For every aspect of a student’s life, there’s a tech company trying to digitize it for profit. The rapid expansion of generative artificial intelligence has only accelerated that effort, fueling corporations’ blatant attempt to treat children as monetizable data points.

A recent example occurred here in Pennsylvania, when the Unbound Academic Institute applied to open an AI-based cyber charter school. The proposal would have replaced educators with “guides” and relied exclusively on artificial intelligence for just two hours of daily instruction.

Education is a fundamental right, not a business venture. While technology can be a worthwhile tool in the classroom, it must never replace educators. That is why I will introduce legislation prohibiting schools from replacing educators with artificial intelligence. Schools will have to demonstrate that AI is being used to support educators, not replace them. Because human students need human educators.

The commercialization of public education undermines its core mission. Educators do far more than convey information - they foster personal growth, encourage critical and creative thinking, cultivate empathy, and respond to the unique needs of students. Our schools need more caring adults in the building, not machines and algorithms.

Please join me in co-sponsoring this legislation which recognizes learning as a deeply relational and humanizing experience cultivated by educators who can never be replicated by AI.