Yes, the Secretary of Education Linda McMahon said “ A1 ” in response on AI

Claim:

The American secretary for education Linda McMahon has made artificial intelligence two times – AI – as “A1”.

Notation:

Context

In a third case in the same answer, McMahon said “AI”.

At the beginning of April 2025, complaints (archive) circulated online that the American secretary for education Linda McMahon had referred to artificial intelligence – AI – as “A1”.

The rumor spread over Facebook (archive),, Instagram (archive),, X (archive),, Bluesky (archive) And Reddit (archive).

It is true that during a sign At the ASU + GSV summit on April 8, 2025, McMahon referred to twice “A1” in response to a question about how education and technology entrepreneurs could develop technology for schools. Shortly before that, in the same answer, McMahon spoke “Development of AI. “”

We contacted the Ministry of Education to ask if McMahon meant the AI ​​in both cases where she said A1 and wait for an answer.

The ASU + GSV summit, a conference Hosted by Arizona State University and Global Silicon Valley, seeks to continue public access to technology.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=17CDL6CCIJY

Jon Hage, the founder and CEO of Charter Schools USA, request The Secretary of Education on Technology and Education (at 3:34 pm):

What would be some of the specific things that education entrepreneurs and technological entrepreneurs devote their entire career to better results for students-how can they help during this transition and this new time that comes before us, how can they participate?

Mcmahon replied (at 4:18 p.m., the emphasis is on ours):

You know, the development of AII mean how can we educate at the speed of light if we don't have the best technology, you know, to do it? I heard, I think it was a letter or a report that I heard this morning, I would like to be able to remember the source, but that there is a school system that will start to ensure that First-year students or even pre-SKs have an A1 teaching, you know, each year starting, you know, so far in the notes. And it's just one, it's a wonderful thing. Children are sponges, you, they absorb everything and it is not so long ago that it is: “We are going to have the internet in our schools, Whoop!” Now, ok, do, let's see, A1 and how can it be useful? How can it be useful in individual education, how can it be useful for absorbing, you know, more information for these fast learners? It can be more head-to-head, and these are the types of things and innovations that I want to see continuing to develop.

After McMahon's response, social media users quickly joked that the education secretary had confused AI with A.1. Steak sauce.

A.1. itself poster (archive) An image on Instagram with a bottle of his sauce and the text: “Okay, it is better to start them early”, subtitled: “You heard it. Each school should have access to A.1.” The bottle was labeled “for educational purposes only”.

The appointment of McMahon as an education secretary coincided with the ambition of American president Donald Trump, and executive decreeTo dismantle the Ministry of Education.

Trump previously said: “I said to Linda, “Linda, I hope you are doing a great job and that you put yourself out of a job. I want her to get away from a job. “”

During its April 8, 2025, appearance at the top, McMahon seemed to support Trump's ambition, adage (at 6:43 am):

You know, we have just arrived at a point that we simply cannot continue to do what we do, shake it. Let's do something different. And it is not by bureaucracy in Washington, this is not that it happens.