What Will It Take to Get A.I. Out of Schools?
By Jessica Winter, The New Yorker, April 23, 2026
In our fast-changing world, A.I. meets education. Tech experts claim A.I. in schools is needed and set. Many parents, teachers, and brain experts now worry. They call to think again about this claim.
A Parent’s Perspective: The Creepy Neighbor Next Door
Jessica Winter tells her own story. She warns her kids about chatbots, image programs, and language tools. She names A.I. a “creepy neighbor.” For years, she told her children to avoid it and ask for help when in doubt. Now, that neighbor steps right into the classroom.
In February 2026, Winter’s third-grade son in Massachusetts came home with a “Certificate of Completion.” He joined a game called Mix & Move with AI made with Code.org and Amazon Future Engineer. The game promised basic A.I. ideas. Yet, the link to true A.I. feels weak. The certificate stands more as a brand sign than as proof of learning.
By March, her eleven-year-old daughter saw new Chromebooks in her public middle school. These devices came with Gemini – Google’s suite of A.I. tools. In class, prompts like “Help me write” or “Beautify this slide” appear when she writes or builds a slideshow. Even when she resists, A.I. stays in every task.
A Widespread Phenomenon
Across the United States, many schools use A.I. tools. Boston’s public schools use chatbots such as ChatGPT and Claude to prepare for tests. Young children in New York and Los Angeles talk with Amira, an A.I. reading bot that listens and gives tips. In Brooklyn, a second-grade art class used Adobe Express for Education. Their artwork sometimes showed poor images when the task was to design a Pippi Longstocking cover.
Most K-12 teachers use Google Chromebooks. Around 80% use these devices, a survey says. Originally embraced during COVID-19 for remote lessons, Chromebooks now bring Gemini and make A.I. common in classrooms.
Defending A.I. in Education
Supporters say early A.I. use builds digital skills and brings engineering ideas close at hand. They note that teachers save time with automated grading and help with routine tasks. A.I. can even change lessons on the fly to fit each student.
Shantanu Sinha, Google for Education’s Vice President, says, “We put the teacher at the center.” Google shows Gemini as a tool that aids educators rather than replaces them.
Some private schools dream of a future with fewer traditional teachers. Alpha, a private chain, claims that with personalized A.I. learning, students can "crush academics in just 2 hours" each day. At a summit, Melania Trump showed Figure 03 – an A.I. robot that always listens and waits. It promises a kind of teaching that grows both learning and life skills.
Concerns and Research Findings
Many raise doubts about A.I. in schools. They list several worries:
- Cognitive risks. A MIT report in 2025 warns that A.I. could cause “cognitive atrophy.” Children might think less if they rely on machines early.
- Social and emotional effects. Experts say chatbots that mimic feelings may confuse children about real relationships.
- Behavioral and ethical issues. Data from Education Week show that about 20% of A.I. interactions involve cheating, self-harm messages, bullying, or worse. Other studies note that when kids give up math tasks without A.I. help, they start to lose persistence.
- Undermining core learning. A Brookings Institution report finds that current A.I. tools may weaken the basic skills that children need.
Still, many school districts and the government see the issue not as A.I. being optional but as something that must be managed. New York City’s Department of Education now asks the public to review new A.I. guidelines, treating A.I. as a fixed part of the school scene.
The Debate Continues
Jessica Winter’s view shows the worry felt by many. For some, A.I. in schools feels like an unwanted neighbor that steps too near. The debate balances new ideas with caution. It weighs power against protection.
For those who fear A.I.’s steady approach, the task remains: What clear steps can limit A.I. in schools to protect a child’s mind, heart, and ethics? As studies grow and new rules take shape, the future remains unsure—but the need to act is clear.
Jessica Winter is a writer focused on family and K-12 education. This article originally appeared in The New Yorker’s Progress Report series.
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