Melissa Higgason, a chemistry teacher in Hobart, Indiana, used marshmallows and water bottles to aid students in comprehending abstract chemistry concepts, following a suggestion from Khanmigo for Teachers. Khan Academy, an online education platform, recently partnered with Microsoft Azure to use its AI cloud infrastructure to offer Khanmigo for Teachers free of charge to K-12 educators in the U.S. Previously costing $4 per month, this AI assistant will now be powered by Azure OpenAI Service. Khan Academy, based in Mountain View, Calif., was previously a customer of Google Cloud, but is now utilizing Microsoft’s cloud services, showcasing competition between major tech companies in the AI space.
Tech giants like Microsoft often offer software and hardware at reduced rates or for free to schools, aiming to instill lifelong loyalty to their platforms. These efforts are part of a larger strategy to attract new customers, expand the use of their cloud technologies, and create strong relationships with educational institutions. Khanmigo for Teachers is designed to integrate seamlessly with Khan Academy’s content, simplifying the process of creating lesson plans and other tasks for teachers. This, in turn, allows teachers to invest more time in working directly with students.
The partnership between Microsoft and Khan Academy also involves a collaboration to enhance online math tutoring using Phi-3, their AI technology based on a small language model that is more lightweight and efficient. Additionally, Microsoft plans to work with Khan Academy to integrate more content into their Copilot AI assistant and Microsoft Teams for Education. This move was announced at Microsoft’s Build developer conference in Seattle, highlighting the tech giant’s commitment to leveraging AI technology in the field of education.
Overall, the partnership between Microsoft and Khan Academy represents a significant step in the field of online education, particularly in the realm of AI-powered educational tools. By offering Khanmigo for Teachers free of charge and enhancing math tutoring through innovative AI technology, the collaboration aims to improve the overall teaching and learning experience. This partnership also underscores the competitive landscape among major tech companies seeking to expand their cloud offerings and establish strong relationships with educational institutions in the U.S.
