AI privacy agreement reached between teachers union and Microsoft

WASHINGTON (TNND) — Microsoft and the American Federation of Teachers have made a deal regarding safety and privacy when artificial intelligence is used in school.

The agreement has 10 legal enforceable protections with one of them being Microsoft can’t use teachers’ or students’ data to improve an AI model, according to the Politico news outlet.

There is an exception of “narrow safety and security” circumstances, according to Microsoft.

American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten praised the agreement in a statement.

“We have forged a hard-fought, iron-clad privacy agreement with real teeth that protects students and families, because no one else, including the federal government, has stepped up to do the real work,” she said. “We can get angrier and angrier, or we can act decisively; anything less than legally enforceable provisions is simply a wish list.”

The union states that if Microsoft violates the agreement, the company can be liable for a breach of contract.

This announcement comes amid the discussion of artificial intelligence in schools and debates about how much times kids are spending online.

“This standard sets a high bar for child privacy and AI safety, and we’ll extend this agreement to every school district across the country,” Brad Smith, Microsoft vice chair and president said.