This study explores the barriers that hinder the effective integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) into Moroccan teaching practices. Data were collected from 71 K–12 teachers through a questionnaire combining demographic questions and one open-ended item on barriers to AI adoption, and responses were analysed using thematic analysis (TA) supported by NVivo software. The findings reveal ten major barriers to AI integration in teaching, namely: AI replacing teachers, resistance to change, data privacy and ethics concerns, financial constraints, information accuracy, lack of training, numeric infrastructure constraints, soft skills development for students and teachers, student interaction constraints, and time constraints. Overall, the results highlight the need for coordinated, multi-layered interventions at the national, institutional, and individual levels.