As AI transforms the future of work and learning, K-12 educators face new challenges to ensure students develop the skills they need to succeed. New Samsung research finds that while 81% of teachers worry about students relying too heavily on AI and weakening critical thinking skills, 70% say they’d embrace AI more if they saw it driving social good and community engagement— signaling a pivotal moment to help students shape technology, not be shaped by it.

Samsung Solve for Tomorrow is tackling this tech-education gap by equipping grade 6-12 classrooms with the technology, training, and mentorship needed to apply STEM (science, technology, engineering, math) skills to real-world issues in their communities. To date, Samsung Solve for Tomorrow has provided U.S. schools with over $29 million in Samsung technology and classroom resources, while reaching over 2.9 million youth participants globally.

“Technology, including AI and machine learning, has incredible potential to empower the next generation, but only if teachers have the tools and training to unlock it,” said Allison Stransky, Chief Marketing Officer at Samsung Electronics America. “Teachers are the gateway to exposing students to emerging technologies, and we know they’re more likely to use AI in the classroom when they see it driving social good. For over a decade, Samsung Solve for Tomorrow has been empowering teachers and students to embrace and engage with emerging technologies.”

This school year, trailblazing entrepreneurs Emma Grede and Mark Cuban are joining forces with Samsung Solve for Tomorrow as first-ever ambassadors to champion AI, emerging technology, and mentorship among students nationwide. Together, Grede and Cuban will elevate the importance of AI for the next generation and highlight how technology can be a force for good. Grede and Cuban will host an immersive AI bootcamp and mentorship experience to demystify AI and help instill confidence in students and educators.

“As AI transforms the workplace at unprecedented speed, it’s vital to ensure students across the country are not only exposed to the technologies that are changing the world but also have opportunities to explore them with guidance and mentorship,” said Emma Grede, CEO and co-founder of Good American and founding partner of Skims. “I’m thrilled to join Samsung Solve for Tomorrow to show students that their ideas matter and every idea can spark change.”

Samsung’s research also reveals a gap in educator training: more than half of teachers (53%) report having no formal training on using AI in the classroom—a figure that rises to 64% in under-resourced schools, despite 88% reporting a belief that AI will be important in their students’ futures. Samsung, in partnership with the Mark Cuban Foundation, is combating this gap by providing free AI training resources to teachers nationwide, designed to empower educators to confidently understand, introduce, and apply AI concepts in the classroom–an expansion of Samsung and the Foundation’s existing partnership to harness joint leadership in technology, investing, and innovation.

“The AI revolution is here—and it’s transforming how we work, build relationships, and create new products and services,” said Mark Cuban, serial entrepreneur. “It’s critical that young people see themselves as creators and leaders, not just consumers of technology. Through my foundation’s partnership with Samsung Solve for Tomorrow, students gain the tools and encouragement they need to shape the world around them.”

Solve for Tomorrow

Classrooms are encouraged to apply for this year’s Solve for Tomorrow competition before the November 24, 2025 extended deadline. Winning schools can earn up to $100,000 in Samsung technology and classroom resources, part of a $2 million prize pool. For more information on Samsung Solve for Tomorrow and to apply, visit samsung.com/solvefortomorrow.

About Samsung Solve for Tomorrow

Now in its 16th year, Samsung Solve for Tomorrow has provided U.S. schools with over $29 million in Samsung technology and classroom resources, while reaching over 2.9 million youth participants globally. Samsung’s broader initiatives—from Samsung Innovation Campus to Next-Gen Workplace Initiatives—help to extend this mission and impact at scale. Applications for Samsung Solve for Tomorrow competition are open now through November 24, 2025.

Samsung Solve for Tomorrow 2025 AI Readiness Study Methodology

The study was commissioned by Samsung and conducted online by HarrisX in October 2025, surveying 620 public middle and high school teachers across the United States. The sampling margin of error of the survey is +/-3.9 percentage points. The results reflect a nationally representative sample of U.S. public middle school and high school teachers. Respondents were recruited through verified, opt-in web panels to ensure broad and balanced representation.