The Battle Over A.I. in the Classroom

About this episode

<p>With the school year ending, all over the country educators and parents are taking stock of the drastic shift caused by artificial intelligence in the classroom.</p> <p>Today, Natasha Singer, a technology reporter, discusses the year that reshaped American classrooms and how one dedicated teacher helped his students chart their own path into an uncertain future.</p> <p>Guest: <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/by/natasha-singer" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><strong>Natasha Singer</strong></a>, a technology reporter for The New York Times.</p> <p>Background reading: </p> <ul> <li>Teachers say they want to <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/23/technology/ai-literacy-newark-school-chatbots.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">equip high school students to drive A.I.</a>, rather than be mere passengers steered by chatbots.</li> <li>A.I. companies are urging <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/23/business/ai-literacy-faq.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">teachers to prepare students for an “A.I.-driven future.”</a></li> <li>The <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/27/technology/ai-screens-schools-weingarten.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">American Federation of Teachers recommended</a> “no screens” at all for those in second grade or younger, and no A.I. chatbots for students in elementary school.</li> </ul> <p>Photo: Juan Arredondo for The New York Times</p> <p>For more information on today’s episode, visit <a href="http://nytimes.com/thedaily?smid=pc-thedaily" rel="noopener noreferrer">nytimes.com/thedaily</a>. Transcripts of each episode will be made available by the next workday. </p> <p><p>Subscribe today at <a href="http://nytimes.com/podcasts">nytimes.com/podcasts</a> or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. You can also subscribe via your favorite podcast app here <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/activate-access/audio?source=podcatcher">https://www.nytimes.com/activate-access/audio?source=podcatcher</a>. For more podcasts and narrated articles, download The New York Times app at nytimes.com/app.</p></p><br/> <p>Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See <a href="https://pcm.adswizz.com">pcm.adswizz.com</a> for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.</p>