It’s hard to go a day without noticing information in the news and online about the advances in technology and artificial intelligence (AI) tools. Educators are one group who are benefiting from AI and its seemingly endless array of features. I’d like to highlight the tech companies that are driving AI forward.  

Google has introduced Gemini that helps boost creativity and productivity by offering AI-powered chat for planning, learning, writing, and teaching. It has multiple capabilities, including the ability to understand and decipher different types of information, including text, images, audio, video, and code. Who doesn’t enjoy being more efficient?! 

Khan Academy and Microsoft have partnered to provide free access to Khanmigo, an AI-powered teaching assistant for teachers. Using Khanmigo, teachers can easily prepare tests, create homework with on-demand features, and simplify tasks that are critical for creating engagement and fostering cutting-edge activities. This platform is a real difference-maker for busy teachers who juggle a myriad of tasks. I’m sure we all know many teachers who fit this description.  

OpenAI has produced ChatGPT, a chatbot that has endless functions, including brainstorming ideas, generating social media posts, summarizing reports, enhancing writing, and translating text. This easy-to-navigate platform has many teachers using it – and loving it.  

While the prospect of having these AI tools at our fingertips is exciting and offers profound possibilities, it is especially important that teachers learn how to use these tools properly and responsibly to ensure their experience – and the experience of their students – is as meaningful and secure as possible. Schools would be wise to offer professional development opportunities for teachers that center on using AI in the classroom.  

For teachers, AI should be relevant to them and their students. It should offer the functionality that makes sense to them. AI is here to stay. With such rapid advancements in AI, it won’t be long before AI is an integral part of all schools. It is our job to better understand how AI can create positive change while supporting teachers as much as possible.