Central, South Teaming Up With Tech Giant On AI

A top official viewed scrutiny of the deal as healthy. "AI is a new space," he said.

By David Giuliani, Patch Staff

Aug 27, 2026 8:55 AM CDT | Updated Aug 27, 2026 8:59 AM CDT

Nvidia representatives Louis Stewart (left) and Michael Isadore, a Hinsdale resident, speak about using AI in the classroom during a January meeting of the Hinsdale High School District 86 board. (Hinsdale High School District 86/via video)

DARIEN, IL – Hinsdale High School District 86 has faced resistance to its planned partnership with tech giant Nvidia.

Over the last year, Americans have become more suspicious of Big Tech, whether it's AI, data centers, police cameras or increasing classroom screentime.

In January, District 86 officials unveiled a possible pilot program with Nvidia to bring AI into Central and South high schools. Critics, though, contended the district was focused on Nvidia to the exclusion of other companies.

At Tuesday's school board meeting, officials indicated they were proceeding with Nvidia. They said the pilot project would be free.

"This agreement legally prohibits Nvidia from selling student data, using it for targeted advertising or profiling students for non-educational purposes," said Michael Swanson, the district's top technology official. "So the only data to process for this pilot would be limited strictly to what is necessary to operate the service."

Hinsdale Central's principal, Bill Walsh, said the pilot program would benefit students.

"Students can enroll in Nvidia's deep learning impact courses as an enrichment activity to earn credentials," the principal said. "These credentials will enable students to have a leg up on other high school students looking to pursue a career in AI."

Superintendent Chip Pettit said the issues of cost and data security may have caused the district to pivot from the pilot. He said he hopes to get a frequently-asked-questions page about the pilot next month.

As he has before, board member Jeff Waters said the district needs to get the word out about the pilot.

"These are learning opportunities for students in the classroom. Period, end of story. And I don't know that the community understands that," Waters said.

Pettit said he didn't view the scrutiny as unhealthy.

"AI is a new space," he said. "This showed up on our doorstep. As 75 percent of our staff and 90 percent of our students are already using AI, we're now in this space trying to figure out how this can be productive."