Three-Quarters of K-12 Teachers Say AI Will Transform Education More Than the Internet

Nearly three in four K-12 teachers believe artificial intelligence will have a bigger impact on education than the internet or personal computers, according to a new nationally representative poll conducted by NPR and Ipsos.

The survey of 545 teachers paints a nuanced picture: While 60% of educators report using AI themselves for work tasks like generating quiz questions or planning professional development, a majority harbor serious concerns about the technology's effect on student learning and classroom dynamics.

Why it matters

As schools nationwide grapple with integrating AI, teachers are being asked to navigate a fundamental shift in education with minimal institutional support. The survey reveals that half of all teachers say their schools have provided no guidance on AI use, even as the technology reshapes how students approach assignments and how educators assess learning. This gap between AI's rapid adoption and policy development could determine whether the technology enhances or undermines educational outcomes for an entire generation.

Teachers use AI, but students largely don't—yet

While six in ten teachers report using AI for work-related tasks, just over half say students aren't using the technology in class at all. About two in five teachers report students using AI at least weekly.

Michele Naber, a biology teacher at El Toro High School in Orange County, California, uses AI strategically in her classroom. She has students prompt ChatGPT to describe animal characteristics, then verify the output against reliable sources—a lesson in both AI capabilities and limitations.

"That's one of the things that has to be taught: You can't take it literally," Naber told NPR, which first reported these findings.

For her own work, Naber uses AI to generate multiple-choice questions, a task that previously took an hour but now takes five minutes. Among teachers who use AI, most report time savings of two hours or less per week.

Critical thinking concerns dominate

More than half of surveyed teachers—54%—say AI makes it harder for students to develop critical thinking skills. An even larger majority, 55%, view AI primarily as a shortcut for students to avoid work.

Christa Corricelli, a special education teacher at Saugus Middle/High School outside Boston, worries about long-term cognitive effects. "I think people who are not already that personality type, we're going to see those critical thinking skills atrophy over time," she said.

Ellie Rodriguez, a special education teacher in Florida, offers a counterpoint: AI can provide crucial support for students with disabilities. She praised a student on the autism spectrum who used AI to complete an assignment he couldn't have finished independently, comparing it to using library resources.

Trust erosion reshapes teaching practices

Nearly 60% of teachers say AI is eroding trust between students and educators. In response, 40% now require more handwritten assignments and 40% require more in-class work.

Naber had to discontinue offering extra credit for environmental volunteer work after her son showed her how easily AI could generate fake registration photos. "I had to stop doing that because I can't verify it. That was sad," she said.

Mallory Newall, senior vice president at Ipsos, called the trust erosion "one of the biggest red flags in the data," particularly given that 70% of teachers believe public perception of educators has worsened.

Schools lag on policy and training

Among schools that provide AI software, only 35% have formal policies governing teacher use. About half of all teachers say their school has offered no guidance on AI, or they're unsure what guidance exists.

Only 40% of teachers report their school offers AI-related professional development or training.

"Teachers are looking for additional guidance from their district and from their students, frankly, on what AI is going to mean for the future of education," Newall said.

Despite the challenges, nearly 80% of teachers believe schools should teach responsible AI use—a clear signal that educators see the technology as permanent rather than temporary.

These findings were first reported by NPR, with support from the Omidyar Network's Reporters in Residence program.