Table of Contents

Linda McMahon Repeatedly Refers to AI as ‘A1’ During Education Technology Summit – AI in Education

Education Secretary’s Technology Gaffe

April 11, 2025

Key Points

Education Secretary Linda McMahon confused ‘AI’ with ‘A1’ multiple times at a major tech conference
Gaffe raises concerns about technological literacy at highest levels of education leadership
Incident occurs amid Trump administration’s plans to significantly reshape the Department of Education

Linda McMahon at ASU+GSV Summit / Education Week

Education Secretary Linda McMahon Repeatedly Refers to AI as “A1” During Education Technology Summit

In an incident highlighting potential technological literacy gaps among top education officials, U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon repeatedly referred to artificial intelligence as “A1” – like the popular steak sauce – during a panel discussion at a major education technology conference this week.

Linda McMahon, Trump's pick for education secretary

Event Details

The gaffe occurred during McMahon’s appearance at the ASU+GSV Summit in San Diego, an annual gathering that brings together thousands of education technology entrepreneurs, investors, and education professionals to discuss innovations in learning. During a panel focused on artificial intelligence in education and workforce development, McMahon made the terminology error multiple times.

“I heard, I think it was a letter or a report that I heard this morning, I wish I could remember the source, but that there is a school system that’s going to start making sure that first graders or even pre-k’s have A1 teaching every year, starting that far down in the grades,” McMahon said during the panel discussion, according to TechCrunch.

The 76-year-old Education Secretary continued using the incorrect terminology later in the discussion, stating: “Kids are sponges. They just absorb everything. It wasn’t all that long ago that it was, ‘Oh, we’re gonna have internet in our schools, woo.’ Now, let’s see A1 and how can that be helpful,” as reported by The Daily Beast.

What made the situation particularly notable was that McMahon had correctly pronounced “AI” earlier during the same panel, before switching to the incorrect “A1” terminology multiple times.

Context of the Speech

McMahon’s appearance at the ASU+GSV Summit came at a pivotal time for her department. The Education Secretary was at the conference partly to defend the Trump administration’s significant proposed cuts to the Department of Education, which she framed as an effort to “shake it up” and “revamp” the agency.

“You know, AI development — I mean, how can we educate at the speed of light if we don’t have the best technology around to do that?” she said during her remarks, before making the terminology error.

The panel where the gaffe occurred was moderated by Jon Hage, founder of a multistate charter school network, and Phyllis Lockett, who previously headed a charter school initiative in Chicago, according to Education Week.

The ASU+GSV Summit is considered one of the premier gatherings for discussions at the intersection of education and technology, making the terminology confusion particularly noticeable given the tech-savvy audience.

Background on Linda McMahon

Linda McMahon was confirmed as Secretary of Education on March 3, 2025, by a 51-45 Senate vote along party lines. Prior to this appointment, McMahon had limited experience in education policy. She served briefly on Connecticut’s State Board of Education for about a year after being appointed by Governor Jodi Rell in January 2009.

McMahon is better known for co-founding World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) with her now-estranged husband Vince McMahon, where she served as CEO. She also led the Small Business Administration during President Trump’s first term.

Her nomination to lead the Department of Education was controversial from the start, with critics pointing to her lack of substantial education credentials. According to NPR, “McMahon has a limited background in education, though she served on Connecticut’s State Board of Education for about a year.”

There have also been questions about her educational background. When McMahon was appointed to the Connecticut State Board of Education in 2009, she told lawmakers that she had a lifelong interest in education and had once planned to become a teacher. However, Wikipedia notes that “she filled out a vetting questionnaire for the board position stating that she had a degree in education from East Carolina University in 1969, when her degree was actually in French.”

Trump Administration’s Education Plans

McMahon’s role as Education Secretary comes with a specific mandate from the Trump administration. According to Axios, “President Trump plans to sign an executive order Thursday aimed at dismantling the Department of Education, a move with monumental ramifications for students and families across the country.”

NPR reports that “The White House has been clear that it intends to dismantle the department and that it will be McMahon’s job to oversee that effort. The administration has already made cuts to department staff, programs and research, but it cannot officially close the department, as it was created by an act of Congress in 1979 and can only be closed by that same body.”

This context makes McMahon’s appearance at an education technology summit particularly significant, as she represents an administration seeking to fundamentally reshape federal involvement in education while simultaneously discussing the future of technology in classrooms.

Reactions to the Gaffe

The “A1” terminology error quickly gained attention in both traditional and social media. Multiple news outlets reported on the incident, often drawing comparisons to the popular A1 steak sauce brand.

Gizmodo characterized the incident as “a rather amusing mix-up,” while social media users on platforms like Reddit shared clips of the speech with critical commentary about the Education Secretary’s technological literacy.

The Department of Education has not issued any official response to the terminology confusion. The Daily Beast reported that “The Education Department didn’t respond to the Daily Beast’s request for comment on the secretary’s apparent mistake.”

Broader Context: AI in Education

The gaffe occurs against a backdrop of rapid artificial intelligence integration into educational settings. McMahon was attempting to discuss how AI could be implemented in early childhood education when she made the terminology error.

Artificial intelligence in the classroom

“[It] wasn’t that long ago, it was we’re gonna have internet in our schools. Now, let’s see A1, and how can that be helpful? How can it be helpful in 1-on-1 instruction? How can it be helpful in absorbing more information for those fast learners? It can be more 1-on-1 directed,” she said according to Latin Times.

Despite the terminology confusion, McMahon did express support for technological innovation in education, stating: “Those are the kinds of things and innovations that I want to see continue to develop.”

Significance and Analysis

The incident raises questions about technological literacy among top education officials at a time when artificial intelligence is rapidly transforming classrooms and learning environments. As the person tasked with overseeing national education policy, McMahon’s apparent unfamiliarity with standard AI terminology has sparked concerns about her preparedness to guide policy in this area.

The gaffe is particularly notable given that the ASU+GSV Summit specifically focuses on education technology, with many attendees being experts in the field of AI and education.

This incident occurs as the Department of Education faces significant proposed cuts and potential dismantling under the current administration, raising further questions about the administration’s priorities regarding technological innovation in education.

Conclusion

Secretary McMahon’s “A1” terminology error represents more than just a simple verbal slip. It highlights potential gaps in technological literacy at the highest levels of education leadership at a time when artificial intelligence is becoming increasingly central to discussions about the future of learning.

As the Department of Education faces an uncertain future under an administration that has expressed intent to dismantle it, questions remain about how technological innovation in education will be supported and guided at the federal level.

The incident serves as a reminder of the importance of technological fluency among education leaders as schools increasingly incorporate AI and other advanced technologies into classrooms across the country.