内容来源：https://www.geekwire.com/2025/microsoft-to-provide-free-copilot-tools-for-washington-state-schools-amid-debate-over-ais-role-in-learning/

内容总结：

微软公司近日宣布，将在其总部所在地华盛顿州启动"微软振兴华盛顿"教育计划，为全州295个公立学区和34所社区及技术学院免费提供人工智能软件及培训。这项举措标志着该科技巨头首次在其全球范围内按人均计算投入规模最大的区域性教育投资。

根据计划，自2026年1月起，学区与社区学院将免费使用Copilot Studio工具三年；2026年7月起高中生可免费获取Copilot Chat等智能学习套件；社区学院学生将获得整合Copilot的年度办公软件订阅。微软还将提供专项咨询资金，并与教育机构合作开展教师培训项目。

微软总裁布拉德·史密斯在发布会上表示，当前该州西雅图地区与东部乡村的AI使用率存在三倍差距，此举旨在弥合数字鸿沟，"我们看到的不仅是技术差距，更是发展机遇的差距"。他同时强调科技公司不应主导教育决策，建议通过设立指导委员会构建AI教学应用规范。

该计划在教育界引发热议。支持者认为AI能实现个性化教学，反对者则担忧可能导致学生过度依赖。微软方面回应称，AI应用已成趋势，关键是通过合理引导确保技术普惠。

值得注意的是，在宣布此项教育计划前一周，微软刚确认全球裁员9000人，其中华盛顿州超过3100个岗位受影响。这种战略投入与业务收缩并行的态势，折射出科技企业在人工智能浪潮中既推动创新又应对冲击的双重角色。

中文翻译：

微软公司正将人工智能带入其家乡华盛顿州的每一间公立课堂，同时也引发了关于科技在教育中角色的新思考。

这家雷德蒙德科技巨头周四宣布启动"微软助力华盛顿"计划，这项全面举措将为全州295个公立学区和34所社区及技术学院免费提供AI驱动软件与培训。该计划属于"微软助力"项目组成部分，公司于今年7月承诺在五年内投入40亿美元，为学校和公益组织提供AI工具及培训。

这项针对华盛顿州的计划是微软在全球范围内人均投入最大的单笔投资。"这里是我们的家园，"微软总裁布拉德·史密斯在公司总部园区举行的启动仪式上表示，"我们今日的举措本质上是对家园的投资。"

计划具体内容包括：

• 2026年1月起向学区和社区学院免费提供Copilot Studio工具（无需编码即可创建定制AI助手），有效期三年
• 2026年7月起向高中生免费提供Copilot Chat、Microsoft 365桌面应用、学习加速器和教育版Teams，有效期三年
• 社区学院学生将获得一年期集成Copilot的Microsoft 365个人版
• 微软将向最多10个学区和10所社区学院各提供2.5万美元咨询补助金用于部署AI工具
• 公司与州政府机构及教师工会合作开展教师职业发展项目和集训营

史密斯指出，该计划旨在弥合日益凸显的数字鸿沟。据其分享的数据，西雅图周边县已有超30%居民使用AI工具，而东部多个农业县使用率不足10%。"我们看到的不仅是技术差距，更是机遇差距，"他强调。

此项计划推出之际，AI在教育领域的角色正引发日益激烈的争议。支持者认为AI能实现个性化教学、减轻行政负担，反对者则警告可能削弱学习能力、加剧不平等。史密斯坦言理解教育界对AI的忧虑，但认为等待并非可行之策："即使有人想延缓AI应用，我认为这已不可能。全州三分之一人口已在使用的趋势只会加速，对年轻群体尤为如此。我们现在要做的就是帮助社区在必要指引下迎头赶上。"

他特别强调课堂教学需要设立AI使用"防护栏"，并明确表示微软无意主导教育政策："由科技公司掌管教育对世界无益，我们清楚自身定位。"该计划设立的指导委员会将汇集微软、教育界和政府代表。

对微软而言，此举兼具公益属性与战略考量。公司藉此深化在华盛顿教育体系的长期布局，向下一代劳动者推广AI工具，同时确立其产品在数字学习中的基础地位。这也强化了微软作为本州经济支柱的公众形象——尽管其与政策制定者的关系已现裂痕。史密斯今年曾多次批评州政府的税收政策及经济发展议题在政治议程中的缺失。

但在周四的活动中，他的基调聚焦于协同合作。微软正与州公共教育监管办公室、华盛顿教育协会等机构合作培训全州教师，同时通过Code.org的"AI一小时"等项目鼓励员工开展数字素养志愿教学。被问及具体投资金额时，史密斯向GeekWire表示虽无确切数字但"绝非小数"。

