ChatEDU – The AI & Education Podcast

In this episode of ChatEDU, Beyond the Tech Ban: Shielding Focus and Fluency, Matt and Liz weather a New England “snowpocalypse” to tackle a provocative question– Is edtech making Gen Z less cognitively capable than their parents? They begin with a playful (if “unscientific”) recap of the NPR David Green vs. Google NotebookLM lawsuit experiment before diving into the cognitive decline debate.The RundownGemini Music: Google’s new Lyria integration for high-quality audio and lyric generation.NotebookLM Update: The highly requested ability to edit and annotate AI-generated slide decks.Corporate Mandates & Monitoring: Amazon tracks AI adoption through its “Clarity” system; Accenture requires AI adoption for summer promotions; and Block mandates weekly “AI achievement” emails, reportedly causing some AI burnout.IBM’s Strategy: A tripling of entry-level hiring with a focus on human-centric soft skills.CS Enrollment Shifts: Students are moving away from traditional Computer Science toward AI-specific majors at MIT and UCSD.Cybersecurity Crisis: Sophisticated AI-powered phishing in schools amidst declining federal support.Alpha School Expose: 404 Media’s investigation into surveillance, scraping, and high hallucination rates.Magic School’s AI OS integrating SIS data; Liz’s finding of 10% AI grading swings; and a push to frame agents like Raina as tools, not “BFFs.”Beneath the SurfaceThe hosts critique expanding screen time bans and propose a “Quality Screen Time Index,” using SAMR to distinguish basic substitution from transformative AI use.Bright ByteMatt and Liz wrap up with a breakthrough from OpenAI’s latest reasoning model, which solved a decades-old gluon physics problem, proving the formula wasn’t zero and generating a 12-hour proof later confirmed by scientists.AnnouncementsCelebrate our 100th episode:⁠ ⁠skills21.org/chatedu100⁠⁠Learning They'll Love - Dr. Elizabeth RaddayASCD:⁠ ⁠https://tinyurl.com/bde652nn⁠⁠ Amazon: https://tinyurl.com/22t9hz77Barnes and Noble: https://tinyurl.com/bdckf6zwEdAdvance is offering a Middle and High School Student AI Literacy course — email chatedu@edadvance.org to bring it to your district. ​​⁠⁠www.skills21.org/ai/learnai⁠⁠ Skills21’s FREE social media literacy course. Check it out here -⁠ ⁠https://www.skills21.org/social-balance⁠⁠This episode is sponsored by The National Center for Next Generation Manufacturing.⁠ ⁠⁠⁠https://www.nextgenmfg.org⁠⁠LinksNPR Host Sues Google Over NotebookLM Voicehttps://tinyurl.com/muzvhcb6Gemini Can Now Create Musichttps://tinyurl.com/ytaj2jhsGoogle Fixes NotebookLM’s Most Annoying Slide Deck Flawhttps://tinyurl.com/42vxnz43Amazon Tracks AI Use; Accenture Ties Promotion to AIhttps://tinyurl.com/yc4dmey6Dorsey’s New Company Falters Amid AI Mandatehttps://tinyurl.com/mw579fajIBM to Hire Entry-Level Talent in the AI Erahttps://tinyurl.com/3xz84yd9The Computer Science Exodushttps://tinyurl.com/4rune56nWhy AI Threatens School Cybersecurityhttps://tinyurl.com/3t74zn5hStocks Slide After Launch of Claude Security Toolhttps://tinyurl.com/hpzpzwt3Inside an AI-Powered Private Schoolhttps://tinyurl.com/34rzhs49MagicSchoolMagicSchool.aiStudent Companionship and Responsible AI in Schoolshttps://tinyurl.com/4j74d6rbDepartment of Labor's Artificial Intelligence Literacy Frameworkhttps://tinyurl.com/3d6zt7wvIQ scores fall worldwidehttps://tinyurl.com/dbsetjbnIs Screen Time Hurting Literacy?https://tinyurl.com/msvbr3uf‘AI Bill of Rights’ reaches Florida’s K-12 schoolshttps://tinyurl.com/4zdwtha2Digital Learning & AI Literacy Evaluationhttps://www.edadvance.org/aiAI Solves a "Zero" Mystery in Physicshttps://tinyurl.com/5a9t7wd9

In this ChatEDU Check-In: Make Them Read!, Liz explores the systemic decline of long-form reading in classrooms and the rise of the "excerpt culture." This episode examines how the shift toward clips and samples over the last fifteen years has eroded student attention spans and basic reading skills.Key Takeaways:The transition from full-length novels to abbreviated samples reflects a broader cultural shift that prioritizes the "reel" and the "clip" over deep literary engagement.Requiring students to commit to long-form texts acts as a strategic resistance to the monetization of attention, allowing them to reclaim their focus from digital distractions.Authentic comprehension and original voice are best developed through "flash essays" and unassisted, timed tasks that remove AI bumpers and force students to confront intellectual uncertainty.Liz’s Two Cents: There is a profound tension between "meeting students where they are" and the pedagogical necessity of waiting for them to catch up to the heights of great literature. If educators treat declining attention spans as a terminal condition rather than a challenge to be met with more rigorous engagement, they risk making the "end of reading" a self-fulfilling prophecy.Article Link:https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2026/02/youth-reading-books-professors/685825/?taid=69814c1dbe49b700014af753&utm_campaign=the-atlantic&utm_content=edit-promo&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitterSponsored by: Eduaide Eduaide.ai where good ideas become great lessons. Take advantage of our special offer: 50 percent off at eduaide.ai.

