U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon Mistakenly Refers to AI as A1

At a recent panel discussion at the ASU+GSV Summit, U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon lit a firestorm of speculation. She started by calling Artificial Intelligence (AI) “A1,” and that perked our ears up. This unconventional term, likened humorously to the popular steak sauce, raised eyebrows among education and technology professionals present at the event.

During the panel, McMahon was sure to mention the term “A1” multiple times when emphasizing the need to infuse AI into our educational curriculums. As she spoke, it was clear that she very frequently was using the term inappropriately. That was no occasional oversight — this was a getting more frequent type of fumble. By the end of her remarks, she seemed to prefer “A1” over the best-known shorthand for Artificial Intelligence.

Even more provocative is McMahon’s specific reference to “A1.” It’s not a commonly accepted acronym elsewhere, especially within the education or technology sectors. The word isn’t technically in the dictionary yet. This can lead to a lot of frustration and misunderstanding, much like referring to Major League Baseball as the NFL. Though that reality weighed heavily, McMahon’s playful spirit made for a captivating contrast that injected levity into the crucial debate.

Fewer than ten years ago, people cheered when we got high-speed broadband into our schools!” she added. What she communicated so well to us all was the urgency, that technology is changing so quickly right now.

In what sounded like a hopeful admission of where school and teaching should be heading in the near future, McMahon sounded enthused. While discussing this idea, he remarked, “I just found out that a school district has committed to providing A1 instruction consistently to first graders and even pre-K students every year, beginning as young as that. Her remarks demonstrate an understanding of the importance of getting much younger students ready for a future that will be shaped ever more by emerging technologies.

Those who work in this field might wonder if using this kind of terminology would make conversations about tech education more confusing. Even the catch-all label “A1” would not be widely understood or used in academic or professional contexts, thereby undermining the credibility of incorporating AI into curricula.