Be Best, bots: Melania Trump and tech CEOs discuss saturating US schools with AI

The Guardian's Dara Kerr reports on Melania Trump hosting a White House event to launch the "Presidential AI Challenge," bringing together major tech leaders to discuss integrating artificial intelligence into childhood education.

Melania Trump welcomed tech executives including Google's Sundar Pichai, IBM's Arvind Krishna, and OpenAI's Sam Altman to inaugurate an AI taskforce focused on schools. The event was part of Donald Trump's broader AI initiative, which frames artificial intelligence development as a race for global dominance. Education Secretary Linda McMahon emphasized embracing AI integration into school curriculums nationwide, while tech companies pledged millions in AI education commitments.

• Tech giants including Microsoft, Amazon, and Google committed to expanding AI access and training in American schools
• The Federal Trade Commission announced investigations into AI companies over potential mental health impacts on children
• Watchdog groups criticized the event as "corruption in the Rose Garden," highlighting concerns about tech industry influence
• The day concluded with a Rose Garden dinner featuring Silicon Valley's top CEOs, though Elon Musk was notably absent