Technology companies have spent more than a decade embedding themselves into school curricula and infrastructure, according to New York Times education technology reporter Natasha Singer. Her new book, Coding Kids, documents how major tech firms promoted computer science education by providing free resources, curriculum, and devices to schools while establishing brand loyalty among students.
The pattern began with Advanced Placement Computer Science Principles courses, where companies like Apple and Microsoft created branded curricula featuring their own software tools. Google similarly expanded its influence through the widespread adoption of low-cost Chromebooks and the introduction of Google Classroom. These companies also supported nonprofit initiatives like Code.org, which launched celebrity-endorsed campaigns encouraging students to learn coding. Singer notes that the approach mirrored commercial strategies, raising concerns about conflicts of interest comparable to scenarios like pharmaceutical companies funding medical education.
Now, artificial intelligence companies are employing similar tactics to gain classroom access and shape how students engage with their technologies. Singer expressed concern about “collective amnesia” regarding lessons from previous tech cycles in schools and questioned whether safeguards are being implemented adequately. She emphasized that parents and educators generally want more comprehensive education than simply training students to use corporate products.
Unlike the minimal resistance that greeted earlier tech integration efforts, there are signs of growing pushback. New York City recently banned elementary and middle schools from using AI in classrooms, while Los Angeles implemented even broader restrictions. A grassroots movement among parents and teachers is also resisting increased screen time and AI integration in schools.
Singer expressed cautious optimism that schools are beginning to recognize these patterns and may pursue more balanced technology education that teaches critical thinking about how companies design their tools and influence user choices.
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