U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon made headlines at the ASU+GSV Summit this week. But not for the reasons she might have hoped. During a panel on the future of AI in education and the workforce. McMahon repeatedly referred to artificial intelligence as “A1,” sparking confusion and a bit of online mockery.
Speaking to a room full of edtech leaders, innovators, and educators, McMahon began on the right note, using the term “AI” correctly. But as her remarks went on, the acronym slowly morphed. “How can we educate at the speed of light if we don’t have the best technology around to do that?” she asked. “I heard… that there was a school system that’s going to start making sure that first graders, or even pre-Ks, have A1 teaching in every year, starting that far down in the grades. That’s a wonderful thing!”
The audience appeared puzzled, unsure if “A1” was a new initiative or simply a slip of the tongue. It quickly became clear that she was referring to AI technology. However, her phrasing made it sound more like she was discussing steak sauce than advanced educational tools.
To be fair, McMahon didn’t always misspeak. She initially said “AI,” but as the discussion progressed, she mixed up the terms more frequently. “It wasn’t all that long ago that it was, ‘We’re going to have internet in our schools!’” she said. “Now let’s see A1, and how can that be helpful.”
The mix-up might seem trivial, but in a discussion focused on how schools can embrace cutting-edge innovation, clarity matters. The term “AI” is now central to debates about how to modernize classrooms, adapt curricula, and prepare students for future jobs. Misnaming it—even accidentally—can undercut credibility, especially for someone leading national education policy.
AI in education is a hot topic, with schools across the country exploring how to integrate tools like chatbots, adaptive learning software, and personalized tutoring systems into classrooms. The summit aimed to explore how educators and policymakers can responsibly implement these technologies—especially in early education.
So while everyone can have a verbal slip now and then, the repeated “A1” references stood out, particularly coming from the nation’s top education official. Given the current urgency around equipping schools with the right digital tools, precision in language is more important than ever.
