Some of the nation’s rich are letting AI teach their kids

# Some of the nation’s rich are letting AI teach their kids Source: [https://www.theverge.com/ai-artificial-intelligence/961505/wealthy-ai-schools-alpha-forge-prep](https://www.theverge.com/ai-artificial-intelligence/961505/wealthy-ai-schools-alpha-forge-prep) [](https://www.theverge.com/authors/terrence-obrien) Terrence O'Brien is the Verge’s weekend editor\. He’s covered the tech industry for over 18 years and knows a thing or two about synths\. Most Americans[don’t trust AI](https://www.theverge.com/ai-artificial-intelligence/644853/pew-gallup-data-americans-dont-trust-ai)\. It’s proven that it doesn’t know what[safe toppings](https://www.theverge.com/2024/5/30/24168344/google-defends-ai-overviews-search-results)for pizza are\. People don’t even want to listen to[AI music](https://www.theverge.com/entertainment/915027/deezer-ai-music-daily-uploads)\. But none of that matters for some of America’s wealthy, who are turning to AI to teach their kids instead of traditional schools\. Companies like Forge Prep and Alpha School are charging families tens of thousands of dollars to turn their kids into beta testers for AI tutors and “interactive project\-based workshops\.” Unsurprisingly, Silicon Valley have been major adopters of this new model\. Shaun Johnson, a San Francisco\-based venture capitalist, told the[*Wall Street Journal*](https://www.wsj.com/us-news/education/alternative-education-wealthy-families-ai-cd7922b3?st=TeME61&reflink=desktopwebshare_permalink)that he plans to send his son to a $75,000 year Alpha Kindergarten\. He said, “We recognize that education is likely broken the way it is and there’s going to be entrepreneurs that try to fix it… You want someone to be able to think on their feet and navigate the world, not necessarily a recitation of facts in a particular discipline\.” Ignoring Johnson’s fundamental lack of understanding about modern pedagogy, it’s unclear how notoriously[sycophantic](https://www.theverge.com/news/806822/scientists-warn-your-ai-chatbot-is-a-dangerous-sycophant)AI will train children to “think on their feet and navigate the world\.” It’s also concerning that Alpha School co\-founder MacKenzie Price has said she plans to keep “[hot\-button social issues](https://www.wsj.com/us-news/education/bill-ackman-school-ai-curriculum-cef53f44?mod=article_inline)” out of the classroom\. Which, in the current political climate, could cover women’s rights, America’s history of slavery, and our immigrant past\. That might not seem like a major issue when you’re talking about kindergarten, but in some locations, Alpha School goes through high school\. Companies like Forge also don’t share performance metrics, so there’s no evidence that these AI\-guided private schools are improving educational outcomes\. **Follow topics and authors**from this story to see more like this in your personalized homepage feed and to receive email updates\. - Terrence O'Brien