Exclusive: Linda McMahon bets on AI as agency shrinks
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Education Secretary Linda McMahon told Axios that she's betting big on AI as a fix for American classrooms as she carries out President Trump's directive to dismantle her department.
Why it matters: McMahon said she sees AI as a useful tool to both return control of education to the states and engage students, arguing she's already seen evidence that it works.
The big picture: The Education Department has seen mass rolling layoffs since the beginning of the year.
- Last month, it announced several of its offices would be farmed out to other agencies including the Labor and Interior departments.
- Earlier this year, the Office of Education Technology, which had been tasked with training educators on new technologies including AI, was shuttered. McMahon said that work now comes directly from experts in her office.
- First lady Melania Trump hosted a September event touting AI in education, flanked by tech company executives offering major tech and software commitments to schools.
What they're saying: "I have visited schools, and I have seen AI working," said McMahon, recalling a visit she had to the AI-led Alpha School in Austin, Texas.
- "To see that in action absolutely lets you know how engaged students are. It's not just sitting in front of the screen, it's interaction."
- "But we have to have guardrails, I do believe in parental controls around this, but it is an incredibly great tool used appropriately for students."
McMahon said she recognizes that AI companies have a large profit motive in selling AI tools to schools.
- But she told Axios that "they understand the greater good, that they are developing a good base of use for their product, while at the same time not infringing on the responsibilities that they have to the nation, because after all, they have kids, too."
Asked if embracing AI aligns with Trump's aim of dismantling most of the department, McMahon said AI "is a new tool best used by the states, and there's no one size fits all."
- "This is a brand-new endeavor, and so there will be some ups and downs to it. Some best practices will come forth, but that's with the design at the base of users, not dictated from D.C."
The department is using AI to scan certain grant applications, McMahon said.
- Staff are using AI as an "initial screening tool" to see if applications are compliant and have met all minimum criteria, said Casey Sacks, McMahon's senior policy adviser on workforce and AI.
- "AI is the most incredible technology of my lifetime," Sacks told Axios in an interview. "To say we don't want to encourage the use of this in our schools seems like it would really put our students at a huge disadvantage on the world stage."
What's next: McMahon said there are plans to put out a "best practices" kit following her tour of different schools across the country, with AI as a component.
