Microsoft is bringing artificial intelligence to every public classroom in its home state — and sparking new questions about its role in education.
The Redmond tech giant on Thursday unveiled Microsoft Elevate Washington, a sweeping new initiative that will provide free access to AI-powered software and training for all 295 public school districts and 34 community and technical colleges across Washington state.
The program is part of Microsoft Elevate, the company’s broader $4 billion, five-year commitment to support schools and nonprofits with AI tools and training that was announced in July.
The Washington-specific effort represents the company’s largest single investment per resident anywhere in the world.
“This is our home,” Microsoft President Brad Smith said at a launch event on the company’s headquarters campus. “A big part of what we’re doing today is investing in our home.”
Some details about the new program:
- The company will offer its Copilot Studio tool — used to create custom AI agents without coding — free of charge for three years beginning in January 2026 to school districts and community colleges.
- High school students will get Copilot Chat, Microsoft 365 desktop apps, Learning Accelerators, and Teams for Education at no cost for three years starting in July 2026.
- Community college students will receive a year of Microsoft 365 Personal with Copilot integration.
- Microsoft will fund $25,000 consulting grants for up to 10 school districts and 10 community colleges to help them deploy AI tools.
- The company will partner with state agencies and teacher unions to deliver professional development programs and bootcamps for educators.
Smith described the effort as an attempt to close what Microsoft sees as an emerging divide across the state. More than 30% of residents in counties in the Seattle area already use AI tools, compared with less than 10% in several rural eastern counties, according to data Smith shared on Thursday.
“Fundamentally, what we’re seeing is not only a technology gap — what we’re really seeing is an opportunity gap,” he said.
The program also arrives amid growing uncertainty — and controversy — about the role of AI in education.
Advocates argue that AI can personalize learning, reduce administrative workloads, and help teachers tailor lessons to individual students. Critics warn that it can undermine learning and widen inequities, especially when students become overly reliant on AI-generated answers.
Smith said Microsoft understands the unease around AI in classrooms but argued that waiting isn’t an option.
“I don’t know that it will be possible to slow down the use of AI, even if someone wanted to,” he said. “You already see a third of the folks in the state using it, and I think that usage is going to continue to accelerate, especially among people that are younger. So if anything, I think this is about helping the community catch up in ways that do provide the kind of guidance that’s needed.”
He emphasized the need for “guardrails” around when and how AI is used in classrooms — and underscored that Microsoft does not seek to dictate education policy. “The world will not benefit by putting tech companies in charge of education,” Smith said. “We know our place.”
The program includes a steering committee made up of leaders from Microsoft, education, and government.
For Microsoft, Elevate Washington is both a philanthropic and strategic move. The company stands to deepen its long-term presence in Washington classrooms, introducing AI tools to the next generation of workers while positioning its products as foundational to digital learning.
It also reinforces Microsoft’s image as a civic and economic pillar of Washington state — even as its relationship with policymakers has shown strain. Smith this year has criticized state leaders over Washington’s approach to taxation and what he describes as a disappearance of economic development from the political agenda.
On Thursday, his tone was focused on collaboration. The company is working with the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction, the Washington Education Association, and other partners to train educators statewide. Microsoft will also encourage employees to volunteer through programs such as Code.org’s “Hour of AI” to teach digital literacy.
Asked about how much Microsoft is investing in Elevate Washington, Smith told GeekWire he didn’t have a specific number but added that “it’s not small.”
Speaking at an event in July about Microsoft Elevate, Smith described it as the next generation of Microsoft Philanthropies, bringing together the company’s longstanding charitable and community engagement initiatives.
That announcement came a week after Microsoft confirmed it would cut another 4% of its workforce — about 9,000 jobs globally — as part of a broader efficiency push. Since mid-May, the company has cut about 15,000 jobs worldwide, including over 3,100 in Washington state.
The Elevate program underscores Microsoft’s dual role as both a leading force in AI development and a company navigating the disruptive consequences of the technology it’s creating.
The event on Thursday also included comedian Trevor Noah, the company’s “chief questions officer,” as well as Code.org CEO Hadi Partovi and a panel of Washington educators. We’ll have more coverage later on GeekWire.