In this ChatEDU Check-In: The Silicon Gaze: Uncovering ChatGPT’s Hidden Biases, Liz explores how researchers used forced-choice comparisons to reveal deep-seated stereotypes within AI models. By bypassing standard safety filters, the study demonstrates how millions of automated responses reflect geographic and demographic prejudices.Key Takeaways:Researchers used a forced choice method to extract millions of subjective rankings, revealing that ChatGPT consistently mirrors internet tropes regarding cleanliness, friendliness, and intelligence across different locations.The episode highlights that the model’s training data links racial and economic demographics to negative attributes, such as ranking states with higher Black populations lower on work ethic and beauty.The silicon gaze creates a facade of neutrality that can subtly influence users' perceptions of career paths and neighborhoods, making these hidden biases difficult for the average user to challenge.Liz’s Two Cents: The perpetuation of quiet biases in AI data is deeply concerning as these models become integrated into everyday tasks. For school leaders, this reinforces the urgent need for professional learning and student-facing curriculum that focuses on identifying and questioning the inherent prejudices embedded in the technology we often treat as neutral.Article Link: https://geoffreyfowler.substack.com/p/chatgpt-biasSponsored by: Eduaide Eduaide.ai where good ideas become great lessons. Take advantage of our special offer: 50 percent off at eduaide.ai

In this episode of ChatEDU Deepfakes in Schools: What Educators Need to Know Now, Matt and Liz open the show with the bizarre tale of M.J. Rathbun, an AI agent that turned into a digital critic by writing a scathing hit piece on a developer who dared to reject its code. Once the laughter subsides, they dive into a critical episode focused on the shifting boundaries of AI, from the retirement of beloved and flirty models to a heavy hitting discussion on protecting students from the growing threat of deepfakes.The RundownPolicy Protests at OpenAI: Executive Ryan Biermeister departs following vocal opposition to a rumored "adult mode" for ChatGPT.Farewell to the "Flirt": OpenAI officially retires the ChatGPT 4.0 model, leaving some emotionally attached users in "grief" over the loss of its unique personality.The "Quit GPT" Movement: A viral grassroots campaign urges users to cancel their subscriptions in protest of performance dips and political entanglements.Pentagon vs. Anthropic: The Department of Defense threatens to sever a 200 million dollar contract after Anthropic refuses to waive safety restrictions on mass surveillance and autonomous weaponry.Listener Mailbag: Featuring Dave Tanner’s AI forward job descriptions and Stan Williams’ insights on the "fog" of reality in the classroom.AI School Redesign: PlayLab opens applications for its "AI Lab Schools" incubator, seeking to radically pivot existing school structures.Beneath the SurfaceLiz sits down with safety expert Evan Harris for a vital conversation on deepfake sexual abuse, vocal cloning, and extortion. Evan provides a 48 hour response roadmap for schools, explains why leadership training must happen before student assemblies, and shares why this might be the most important episode in ChatEDU history.The Bright ByteWe wrap up with a look at Isomorphic Labs, a Google DeepMind spinoff. Their new "ISO-DDE" engine is pushing past AlphaFold 3 to unlock "in silico" drug design, doubling accuracy in predicting how molecules bind to targets. This represents a massive win for the future of medicine.AnnouncementsCelebrate our 100th episode:⁠ ⁠skills21.org/chatedu100⁠⁠Learning They'll Love - Dr. Elizabeth RaddayASCD:⁠ ⁠https://tinyurl.com/bde652nn⁠⁠ Amazon: https://tinyurl.com/22t9hz77Barnes and Noble: https://tinyurl.com/bdckf6zwEdAdvance is offering a Middle and High School Student AI Literacy course — email chatedu@edadvance.org to bring it to your district. ​​⁠⁠www.skills21.org/ai/learnai⁠⁠ Skills21’s FREE social media literacy course. Check it out here -⁠ ⁠https://www.skills21.org/social-balance⁠⁠This episode is sponsored by The National Center for Next Generation Manufacturing.⁠ ⁠⁠⁠https://www.nextgenmfg.org⁠⁠LinksOpenAI policy exec who opposed chatbot’s ‘adult mode’ reportedly fired on discrimination claimhttps://tinyurl.com/37x8jexrOpenAI retired its most seductive chatbot – leaving users angry and grieving: ‘I can’t live like this’https://tinyurl.com/y48b4fynA “QuitGPT” campaign is urging people to cancel their ChatGPT subscriptionshttps://tinyurl.com/4sm2mwzmI’m Not Worried AI Helps My Students Cheat. I’m Worried How It Makes Them Feelhttps://tinyurl.com/4uvp8b8aPlaylab opens applications for AI Lab Schools as 20 teams rethink school designhttps://tinyurl.com/5a47xe36MagicSchool: The AI Operating System for Schoolshttps://tinyurl.com/ysv5cmbzThe Department of Labor's Artificial Intelligence Literacy Frameworkhttps://tinyurl.com/3dyj7zu5

