The Classroom as a Beta Test: Big Tech's Playbook for Student Dependency

AI companies are currently pitching schools on a narrative of providing pro bono resources and curricula to ensure students do not fall behind in the job market. However, as first reported by The Verge, reporting citing Natasha Singer's book *Coding Kids* suggests this is a recurring industry strategy used to build influence in classrooms over the last 15 years.

Singer details how tech giants embedded themselves into education by creating proprietary curricula for Advanced Placement Computer Science Principles classes, with Microsoft utilizing Minecraft and Apple using Swift. Google further solidified its presence through the widespread distribution of Chromebooks and the introduction of the Google Classroom app. Even when not acting directly, companies supported nonprofit groups like Code.org, whose viral promotional efforts featured then-Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg and Microsoft founder Bill Gates.

According to Singer, these efforts did more than teach skills; they trained students on specific software and products, effectively creating a new class of workers and future customers. This mirrors a pattern in the medical field where students trained on a specific company's proprietary device rarely switch to a competitor.

While these programs promised high-paying jobs, some recent graduates told Singer they feel let down as entry-level coding roles diminish. Consequently, some schools are now removing Google Chromebooks, and research indicates that adding classroom technology often fails to significantly impact actual learning.