AI & Education: 2025 Mid-Summer Update

As we reach the midpoint of summer, it’s the perfect time to examine the rapid evolution of artificial intelligence (AI) in education. The technology is no longer a distant concept for the classroom; AI is being implemented in real, measurable ways to support educators and enhance and personalize the learning process for students of all backgrounds. 

From landmark funding announcements to national policy initiatives and data on rising usage, AI is fast becoming a foundational tool in shaping the future of education. This update explores three key developments that underscore the growing AI impact on education in 2025. 

 

White House Pledge Supports AI Education 

Earlier this year, a coalition of more than 60 organizations, including Cengage Group, has joined a nationwide commitment to expand access to AI learning. Announced in June, this White House pledge is a strategic response to the growing demand for AI fluency among both educators and students. 

The full pledge outlines specific commitments to: 

• Funding & grants for schools and youth programs 

• Educational materials & curricula developed around AI literacy 

• Technology and classroom resources to integrate AI in a practical way 

• Teacher professional development programs focused on AI pedagogy 

• Workforce development resources to prepare students for AI-driven careers 

• Technical expertise & mentorship from industry professionals 

This collective promise reflects a shared understanding that preparing the next generation of learners for an AI-powered world starts today. AI isn’t just a subject to be taught – it’s a tool to enhance learning experiences and empower educators to better reach students through a deeper understanding of complex concepts. 

Training Hub Prepares Teachers for the AI Era 

One of the most promising developments this summer is the launch of a National Academy for AI Instruction, led by the American Federation of Teachers and the United Federation of Teachers, and backed by a $23 million investment from Microsoft, OpenAI and Anthropic. This initiative aims to provide K-12 teachers with the training, tools and resources needed to implement AI in the classroom responsibly and effectively. 

The training hub will offer hands-on professional development, including free AI training and curriculum, along with ongoing support and resources to help educators stay on top of evolving AI tools. With AI progressing rapidly, prioritizing educator training isn’t just helpful – it’s essential. 

Recent research from Cengage Group reinforces this as teachers across K-12 and higher education expressed a need for support and guidance when it comes to integrating AI into their classrooms. And the tools being developed across the educational landscape, including at Cengage Group, underscore this urgency. In just the past year, we’ve launched: 

• AI-Powered Insights Dashboard – a centralized platform that provides faculty with actionable insights on student learning patterns to enhance classroom learning and engagement. 

• AI Content Leveler – a GenAI-powered tool that allows K-12 educators to tailor Gale educational resources in line with individual student reading levels for improved reading comprehension. 

New Data Confirms AI Usage is Rising 

As funding, support and access to AI in education grows, so does usage among educators themselves. According to newly released Gallup data, nearly six in 10 teachers incorporated AI into their work during the 2024–25 school year, with one-third using it weekly. 

For those integrating AI regularly, the benefits are immediate and measurable. Weekly users report saving nearly six hours a week – a time savings equivalent to six weeks per academic year. But the impact goes beyond efficiency. Teachers are using this reclaimed time to deliver more personalized feedback, craft individualized lesson plans and increase thoughtful communication with parents. 

Importantly, AI is not replacing teachers. Rather, it’s empowering them – enabling educators to focus more on what matters most: human connection, thoughtful instruction and improved learning outcomes. 

Looking ahead, Cengage Group research highlights how the education community envisions the future of GenAI in schools: 

Among K–12 districts planning to use GenAI, demand is rising for: 

• Teacher support (+15% YoY to 53%) 

• In-classroom assistance (+13% to 40%) 

• Tutoring support (+9% to 23%) 

In higher education, instructors’ top desired AI applications include: 

• Language learner support (63%) 

• Detecting academic dishonesty (57%) 

• Automating administrative work (55%) 

• Personalizing learning and instruction (52%) 

These insights show that while AI adoption is growing quickly, so too is the demand for tools that are purpose-built for education – ones that not only drive efficiency, but also support diverse learners, enhance instructional quality and elevate human connection in the classroom. 

The Road Ahead for AI and Education 

The summer of 2025 has made one thing clear: AI is not a trend – it’s a cornerstone of the educational landscape. With robust investments in educator training, public-private partnerships fueling innovation and a surge in real-world adoption, the role of AI in education is solidifying into something both powerful and permanent. As we move toward the new school year, the focus will shift toward implementation strategies that balance innovation with equity, access and impact. The key to unlocking AI’s full potential lies not just in the tools themselves, but in how we support educators in using them with care, creativity and a commitment to student success. 

Whether through new dashboards, national pledges or local classroom experiments, the journey of AI and education continues – and it’s one we all have a stake in.