OpenAI, Google, and Microsoft Back Bill to Fund 'AI Literacy' in Schools

Source: Hacker News

What the Bill Proposes

The bill would empower the new director of the National Science Foundation (NSF) to award competitive, merit‑reviewed grants to higher‑education institutions or nonprofit consortia for:

• Developing AI‑focused educational curricula and instructional materials.
• Providing teacher professional‑development programs in AI literacy.
• Creating evaluation tools and resources for assessing AI‑literacy proficiency.
• Producing hands‑on learning tools that support AI‑literacy development.
• Updating existing curricula to incorporate responsible AI use in learning environments.

Definition of AI Literacy

“Having the age‑appropriate knowledge and ability to use artificial intelligence effectively, to critically interpret outputs, to solve problems in an AI‑enabled world, and to mitigate potential risks.”

Endorsements

The bill is supported by a coalition that includes:

• American Federation of Teachers
• Google
• OpenAI
• Information Technology Industry Council
• Software & Information Industry Association
• Microsoft
• HP Inc.

Political Context

• Senator Schiff emphasized the need for an AI‑ready workforce in a press release.
• Senator Mike Rounds (R‑SD) referenced President Trump’s National Policy Framework for Artificial Intelligence as a precedent for supporting AI education.
• The NSF has been without a permanent director for a year following the resignation of its former director amid controversy and grant cuts.
• In a recent move, President Donald Trump dismissed all 22 members of the National Science Board, which oversees the NSF.
• Jim O’Neill, Trump’s nominee to direct the NSF, is a financier with no research background.

Real‑World Implications

• Student Sentiment: Young people increasingly dislike AI in educational settings and face AI‑enabled harassment, including non‑consensual deepfakes.
• Learning Concerns: Studies indicate that students are offloading learning onto AI models, potentially undermining education and social development.
• Industry Partnerships: Last year, the American Federation of Teachers announced a $23 million partnership with Microsoft, OpenAI, and Anthropic to create an “AI training hub for educators.”
• Recent Controversy: The AFT left the platform X after condemning non‑consensual sexual‑abuse material generated by xAI’s Grok image generator.

Related Resources

• Students are being treated like guinea pigs inside an AI‑powered private school
• Teachers are not OK with AI (ChatGPT)
• Full text of the LIFT AI Act: PDF
• Press release on the bill: Schiff’s announcement
• Background on NSF leadership changes:
  • NSF director resignation
  • Trump fires NSF oversight board
• Student attitudes toward AI: The Verge article on Gen Z and AI
• AI‑enabled harassment in schools: 404 Media report on deepfakes
• Study on AI offloading learning: Futurism article
• AFT partnership announcement: NY Times coverage
• AFT departure from X: Reuters report