Microsoft’s 2026 AI in education report finds high adoption but scarce training
Microsoft’s 2026 AI in education report finds 92% of students and leaders use AI for school, while 77% of students report no formal AI training.
Photo by Pavel Danilyuk on Pexels
Microsoft released the third edition of its annual “AI in Education Report” on June 24, 2026, finding that AI in education has become routine for most students and staff while formal training lags well behind. The survey, conducted by PSB Insights with 3,345 respondents across K-12 and higher education in six countries, reported that 92% of students and education leaders, and 88% of educators, have already used AI for school-related purposes. Microsoft published the findings ahead of the ISTELive 26 conference in Orlando, held June 28 to July 1, 2026, and paired them with a set of new classroom tools.
What the AI in education report measured
The report surveyed students, educators, and education leaders in the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, Brazil, Japan, and Saudi Arabia. It sets out three priorities: making AI a regular part of teaching and school operations, closing the AI skills gap with recurring training, and providing practical guardrails for classroom use. Microsoft reported that 58% of education leaders say their schools are already implementing or scaling AI, and that AI use for school rose over the past year for 78% of leaders, 76% of educators, and 65% of students.
The figures below are drawn from the report’s headline measures.
| Finding | Figure |
|---|---|
| Students and education leaders who have used AI for school | 92% |
| Educators who have used AI for school | 88% |
| Education leaders whose schools are implementing or scaling AI | 58% |
| Education leaders reporting more AI use in the past year | 78% |
| Educators reporting more AI use in the past year | 76% |
| Students reporting more AI use in the past year | 65% |
| Students with no formal AI training | 77% |
| Educators with no formal AI training | 53% |
| Educators wanting AI training monthly or quarterly | 66% |
| Students wanting AI training monthly or quarterly | 52% |
| Students naming academic integrity as a leading worry | 41% |
| Educators naming academic integrity as a leading worry | 42% |
Source: Microsoft “2026 AI in Education Report” (PSB Insights; 3,345 respondents across six countries).
A widening AI skills gap
Adoption has outpaced instruction. The report found that 77% of students and 53% of educators have not received formal AI training, while 66% of educators and 52% of students want their institution to provide training monthly or quarterly. At the same time, 87% of educators and education leaders, and 79% of students, agreed that knowing how to use AI effectively and responsibly matters for students’ futures. The training shortfall mirrors the alarming gaps in faculty training at universities reported earlier, and it is the support educators say they want most.
To address it, Microsoft pointed to its “Microsoft Elevate for Educators” programme and a new “AI Literacy for Educators” credential pathway co-created with ISTE and ASCD. The company stated the pathway is grounded in the European Commission and OECD AI Literacy Framework, the same reference point behind reporting on how generative AI is transforming education, per the OECD.
Guardrails and academic integrity
Academic integrity was the leading worry for both groups, named by 41% of students and 42% of educators, which the report ties to demand for clear, classroom-level rules on when and how AI should be used. “Educators around the world are embracing AI as a classroom ally, and they’re now asking not if, but how to make the most of it,” said Matt Jubelirer, general manager of education marketing at Microsoft. He described the aim as a “partner in learning” rather than an “answer engine” that does the work for students, a concern Winss Solutions examined through Microsoft’s own study on whether heavy AI use dulls critical thinking. Setting expectations for responsible use is a practical first step, as covered in how to implement AI in education in a responsible way.
New tools announced
Alongside the report, Microsoft introduced teaching and learning features at no additional cost with Microsoft 365 Education. For teachers, “Unit Plans” in the Teach experience generate standards-aligned plans, and new “Student AI Guidelines” and “Learning Groups” in Assignments let educators define how students may use AI. “Learning Zone”, an educator-paced classroom experience, is available for trial on Windows 11 devices. For students, “Copilot Notebooks” turns class materials into structured study guides, and a “Study and Learn Agent” in Copilot Chat guides learners through concepts with practice and feedback rather than supplying answers.
About Microsoft in education
Microsoft has built education tools around its Microsoft 365 Education ecosystem and the learning-management platforms schools already use, spanning Teams for Education, Assignments, and educator training through its Elevate for Educators programme. Its annual AI in Education Report, now in its third edition, tracks how students, educators, and leaders adopt AI year over year. The company has also published research on AI’s effects on thinking, including work with Carnegie Mellon University on critical engagement among frequent AI users. The 2026 edition extends that record, reporting that the open question for schools has shifted from whether to use AI to how to train for it, the case Microsoft brought to ISTELive 26.
Sources: Microsoft Source; PR Newswire
Featured image: photo by Pavel Danilyuk on Pexels (free Pexels license).
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I specialize in sustainability education, curriculum co-creation, and early-stage project strategy. At WINSS, I craft articles on sustainability, transformative AI, and related topics. When I’m not writing, you’ll find me chasing the perfect sushi roll, exploring cities around the globe, or unwinding with my dog Puffy — the world’s most loyal sidekick.
