Education Secretary Linda McMahon is publicly championing the use of artificial intelligence in U.S. schools as part of her effort to implement President Trump’s directive to shrink the Department of Education, telling Axios that she believes AI tools can boost student engagement and help return educational control to the states. She has been visiting schools that use AI, such as an AI-driven school in Austin, Texas, and says the department is even using AI to help screen some grant applications. McMahon acknowledges tech companies’ profit motives but argues that with proper “guardrails” and parental controls, AI can be a valuable classroom tool, and she plans to release a “best practices” kit for schools based on her tour. Her stance reflects a broader push within the administration to integrate AI into education policy even as federal roles are reduced.