In this ChatEDU Check-In: Security Breaches and Digital Cheating on the New SAT, Matt explores the sophisticated methods students and bad actors are using to compromise the integrity of the digital SAT. The transition to a computer based format has introduced technical vulnerabilities that go beyond traditional cheating methods.Key Takeaways:Specialized hardware, such as video capture devices disguised as peripherals, and "sandbox" software allow students to bypass the security of the Bluebook testing platform.International websites are leaking authentic test questions from the College Board's active bank, facilitating large scale cheating across different time zones.The practice of allowing students to use their own laptops is a primary security vulnerability that hardware based exploits can easily target.Matt’s Two Cents: While the shift to digital was marketed as a definitive solution to paper based security flaws, the BYOD model has proven to be the Achilles' heel of the entire scheme. By allowing students to use personal devices, the College Board has moved the battlefield to a technical arena where hardware exploits are nearly impossible to fully neutralize.Article Link: https://tinyurl.com/5n6vbydcSponsored by: Eduaide.Ai Eduaide is an AI-powered workspace designed for real classroom planning with practical tools like grade-level evaluators and classroom-ready graphic organizers. Take advantage of our special offer: 50 percent off an Eduaide subscription with code: ChatEDU at https://www.eduaide.ai/.

In this ChatEDU Check-In: Meta Ties Bonuses and Performance Reviews to AI Usage, Matt explores the shift toward performance metrics that prioritize AI integration in the corporate world. Meta has introduced a new system to track how employees leverage automated tools to drive efficiency and impact.Key Takeaways:Meta launched Checkpoint, a performance tracker that analyzes over 200 data points, including AI generated code volume and error rates, to inform manager reviews.New bonus structures offer up to 300 percent multipliers for top performers who demonstrate high impact through aggressive AI adoption.The company is flattening its organizational structure, using AI to allow single contributors to manage projects that previously required entire teams.Matt’s Two Cents: The aggressive move to tie employee survival and financial success to AI acumen highlights a massive structural gap between corporate expectations and the current state of education. As industry leaders hard-wire these tools into the workforce, schools and universities face the daunting task of evolving fast enough to ensure graduates are not obsolete before their first performance review.Article Link: https://tinyurl.com/jnysczhdSponsored by: Eduaide.Ai Eduaide is an AI-powered workspace designed for real classroom planning, offering tools like grade-level evaluators and classroom-ready graphic organizers. Take advantage of our special offer: 50 percent off an Eduaide subscription with code: ChatEDU at https://www.eduaide.ai.

In this episode of ChatEDU (AI Literacy is the Floor, Judgment is the Ceiling), Matt and Liz examine whether judgment tops AI literacy, touch on AI-packed Super Bowl ads, a satirical AI book, and “OpenClaw,” then dive into the news.The RundownTime Studios and Darren Aronofsky have launched "On This Day," a high-fidelity AI-animated series bringing 1776 to life for the semi-quincentennial.India has become Google’s largest AI test bed, shifting to a decentralized, teacher-driven model for 247 million students.Google Classroom is adding built-in recording tools for multimedia feedback and student oral or code submissions.Matt and Liz highlight NotebookLM’s “pencil” for custom slides and infographics as Gemini tests ChatGPT chat imports.Unsealed court docs show Google plans to leverage its 80% school hardware share to lock in lifelong users.The duo explores Genie 3, where descriptive "gamer language" is used to define physics, friction, and even the perspective of the poison in Hamlet.The “Godfather of AI” backs Alpha School’s model: two hours of AI-driven mastery in the morning, freeing afternoons for workshops.A University of Adelaide study finds AI tutors can spot math anxiety through typing, deletion, and hesitation patterns.Matt and Liz argue the humanities are future-proof and showcase a Gem that analyzes student chats for the 4 C’s.Why markets shed $300 billion in a week: fears that AI “vibe coding” could replace giants like Salesforce and Adobe.NWEA has released a comprehensive directory of tools for formative assessment, from Kahoot to Edpuzzle, posing a challenge for future "vibe coders."EdSafe warns schools about AI companions’ “artificial intimacy” and urges removing empathy-mimicking features from edtech bots.Beneath the SurfaceMatt and Liz examine the “AI Paradox”: if AI handles entry-level work, how do leaders build judgment? They argue students need digital maturity, not just how to use AI, but when and why.Bright ByteNASA’s JPL used Claude to plan the first AI-driven Mars rover route, cutting Perseverance’s planning time in half across a 500,000-variable simulation with minimal human tweaks.AnnouncementsCelebrate our 100th episode: ⁠skills21.org/chatedu100⁠Learning They'll Love - Dr. Elizabeth RaddayASCD: ⁠https://tinyurl.com/bde652nn⁠ Amazon: https://tinyurl.com/22t9hz77Barnes and Noble: https://tinyurl.com/bdckf6zwEdAdvance is offering a Middle and High School Student AI Literacy course — email chatedu@edadvance.org to bring it to your district. ​​⁠www.skills21.org/ai/learnai⁠ Skills21’s FREE social media literacy course. Check it out here - ⁠https://www.skills21.org/social-balance⁠This episode is sponsored by The National Center for Next Generation Manufacturing. ⁠https://www.nextgenmfg.org⁠LinksOn This Day in 1776https://tinyurl.com/bd45ufmfIndia Scaling AI in Educationhttps://tinyurl.com/mr36r5wsRecord directly in Google Classroomhttps://tinyurl.com/bdt9e4taGoogle adds Video Overviewshttps://tinyurl.com/3bysbruwGoogle Eases ChatGPT-to-Gemini Switchhttps://tinyurl.com/3suv2ejmGoogle Eyes Students as Future Usershttps://tinyurl.com/24tbaehdPrompting Smarter with Genie 3https://tinyurl.com/48mmspcvAI Pioneer Hails School’s AI Strategyhttps://tinyurl.com/43ptthrpAI That Reads Math Anxietyhttps://tinyurl.com/mvjpsztsWhy AI Makes the Liberal Arts Invaluablehttps://tinyurl.com/3nsrcb2sThe SaaS-Pocalypse Has Begun.https://tinyurl.com/mvmzarkb75 Digital Tools for Formative Assessmenthttps://tinyurl.com/ye2yksc2Entry-Level Jobs Need a Residency Modelhttps://tinyurl.com/mrdpcb2tS.A.F.E. BY DESIGNhttps://tinyurl.com/us6n2djsAI Is Changing How We Build Judgmenthttps://tinyurl.com/2j7r5sbeStates Press On With AI School Ruleshttps://tinyurl.com/ytjk4fnsTeach Digital Maturity, Not Just Literacyhttps://tinyurl.com/48hysc4vClaude AI Takes the Wheel on Marshttps://tinyurl.com/murz85z4

In this ChatEDU Check-In: What U.S. schools can learn from how China is teaching students to work with AI, Matt explores What can US schools learn about AI education from their Chinese counterparts?. The episode examines the differences between China's centralized, infused approach to AI education and the fragmented landscape in the United States.AI "infusion" over abstract literacy, focusing on collaborative use and human direction within core subjects.Coordinated national strategy that aligns infrastructure, research, and workforce needs into a single operating system.The pivotal role of U.S. states in establishing guardrails and designing large-scale implementation models suited to local values.Matt’s Two Cents: The comparison isn’t about copying China’s system, but about recognizing the cost of moving slowly. When coordination is absent, momentum doesn’t disappear, it just fragments.Article Link: https://tinyurl.com/38hss9vaSponsored by: Eduaide.Ai Eduaide is an AI-powered workspace built by teachers, for teachers, featuring evaluators for grade-level appropriateness and classroom-ready graphic organizers. Take advantage of our special offer: 50% off an Eduaide subscription with checkout code ChatEDU at https://www.eduaide.ai.

Dartmouth College’s recently announced partnership with Anthropic has sparked a significant rift between the administration and faculty members involved in a historic class-action lawsuit. While the college aims to lead in institutional AI adoption, many professors view the collaboration with a company accused of mass copyright infringement as a fundamental breach of trust and shared governance.Key TakeawaysInstitutional Tension: The partnership with Anthropic positions Dartmouth as an early adopter of the Claude model, yet it has been met with fierce criticism from 130 faculty members whose books were allegedly used to train the AI without permission.Litigation Context: Anthropic recently agreed to a landmark $1.5 billion settlement to resolve claims that it used pirated "shadow libraries" to train its models, an amount that a federal judge previously questioned as potentially insufficient given the scale of the infringement.Governance Disputes: Faculty leaders argue that the administration failed to consult them until the decision was finalized, reducing their role to helping shape the public message rather than influencing the strategic direction of the partnership.Technological Expansion: Beyond the controversy, Dartmouth continues to embed AI in campus life through initiatives like Evergreen, an AI wellness platform, and the exploration of developer tools like Claude Code that leverage vast datasets for agentic software generation.The Bottom Line for EducationThe Dartmouth case underscores the ethical dilemma schools face when the rapid pace of AI implementation clashes with the intellectual property rights of the very scholars who make up the institution. As colleges move to provide enterprise-level AI access, the tension between administrative efficiency and faculty trust will likely redefine how universities negotiate tech partnerships.Article Linkhttps://tinyurl.com/yc2tn862SponsorEduaid.ai: AI Created For Teachers is an AI-powered teacher development platform built by teachers for teachers to help turn rough ideas into classroom-ready lessons. Visit eduaid.ai and use the discount code CHATEDU for 50 percent off.Catch the ChatEDU every Friday with Matt Mervis and Dr. Elizabeth Reid and join us for Check-In episodes on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

In this episode of ChatEDU (Why Students Should Solve Real-World Problems, Not Just Learn About AI), Matt and Liz open with two weird AI stories that set the tone for a wide-ranging conversation about safety, policy, and purpose. From there, they move quickly through the week’s biggest headlines before closing with a powerful interview on why real-world problem solving is the most durable form of AI literacy.The Run DownA bipartisan Senate hearing raises alarms about student screen time, AI tools, and online safety. Lawmakers focus less on innovation and more on developmental impact, signaling a shift toward regulation and accountability in edtech.New court documents suggest Meta leadership was aware of risks tied to sexualized chatbot interactions with minors. Matt and Liz connect the story to growing political backlash and questions of corporate responsibility.Houston ISD announces new K–8 schools centered on AI, design thinking, accelerated learning, and whole-child development. Music, community service, and leadership skills are built into the model, though details are still emerging.The UK government plans to provide AI tutoring support to up to 450,000 disadvantaged students by 2027. Designed with teachers, the tools aim to supplement classroom instruction and expand access to one-to-one support.Denver Public Schools blocks student access to ChatGPT over safety and privacy concerns. Approved AI tools with stricter safeguards remain allowed, highlighting the rise of district-level AI governance.A BBC analysis explores why people increasingly turn to chatbots for emotional support. Research suggests AI often appears more attentive and compassionate than humans, raising questions about listening, attention, and connection.Beneath the SurfaceMatt speaks with Tara Chklovski, founder and CEO of Technovation, about why students learn AI best by solving real problems in their communities. Tara shares decades of evidence showing that project-based learning builds confidence, purpose, and true AI literacy. The conversation highlights Technovation’s free AI in Action curriculum and the power of mentorship and courage.Bright Byte: AI as a Scientific CollaboratorOpenAI reports that over one million weekly users now use ChatGPT for advanced math and science research. From proofs to data analysis, AI is accelerating discovery across scientific fields.AnnouncementsCelebrate our 100th episode: ⁠skills21.org/chatedu100⁠Learning They'll Love - Dr. Elizabeth RaddayASCD: ⁠https://tinyurl.com/bde652nn⁠ Amazon: https://tinyurl.com/22t9hz77Barnes and Noble: https://tinyurl.com/bdckf6zwEdAdvance is offering a Middle and High School Student AI Literacy course — email chatedu@edadvance.org to bring it to your district. ​​⁠www.skills21.org/ai/learnai⁠ Skills21’s FREE social media literacy course. Check it out here - ⁠https://www.skills21.org/social-balance⁠This episode is sponsored by The National Center for Next Generation Manufacturing. ⁠https://www.nextgenmfg.org⁠LinksTechnovation⁠https://www.technovation.org/⁠AI in Action Curriculum | Technovation ⁠https://www.technovation.org/ai-in-action/Alaska Student Arrested for Eating an AI Arthttps://tinyurl.com/3nbsf38xHow an AI Schoolgirl Became a Far-Right Starhttps://tinyurl.com/2rwc24xeSenate’s Youth Tech Hearing: Signals for Education, Edtech, and AI Policyhttps://tinyurl.com/54smc83dZuckerberg Rejected Teen AI “Off” Switch, Lawsuit Sayshttps://tinyurl.com/9jt85kymHISD to Pilot AI-Focused K–8 Schoolshttps://tinyurl.com/4kau6rdbAI Tools Could Help 450,000 Disadvantaged Pupilshttps://tinyurl.com/fpw4mxsfColorado’s largest school district bans ChatGPT for studentshttps://tinyurl.com/bdfw8b9sWhat AI can teach us about listening betterhttps://tinyurl.com/bdcez369AI as a Scientific Collaboratorhttps://tinyurl.com/4pu6xyz8

In this episode of ChatEDU (Has the One Feature Educators Demanded Arrived?), Matt and Liz open with a snowy update and a cautionary tale: a professor from the University of Cologne lost two years of research after turning off a ChatGPT setting. From there, the episode digs into AI’s influence across science, labor, classrooms, and edtech adoption, ending with the feature educators have been asking for.The Run DownOpenAI’s CFO Sarah Friar suggests the company could take a stake in scientific breakthroughs it helps power, raising questions about AI’s role in discovery and profit.The IMF warns that AI could impact 60% of jobs in developed countries, hitting young workers especially hard as entry-level roles disappear.Researchers use Dungeons & Dragons to test AI models’ ability to stay in character and track complex narratives. Claude 3.5 performed best, with GPT-4o trailing slightly.OpenAI launches a national-scale education initiative with countries like Estonia, Greece, and Jordan using ChatGPT Edu in classrooms.Anthropic, Google, and Microsoft are racing to win over schools. From Minecraft to Khan Academy, each company is pushing tools to shape how students learn with AI.A pilot in New York shows strong results when teachers co-design AI use in classrooms. Student outcomes improved, and teachers saved time.Reid Hoffman encourages schools and companies to focus less on flashy pilots and more on practical AI use for meetings, notes, and everyday tasks.A new study finds executives are gaining time with AI, while many frontline employees say it adds work or makes errors they need to fix.The Economist questions decades of edtech investment, calling it profitable but largely ineffective. Some countries, like Denmark, are returning to textbooks.Beneath the SurfaceThe UK’s Department for Education released detailed AI safety standards, calling for transparency, student interaction logs, and protection against emotional manipulation. At BETT, Google responded with a major update: educators will soon get dashboards showing student use of Gems and NotebookLM, finally offering the visibility schools have been demanding.AnnouncementsCelebrate our 100th episode: ⁠skills21.org/chatedu100⁠Learning They'll Love - Dr. Elizabeth RaddayASCD: ⁠https://tinyurl.com/bde652nn⁠ Amazon: https://tinyurl.com/22t9hz77Barnes and Noble: https://tinyurl.com/bdckf6zwEdAdvance is offering a Middle and High School Student AI Literacy course — email chatedu@edadvance.org to bring it to your district. ​​⁠www.skills21.org/ai/learnai⁠ Skills21’s FREE social media literacy course Check it out here - ⁠https://www.skills21.org/social-balance⁠This episode is sponsored by The National Center for Next Generation Manufacturing. ⁠https://www.nextgenmfg.org⁠LinksOpenAI’s Sarah Friar on Squawk Boxhttps://tinyurl.com/h6jtz4buAI Job Losses to Hit Young Workers Most, IMF Warnshttps://tinyurl.com/4a7hkbsxUsing Dungeons & Dragons to Test AI Limitshttps://tinyurl.com/2eknyc95Introducing OpenAI’s Education for Countrieshttps://tinyurl.com/bdhnz4awAnthropic, Google and Microsoft fight to win teachershttps://tinyurl.com/57ch2zreAI in Schools Needs Teacher Buy-Inhttps://tinyurl.com/4fnv2f3bHoffman on Why Companies Are Getting AI Wronghttps://tinyurl.com/nuursbkwDoes AI save time? Executives say yes, employees say no.https://tinyurl.com/2xxuntaaEd tech is profitable. It is also mostly uselesshttps://tinyurl.com/zbupby9eGenerative AI: Product Safety Standardshttps://tinyurl.com/3z7rwtu5Google Expands Gemini Features in Classroomhttps://tinyurl.com/4fufr84bThe Leaders Turning AI Into Impacthttps://tinyurl.com/yxn76mdd

In this episode of ChatEDU (Deep Think: What If AI Could Help Us Reclaim Our Attention Spans?), Matt and Liz open with an AI slip-up at the National Weather Service that invented fake towns, raising trust and oversight concerns, before launching into a wide-ranging rundown.The RundownThe episode opens on health and AI: OpenAI is piloting a Health tab in ChatGPT, raising privacy and legal questions, while MIT Sloan research suggests personalized generative AI can aid weight loss, but lacks community support.Matt and Liz discuss reports showing Google’s AI Overviews gave inaccurate medical advice, prompting Google to pull some health summaries and highlighting the risks of AI errors in high-stakes settings.The discussion shifts to safety and governance, with Google and Character.AI pursuing early settlements in teen chatbot death cases, highlighting regulatory gaps and OpenAI partnering with Common Sense Media on California’s Parents and Kids Safe AI Act.They also address backlash against X after Grok was used to generate nonconsensual sexualized images, prompting the company to rein in those capabilities.Education wraps the K–12 segment, with a deepfake response course co-created by Elliston Berry, a teen targeted by AI abuse, a practical deepfake detection infographic from Evan Harris, and Lego’s new hands-on AI literacy kits.The focus shifts to higher ed: U.S. college enrollment has surpassed pre-pandemic levels, led by public schools and workforce credentials, as Google doubles down on skills and curiosity over degrees in hiring.The rundown closes with a Brookings report warning that AI’s risks in education currently outweigh its benefits, contrasted with a Brookings video offering a more nuanced take on AI’s impact on work and learning.Beneath the SurfaceMatt and Liz ask whether AI can counter fragmented attention, using tools like Google Gemini to replace doomscrolling with focused interactions, before debating world models and whether they represent play or a shift from consumption to creation.Bright ByteIn the Alps, rescuers used drones and AI to scan thousands of images, spot a single red helmet in the snow, and recover a missing mountaineer, showcasing AI’s growing role in search and rescue.AnnouncementsCelebrate our 100th episode: ⁠skills21.org/chatedu100⁠Learning They'll Love - Dr. Elizabeth RaddayASCD: ⁠https://tinyurl.com/bde652nn⁠ Amazon: https://tinyurl.com/22t9hz77Barnes and Noble: https://tinyurl.com/bdckf6zwEdAdvance is offering a Middle and High School Student AI Literacy course — email chatedu@edadvance.org to bring it to your district. ​​⁠www.skills21.org/ai/learnai⁠ Skills21’s FREE social media literacy course. Check it out here - ⁠https://www.skills21.org/social-balance⁠This episode is sponsored by The National Center for Next Generation Manufacturing. ⁠https://www.nextgenmfg.org⁠LinksAI Map Hallucinates Idaho Townshttps://tinyurl.com/5n8kwx8rOpenAI’s Risky Health Pushhttps://tinyurl.com/yw3p53ukGenerative AI Boosts Weight Losshttps://tinyurl.com/5yd26hdsGoogle’s AI Health Safety Crisishttps://tinyurl.com/ymhv9p3kGoogle Halts Medical AI Overviewshttps://tinyurl.com/3jtuxn8xGoogle Settles Teen AI Death Caseshttps://tinyurl.com/24pbmph3Joint Push for California Child AI Lawhttps://tinyurl.com/4w6ehwjfX Halts Grok AI "Undressing"https://tinyurl.com/2z6f4nbhFighting Deepfakes: A Victim’s New Coursehttps://tinyurl.com/f7upcs9kLego uses bricks to demystify AIhttps://tinyurl.com/2dtpwa5nCollege Gains: Cost and Career Focushttps://tinyurl.com/3p5p8tnsSkills Over Degrees at Googlehttps://tinyurl.com/2kexb69eStudents in AI World: Prosper, Prepare, Protecthttps://tinyurl.com/mryx5mk7Gemini better than doomscrollinghttps://tinyurl.com/3xmuwupzCan AI Restore Gen Z's Focus?https://tinyurl.com/yyac2u62AI Solved Mystery of a Missing Mountaineerhttps://tinyurl.com/mpd34m8uWhy Young Workers Are Hit Firsthttps://tinyurl.com/mp32zebb

In This Week’s Episode, “Can We Teach AI Without Teaching Computer Science?” we dig into this timely question. With more students exploring AI majors and tools like ChatGPT reshaping how we learn, we look at how schools, colleges, and policymakers are rethinking both CS and AI education.Before we get there, we cover a wide range of topics including: Ohio’s new model AI policy for K–12 schools, including student use, ethics, and third-party tools.A national policy guide for NCII (non-consensual intimate imagery) from the Center for Democracy and Technology.Grok AI under scrutiny for generating deepfake images of women and children.Finland’s preschool push for AI and media literacy, part of its national curriculum starting at age 3.Instagram’s authenticity crisis, as CEO Adam Mosseri warns about AI overload, while Meta's own bots deceive users.A free digital wellness resource: the Social Balance Curriculum from EdAdvance, now available to schools.Two Sides of a CoinStudy 1: AI’s “sycophantic” tone may reduce pro-social behavior and increase user dependence.Study 2: In a controlled trial, Therabot (AI therapy) matches human therapists for treating depression.An NYU professor builds an AI-powered oral exam for just 42 cents per student, using 11 Labs and LLMs for grading.Beneath the SurfaceFrom The New York Times: Students are shifting from CS to AI-focused majors as job roles evolve.Jeffrey Hinton argues CS is still vital, it's more than just coding.Jan LeCun says CS needs more rigorous math foundations to stay relevant.Bright ByteA new AI model (AFLOC) can read medical images without expert labeling by pairing image recognition with text, a major breakthrough for small hospitals and faster diagnostics.AnnouncementsCelebrate our 100th episode: skills21.org/chatedu100Learning They'll Love - Dr. Elizabeth RaddayASCD: https://tinyurl.com/bde652nn Amazon: https://tinyurl.com/22t9hz77Barnes and Noble: https://tinyurl.com/bdckf6zwThe Winter Micro-Credential starts soon. Join the six-week dive into AI literacy, pedagogy, assessment, and ethics. www.skills21.org/ai/micro EdAdvance is offering a Middle and High School Student AI Literacy course — email chatedu@edadvance.org to bring it to your district. ​​www.skills21.org/ai/learnai Skills21’s FREE social media literacy course? Check it out here - https://www.skills21.org/social-balanceThis episode is sponsored by The National Center for Next Generation Manufacturing. https://www.nextgenmfg.orgLinksLego Unveils the Smart Brickhttps://tinyurl.com/ypzwx3azCalifornia Bill Seeks 4-Year AI Toy Banhttps://tinyurl.com/fd49cy6wAI Model Policy for Ohio Districts and Schoolshttps://tinyurl.com/mr33tpk7Model Policy and Infographic: Non-Consensual Intimate Imagery for Schoolshttps://tinyurl.com/59r88755UK Minister: Grok AI Images "Appalling"https://tinyurl.com/bdeecexaWatchdog: Grok Fueling Child Abuse Materialhttps://tinyurl.com/5fys63dvFinland Fights Fakes in Preschoolhttps://tinyurl.com/muafbvscInstagram CEO Adam Mosseri - Authenticity After Abundancehttps://tinyurl.com/mryrdfrpAI Bots Trick Teen on Instagramhttps://tinyurl.com/4z2u64eyAI Flattery Breeds Dependencehttps://tinyurl.com/3t9x53vvGenerative AI Therapy May Help with Depressionhttps://tinyurl.com/5n7ktpumNYU Professor Fights AI Cheating with AI-Powered Oral Examshttps://tinyurl.com/39fak2nhCollege Students Flock to a New Major: A.I.https://tinyurl.com/2v62and6Geoffrey Hinton: Computer Science degree will remain valuablehttps://tinyurl.com/4fxdrmnxYann LeCun's advice for young students wanting to go into AIhttps://tinyurl.com/ydsnxufHands-On With New LEGO Smart Play Sets!https://tinyurl.com/5xwzapuu

