AI in Education: A 2026 Snapshot of Growing Use and the Shift Toward Integration
Michigan Virtual’s 2026 AI report highlights rapid AI growth in schools, with rising use outpacing trust. It urges careful, ethical adoption with equity, privacy, and training in mind, based on statewide educator surveys and AI Statewide Workgroup research.
For the third consecutive year, Michigan Virtual’s AI Lab and the AI Statewide Workgroup surveyed Michigan educators to better understand how artificial intelligence (AI) is being used in schools, how educators perceive and trust AI systems, and how they envision AI’s future in education. The 2026 survey received 136 unique responses representing educators in a range of professional roles and builds on comparable surveys conducted in 2024 and 2025.
The findings suggest that AI use is becoming increasingly common while educator confidence in the technology remains more cautious. More than four out of five respondents reported using AI both personally and professionally, and teacher-reported classroom use more than doubled between 2024 and 2026. At the same time, average trust in AI declined from its 2025 high, returning close to 2024 levels. Teachers and building administrators reported lower levels of trust than district administrators, underscoring important differences in perceptions across professional roles.
Moving forward, schools and districts will need clear expectations, meaningful professional learning, vetted tools, human oversight, and opportunities for educators and students to help shape AI practices that remain connected to educational goals.