How Big Tech is Shaping US Education
How Google, Microsoft and OpenAI came to influence what US children learn, according to a New York Times investigation by Natasha Singer.
August 25, 2026
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On a humid summer afternoon in 2025, Microsoft representatives conducted a workshop for about 200 teachers in a Manhattan conference hall. The focus: AI chatbots. They demonstrated Copilot and taught the teachers how to use it for tasks like drafting parent emails and personalizing lesson plans. This scene, reported Natasha Singer in the New York Times, encapsulates a broader trend.
Key Findings from Singer’s Investigation
Singer, who has covered school technology for over a decade, interviewed over 100 education and tech industry figures and reviewed extensive documents. Her main conclusions:
- Industry Influence: Giants like Google, Microsoft, and OpenAI have shaped nearly every step of the education supply chain.
- The $23 Million Deal: The American Federation of Teachers (AFT) announced a national AI training programme for teachers, funded by Microsoft, OpenAI, and Anthropic to the tune of $23 million.
- Ethical Concerns: Some teachers and professors worry that AI chatbots could automate tasks like grading, undermining the teaching profession.
A Comparison
Singer draws a parallel to pharmaceutical industry seminars where doctors are trained on drug company-written materials. Similar questions should be asked about tech industry involvement in education, she argues.
The Role of Corporations
- Curriculum Creation: Companies like Microsoft offer AP computer science courses with their branding, while others like Apple and Google have their own free curriculum materials.
- Union Partnership: The AFT’s partnership with tech companies raises concerns about a potential conflict of interest, as Singer quotes a teacher calling it "the meal" rather than a collaborative partnership.
Brad Smith, Microsoft’s vice chair and president, attributes this involvement to the perceived lack of preparedness of public schools to teach modern subjects. However, the absence of branded courses in other areas like physics or biology highlights the asymmetry of this partnership.