在今年7月关于"微软助力"项目的讲话中，史密斯将其称为微软公益事业的新篇章，整合了公司长期的慈善与社区参与传统。而就在该声明发布一周前，微软刚确认作为效率提升计划的部分措施，将再度裁减4%约9000个岗位。自五月中旬以来，该公司全球裁员约1.5万人，其中华盛顿州超过3100人。

"微软助力"计划凸显了这家科技巨头的双重角色：既是AI发展的引领者，也需应对其创造技术带来的颠覆性影响。周四的活动还邀请了公司"首席提问官"、喜剧演员特雷弗·诺亚，Code.org首席执行官哈迪·帕尔托维及华盛顿州教育工作者小组参与。GeekWire将持续带来更多深度报道。

英文来源：

Microsoft is bringing artificial intelligence to every public classroom in its home state — and sparking new questions about its role in education.
The Redmond tech giant on Thursday unveiled Microsoft Elevate Washington, a sweeping new initiative that will provide free access to AI-powered software and training for all 295 public school districts and 34 community and technical colleges across Washington state.
The program is part of Microsoft Elevate, the company’s broader $4 billion, five-year commitment to support schools and nonprofits with AI tools and training that was announced in July.
The Washington-specific effort represents the company’s largest single investment per resident anywhere in the world.
“This is our home,” Microsoft President Brad Smith said at a launch event on the company’s headquarters campus. “A big part of what we’re doing today is investing in our home.”
Some details about the new program:

• The company will offer its Copilot Studio tool — used to create custom AI agents without coding — free of charge for three years beginning in January 2026 to school districts and community colleges.
• High school students will get Copilot Chat, Microsoft 365 desktop apps, Learning Accelerators, and Teams for Education at no cost for three years starting in July 2026.
• Community college students will receive a year of Microsoft 365 Personal with Copilot integration.
• Microsoft will fund $25,000 consulting grants for up to 10 school districts and 10 community colleges to help them deploy AI tools.
• The company will partner with state agencies and teacher unions to deliver professional development programs and bootcamps for educators.
  Smith described the effort as an attempt to close what Microsoft sees as an emerging divide across the state. More than 30% of residents in counties in the Seattle area already use AI tools, compared with less than 10% in several rural eastern counties, according to data Smith shared on Thursday.
  “Fundamentally, what we’re seeing is not only a technology gap — what we’re really seeing is an opportunity gap,” he said.
  The program also arrives amid growing uncertainty — and controversy — about the role of AI in education.
  Advocates argue that AI can personalize learning, reduce administrative workloads, and help teachers tailor lessons to individual students. Critics warn that it can undermine learning and widen inequities, especially when students become overly reliant on AI-generated answers.
  Smith said Microsoft understands the unease around AI in classrooms but argued that waiting isn’t an option.
  “I don’t know that it will be possible to slow down the use of AI, even if someone wanted to,” he said. “You already see a third of the folks in the state using it, and I think that usage is going to continue to accelerate, especially among people that are younger. So if anything, I think this is about helping the community catch up in ways that do provide the kind of guidance that’s needed.”
  He emphasized the need for “guardrails” around when and how AI is used in classrooms — and underscored that Microsoft does not seek to dictate education policy. “The world will not benefit by putting tech companies in charge of education,” Smith said. “We know our place.”
  The program includes a steering committee made up of leaders from Microsoft, education, and government.
  For Microsoft, Elevate Washington is both a philanthropic and strategic move. The company stands to deepen its long-term presence in Washington classrooms, introducing AI tools to the next generation of workers while positioning its products as foundational to digital learning.
  It also reinforces Microsoft’s image as a civic and economic pillar of Washington state — even as its relationship with policymakers has shown strain. Smith this year has criticized state leaders over Washington’s approach to taxation and what he describes as a disappearance of economic development from the political agenda.
  On Thursday, his tone was focused on collaboration. The company is working with the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction, the Washington Education Association, and other partners to train educators statewide. Microsoft will also encourage employees to volunteer through programs such as Code.org’s “Hour of AI” to teach digital literacy.
  Asked about how much Microsoft is investing in Elevate Washington, Smith told GeekWire he didn’t have a specific number but added that “it’s not small.”
  Speaking at an event in July about Microsoft Elevate, Smith described it as the next generation of Microsoft Philanthropies, bringing together the company’s longstanding charitable and community engagement initiatives.
  That announcement came a week after Microsoft confirmed it would cut another 4% of its workforce — about 9,000 jobs globally — as part of a broader efficiency push. Since mid-May, the company has cut about 15,000 jobs worldwide, including over 3,100 in Washington state.
  The Elevate program underscores Microsoft’s dual role as both a leading force in AI development and a company navigating the disruptive consequences of the technology it’s creating.
  The event on Thursday also included comedian Trevor Noah, the company’s “chief questions officer,” as well as Code.org CEO Hadi Partovi and a panel of Washington educators. We’ll have more coverage later on GeekWire.