

Top Articles

10 free data analytics courses you can take online

2024 real estate school review: AceableAgent

Best health coach certifications for 2024

AI for Business Bootcamp