Microsoft, AFT Safeguard Student Privacy, OpenAI Warns of AI Risks

Key Takeaways

• Microsoft and the American Federation of Teachers signed a deal with ten legal protections banning the use of student data for AI training.
• The agreement includes a ban on using school data to improve AI models except for narrow safety and security reasons.
• Union President Randi Weingarten called the contract a hard-fought victory because the federal government has not yet regulated AI.
• Microsoft Vice Chair Brad Smith promised to extend this high standard for child privacy to every school district nationwide.
• A new safety hire at OpenAI warned that losing control of AI could be catastrophic for humanity.
• Researchers found that using between 10 percent and 40 percent of data for each topic produced the best AI model performance.
• Only 16 percent of banks have fully launched AI production systems for card replacement despite 52 percent trying pilots.
• Mexico exported $50 billion in computer and electronic equipment in the first quarter of this year.
• Cisco Systems reported $9.3 billion in orders from large cloud buyers for networking and security products last year.
• Battalion Oil Corporation invested in Collide Industrial Technologies to automate engineering and operational workflows.

Microsoft and Teachers Union Sign AI Privacy Deal

Microsoft and the American Federation of Teachers reached a new agreement to protect student and teacher privacy when using artificial intelligence in schools. The deal includes ten legal protections that stop Microsoft from using school data to improve its AI models, except for narrow safety and security reasons. Randi Weingarten, the union president, called the agreement a hard-fought victory because the federal government has not yet stepped in to regulate AI. Microsoft vice chair Brad Smith stated that this high standard for child privacy will be extended to every school district across the country.

Microsoft and Teachers Union Sign AI Privacy Deal

Microsoft and the American Federation of Teachers have created a legally enforceable deal to ensure safety and privacy for students using AI in classrooms. The agreement contains ten specific rules, including a ban on using student data to train AI models unless it is strictly for safety. Randi Weingarten praised the contract as having real teeth to protect families, noting that no other group has done this much work. Brad Smith from Microsoft promised to apply this high standard for child privacy to all school districts nationwide.

Microsoft and Teachers Union Sign AI Privacy Deal

Microsoft and the American Federation of Teachers announced a new deal to regulate artificial intelligence safety and privacy in schools. The contract features ten legal protections that prevent Microsoft from using teachers or students data to improve AI, with only narrow safety exceptions allowed. Randi Weingarten highlighted that this agreement fills a gap left by the federal government and provides real protection for students. The union warned that Microsoft could be held liable if it breaks any part of this legally enforceable agreement.

AFT and Microsoft Reach First AI Safety Deal for Kids

The American Federation of Teachers and Microsoft signed a first-of-its-kind deal to protect children as Congress fails to act on AI regulations. The agreement includes ten legally enforceable protections that ensure Microsoft only collects data necessary for educational products and that all data belongs to the school. Randi Weingarten stated that this deal is necessary because the federal government has not stepped up to do the real work of regulating AI. Critics from the Fairplay group argue the deal places an unfair burden on schools and does not go far enough to keep kids safe.

OpenAI Safety Hire Warns of AI Control Risks

A new safety hire at OpenAI issued a serious warning that losing control of artificial intelligence could be catastrophic for humanity. The expert stated that most people could die if AI systems are not properly managed and controlled. This statement comes as the technology industry continues to expand the use of AI tools globally. The warning highlights growing concerns about the potential dangers of advanced artificial intelligence systems.

Study finds moderate data mix best for AI training

Researchers tested how different amounts of data from five specific topics affect AI model performance. They found that using between 10 percent and 40 percent of data for each topic produced the best results. Even after training the model to align with human values, the initial data mix still mattered significantly. The study used the Qwen3-8B-Base model and tested it on the KOR-Bench benchmark to prove these findings.

Banks must fix systems to run AI card replacement

Many banks have started using artificial intelligence for card replacement, but few can actually run these tasks automatically. While 52 percent of banks have tried AI pilots, only 16 percent have fully launched production systems. The main problem is that old banking systems are built for human workers, not for AI agents that need to act in real time. To succeed, banks must modernize their infrastructure to connect different systems so AI can handle the whole process alone.

Mexico real estate trusts gain from AI and manufacturing

The head of the Bolsa Institucional de Valores says Mexican real estate investment trusts can profit from the global AI boom. These trusts, known as FIBRAs, can finance the industrial parks and logistics centers needed for new manufacturing. Mexico exported $50 billion in computer and electronic equipment in the first quarter of this year, showing strong growth. Investors are interested in these trusts because they offer income and growth, though they still worry about energy access and legal rules.

Cisco stock may be undervalued after recent drop

Cisco Systems recently saw its stock price fall by about 10.1 percent, but analysts believe the company remains undervalued. The company reported $9.3 billion in orders from large cloud buyers for networking and security products last year. Cisco also saw about 20 percent growth in sales to smaller campuses and branches. Investors think the current price offers a good chance to buy shares that could reach a fair value of $110.56.

Battalion Oil invests in AI software for oil sector

Battalion Oil Corporation announced a new investment in Collide Industrial Technologies Inc. to support its oil and gas operations. Collide provides an AI-native system that automates engineering and operational workflows for upstream, midstream, and oilfield services. This partnership helps Battalion reduce costs and improve how it uses its capital assets. The move marks a shift in Battalion's strategy to focus more on offensive growth opportunities.

Sources

• AI privacy agreement reached between teachers union and Microsoft
• AI privacy agreement reached between teachers union and Microsoft
• AI privacy agreement reached between teachers union and Microsoft
• As Congress Fails to Take Action on AI, AFT and Microsoft Reach 'First-of-Its-Kind' Deal to Protect Kids
• OpenAI safety hire: 'Most people could die' if we lose control of AI
• Everything in Moderation: Per-Domain Coverage Optima and Alignment-Resistant Domain Gaps in Multi-Domain Mid-Training
• Banks Turn Card Replacement Into a Single AI Workflow
• Mexico’s REITs poised to benefit from manufacturing, AI boom, exchange chief says
• Cisco Systems (CSCO) Could Be 130% Undervalued After Its AI Demand Story Strengthened
• Battalion Oil Corporation Announces Strategic Investment in Collide, the AI-Native Operations System for Oil and Gas