Source: The New York Times
Google, Microsoft, and OpenAI are systematically embedding themselves in K-12 education through free or subsidized tools, pilot programs, and curriculum partnerships—a strategy that locks in users early while shifting product development costs to public institutions. Schools become beta testers and data sources for AI systems that remain largely unproven for learning outcomes, all while educators and parents lack meaningful input on deployment. The emerging resistance signals that schools are beginning to recognize this dynamic, though tech companies' institutional advantages (funding, lobbying, credibility) still heavily outweigh grassroots advocacy.