The percentage of teachers who are using artificial intelligence-driven tools in their classrooms nearly doubled between 2023 and 2025, according to data from the EdWeek Research Center.
In 2023, a little more than a third of teachers (34%) said they used AI 鈥渁 little,鈥� 鈥渟ome,鈥� or 鈥渁 lot.鈥� While the percentage dipped slightly in 2024 to 32%, 2025 saw a huge increase, with 61% saying they used the technology in their work in some capacity, according to EdWeek Research Center survey data.
A few factors are contributing to the huge increase, experts say. The first is professional development. It鈥檚 important for teachers to learn about the technology so they can use it responsibly in their work and model appropriate use for students, according to experts.
鈥淎s more schools and districts invest in AI training, teachers are seeing practical use cases and gaining the confidence to try these tools themselves,鈥� said Jessica Garner, the senior director of innovative learning for ISTE+ASCD, a nonprofit organization that provides professional development for AI use in schools.
In 2025, 50% of teachers reported having at least one single professional development session or more on using AI in their work, according to an EdWeek Research Center survey conducted between September and November. That鈥檚 almost double the percentage from the survey conducted from January to March 2024, when 29% of teachers said the same.
Another factor that likely explains the increase is that 鈥淎I is now embedded in common tools鈥攖eachers don鈥檛 have to go looking for it,鈥� said Waymond Jackson, the president of Ed Farm, a nonprofit focused on expanding digital skills through tech-focused learning programs across the Southeast. For instance, the most popular ed-tech companies鈥攕uch as Canva, Google, Kahoot!, Khan Academy, and Microsoft鈥攈ave embedded generative AI in their tools.
Teachers are also navigating a significant workload, and 鈥淎I is increasingly seen as a high-value tool for planning, differentiation, and feedback,鈥� said Carolyne Quintana, the CEO of Teaching Matters, a nonprofit focused on teacher development. 鈥淲hen you are managing multiple competing demands on your time, the ability to use AI for these labor-intensive tasks becomes an incredibly helpful resource.鈥�
Teachers need continuous professional learning
Although more teachers are using AI, experts say there is still a lot of work to be done to ensure AI use is meaningful.
鈥淭he headline numbers are interesting, but the real story is in the definitions,鈥� Garner said. 鈥淲hat does 鈥榓 little鈥� or 鈥榓 lot鈥� of AI use actually look like in practice? I鈥檓 encouraged to see more teachers engaging with these tools, but that growth is only meaningful if it鈥檚 paired with foundational AI literacy.鈥�
The next question, Jackson said, 鈥渋s whether teachers have the support to use AI in ways that strengthen learning, not just speed up tasks.鈥�
There needs to be continued professional support for teachers as they navigate this fast-evolving technology, experts say.
鈥淚f we don鈥檛 provide teachers with the professional learning to be discerning, confident users, we risk an environment where only some 糖心动漫vlog benefit from the efficiencies of AI, while others are left behind due to a lack of guidance and/or infrastructure,鈥� Quintana said.
The experts were also struck by the percentage of teachers who say they have never used AI and don鈥檛 plan to use it in their classrooms.
鈥淚 want to understand what鈥檚 behind that 21% who aren鈥檛 planning to use AI,鈥� said Garner. 鈥淚s it access? Philosophy? Grade level? Those answers matter鈥攂ecause they should shape how we design professional learning and support.鈥�
