As artificial intelligence becomes increasingly embedded in education, teachers across the country are grappling with how to use it responsibly without undermining creativity, critical thinking, or human connection in the classroom. In New York City, educators participating in trainings hosted by the National Academy for AI Instruction—a collaboration between teachers’ unions and major AI companies—are learning how AI tools can support lesson planning, differentiation, and student engagement while also confronting ethical concerns around privacy, misinformation, and student well-being. While some teachers remain cautious or skeptical, many see AI’s potential to save time, personalize instruction, and better serve multilingual learners and students with disabilities, provided strong safeguards and clear values guide its use. Ultimately, educators emphasize that AI should enhance—not replace—human relationships and professional judgment, and that teachers must stay informed and actively involved as this rapidly evolving technology reshapes classrooms. (NBC News)