Many Americans remain skeptical of artificial intelligence, particularly when it comes to areas that require judgment, creativity or trust. AI systems have already drawn criticism for questionable advice, including confusion over what makes a safe pizza topping, and AI-generated music has struggled to win over listeners. Still, those concerns have not stopped some affluent families from embracing the technology as a replacement for more traditional schooling.
Education startups such as Forge Prep and Alpha School are asking parents to pay tens of thousands of dollars for programs built around AI tutors and “interactive project-based workshops.” The model has found particular interest in Silicon Valley. Shaun Johnson, a San Francisco venture capitalist, told the Wall Street Journal that he intends to enroll his son in Alpha Kindergarten, which costs $75,000 a year. “We recognize that education is likely broken the way it is and there’s going to be entrepreneurs that try to fix it,” Johnson said. “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.”
That argument raises larger questions about what AI-led instruction can realistically provide. Critics have noted that chatbots are often overly agreeable, which may complicate efforts to teach students how to challenge ideas, adapt quickly and engage with the world around them. Alpha School has also attracted scrutiny after co-founder MacKenzie Price said she wants to keep “hot-button social issues” out of the classroom. In today’s political environment, that phrase could apply to subjects such as women’s rights, the history of slavery in the United States or the country’s immigrant heritage. While that may seem less pressing at the kindergarten level, Alpha School operates through high school in some locations.
There is also little public data to show whether these AI-centered private schools are delivering better results. Companies including Forge do not release detailed performance metrics, leaving parents and educators with limited evidence that the model improves student outcomes.
