The LA Unified School District’s collaboration with AllHere’s AI tool hits roadblocks as the company struggles with setbacks and allegations of data privacy violations, raising concerns about AI-focused education projects.
LA Unified School District AI Partnership Faces Uncertainty Amid Company Setbacks
The Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) has encountered significant hurdles in its ambitious project to integrate an AI-powered tool developed by AllHere, an educational tech company. The project, intended to assist families and students with academic and logistical inquiries, is now facing uncertainty as AllHere has furloughed most of its staff and changed leadership.
AllHere, which launched in 2016 and raised over $12 million in venture capital, was awarded a $6 million contract with LAUSD in 2023. The goal of the project was to create a comprehensive portal system to address issues like absenteeism through advanced analytics and AI-assisted features. However, the company is now under scrutiny for its data privacy practices, with allegations that it collected data in violation of LAUSD’s policies.
The situation highlights broader questions for AI-focused education companies regarding their readiness to meet complex district needs on a large scale. Education firms often attract significant venture capital for promising ideas, but this does not necessarily mean they are equipped to handle the intricate demands of data security and privacy required by school districts.
As LAUSD asserts its ownership of the AI tool and contemplates the future of its partnership with AllHere, the case serves as an important consideration for other districts and companies collaborating on AI-centered educational projects.
