AI is increasingly embedded in American classrooms, driven by tech companies eager to showcase social impact through educational partnerships. While tools like ChatGPT and Magic School offer personalized feedback and streamline teaching tasks, evidence of their academic benefits remains mixed. Some students show improved communication and subject mastery, but gains may stem more from updated teaching methods than AI itself. Real concerns persist around data privacy, factual accuracy, and the subtle influence of corporate-designed AI on student thinking. At innovative schools like Alpha School, AI enables accelerated, project-based learning, yet chatbots have been observed promoting favorable views of their parent companies—raising alarms about ideological bias. The conversation underscores the need for districts to adopt AI thoughtfully, grounded in evidence rather than hype, and to equip students with the critical thinking skills necessary to navigate AI’s broader societal implications.