School Leaders & NGO Staff - AI Adoption Challenges Across Sectors

Everyone is talking about AI in schools. But who’s listening to school leaders? This question had been on my mind, and I am thankful to Anthropic x Global School Leaders for inviting me to their event in New York, focused on school leaders in conversations about AI and education. My policy training has taught me to be cautious about assuming that an intervention that works in one place will work just as well in another. In research, this connects to questions of external validity and policy transfer.Evidence matters, but so does context. I saw a version of this challenge in an intervention I developed, focused on school administration in Tanzania. The question was not simply if administrators could be given educational materials or training. It was whether those resources would be enough to address their needs, or whether an effective intervention would also require time, ongoing support, and a better understanding of the challenges faced in their day-to-day work. I think the same principle applies to AI in education! Having been in school when the modern AI boom happened, I know that a tool may be technically impressive, but school leaders still need to evaluate its relevance, safety, privacy implications, and educational value. Teachers need time and support to incorporate it into their work. And schools need the infrastructure and resources to use it effectively. These needs will look different across contexts, which is precisely why local input and evidence should shape implementation from the beginning. This question extends beyond education.... Which is why I’ve been interviewing NGOs about how they currently use AI. I’m working on an article bringing these perspectives together, with a focus on the realities of AI adoption in organizations working on social impact. Follow along for updates.If you work with schools, NGOs, foundations, or technology organizations, I’d love to hear what you’re seeing. 📍Anthropic office, NY with Asha Dhakad #aispecialist #educationpolicy #aigovernance #globaldevelopment #effectivealturism