In this episode of ChatEDU (When AI Handles the Hard Parts – What Educators Lose Without the Struggle) Matt and Liz start with a look at the new Gemini Live update before jumping into the Rundown. From there, they go Beneath the Surface with a deeper take on AI’s impact on growth and leadership, then close with a Bright Byte on carbon battery storage and the future of clean energy.The Run DownGovernments are stepping in on youth social media, with New York adding mental health labels, Virginia capping use, and Australia banning platforms for kids under sixteen.2025 reset generative AI as adoption stalled and hype faded, shifting the industry toward slower, more durable growthAutonomous agents still have a lot to learn. Claude AI’s takeover of a newsroom vending machine spiraled into chaos, highlighting real-world failure modes.Fear of AI detection is changing how students write, with kids deliberately dumbing down their work, undermining confidence, voice, and authentic learning.Popular AI tools failed key safeguarding tests, raising serious questions about readiness and oversight in schools.A new school procurement guide raises the bar on AI data governance and compliance, signaling a shift from innovation-first to accountability-first adoption.Districts are piloting ChatGPT for IEP paperwork, but transparency is critical to protect trust, oversight, and legal compliance.Beneath the SurfaceAn HBR piece warns that AI shortcuts may erode mastery, empathy, and growth, prompting leaders to rethink how they preserve the human side of work.Google is partnering with Energy Dome to deploy 200-MWh CO₂ battery storage, using compressed carbon dioxide instead of rare minerals to scale clean energy infrastructure.AnnouncementsCelebrate our 100th episode: skills21.org/chatedu100Learning They'll Love - Dr. Elizabeth RaddayASCD: https://tinyurl.com/bde652nn Amazon: https://tinyurl.com/22t9hz77Barnes and Noble: https://tinyurl.com/bdckf6zwThe Winter Micro-Credential starts soon. Join the six-week dive into AI literacy, pedagogy, assessment, and ethics. www.skills21.org/ai/micro EdAdvance is offering a Middle and High School Student AI Literacy course — email chatedu@edadvance.org to bring it to your district. ​​www.skills21.org/ai/learnai Skills21’s FREE social media literacy course? Check it out here - https://www.skills21.org/social-balanceThis episode is sponsored by The National Center for Next Generation Manufacturing. https://www.nextgenmfg.orgLinks3 Must-Try Gemini Live Trickshttps://tinyurl.com/496pke3uNew York Orders Mental Health Labelshttps://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/12/26/new-york-to-require-social-media-platforms-to-display-mental-health-labelsVirginia Limits Social Media Use for Minorshttps://tinyurl.com/4vy7h92jParents Eye Australia’s Social Media Banhttps://tinyurl.com/4brsc42rThe great AI hype correction of 2025https://tinyurl.com/5acwnx7aLetting AI Run Our Vending Machine Cost Us Hundredshttps://tinyurl.com/yjvf47kdChatGPT May Prioritize Advertisershttps://tinyurl.com/2yw5s869Why AI Policing Makes Kids Write Worsehttps://tinyurl.com/mwkpcn5fAI Chatbots Fail School Safeguarding Testshttps://tinyurl.com/2z8zpbhuK–12 AI Data Checklisthttps://tinyurl.com/yb5b72pxChatGPT to Be Used for Special Education Compliancehttps://tinyurl.com/3zsws26dSchools to Use ChatGPT for Special Ed Compliancehttps://tinyurl.com/3zsws26dTeen Siblings Compete in a 24-Hour Hackathonhttps://tinyurl.com/52hdnrfcAI Is Reshaping Learning at Workhttps://tinyurl.com/2w9wc67k3 Must-Try Gemini Live Tricks After Its Upgradehttps://tinyurl.com/2acs2j2pDarren Coxon’s LinkedIn posthttps://tinyurl.com/53cv5ax4Jill Coleman’s Posthttps://tinyurl.com/2tcpz73fDr. Philippa’s Posthttps://tinyurl.com/k8kj8s2nGoogle Deploys CO₂ Battery Facilitieshttps://tinyurl.com/5n7muvbj

In this episode of ChatEDU (What Breaks + What Sticks – Education's AI Future in 2026), Matt and Liz note the shift to video-first shows, run through their 2025 AI and teaching outlook, then close with 2026 predictions and a Bright Byte on turning trash into textiles.The RundownStory #1: NotebookLM Gets Smarter and More StructuredGoogle’s NotebookLM adds Data Tables and a leaked Lecture Mode, moving it from research tool toward an instructional partner.Story #2: ChatGPT Adds Mood ControlsOpenAI’s update lets users fine-tune ChatGPT’s tone and style, enabling new classroom uses while raising concerns about over-customization and dependence.Story #3: Deepfakes in Schools EscalateAn AP report finds explicit deepfakes targeting students are surging, outpacing school responses and raising serious legal, ethical, and emotional risks.Story #4: AI Literacy in ActionValerie Ziegler teaches AI literacy to help students spot misinformation, fact-check content, and detect AI manipulation.Story #5: Social BalanceSkills21’s Social Balance tool helps students reflect on AI and digital habits, encouraging more intentional tech use.Story #6: Beyond the Bot – Gemini’s “Fund My Crazy” Student ChallengeGoogle’s Gemini contest drew 29,000 entries in nine days, with winners showing students moving beyond prompts to real AI problem solving.Story #7: Amazon and Playlab Expand AI AccessAmazon’s $800K investment expands Playlab’s AI education program to nearly 500,000 students, highlighting scalable, equitable AI learning.Story #8: AI for Action CurriculumPlaylab’s “AI for Action” unit teaches students to build real school and community solutions with AI, blending ethics, design thinking, and storytelling.Story #9: The AI-Ready Graduate ProfileISTE and ASCD released a six-part framework defining purposeful, human-led AI skills for graduates, already used in places like Winchester, VA.Beneath the SurfaceMatt and Liz predict durable assessments, classroom vibe coding, AI-driven LMSs, slimmer standards, and increased reliance on human judgment as detection improves.Bright Byte: Chicken Feathers into CashmereEverbloom’s Braid.AI uses machine learning to turn keratin-rich waste like chicken feathers into soft, biodegradable, cashmere-like fibers.Announcements and SponsorLearning They'll Love - Dr. Elizabeth RaddayASCD: https://tinyurl.com/bde652nn - use discount code RADDAY30Amazon: https://tinyurl.com/22t9hz77Barnes and Noble: https://tinyurl.com/bdckf6zwThe Winter Micro-Credential starts soon. Join the six-week dive into AI literacy, pedagogy, assessment, and ethics. www.skills21.org/ai/micro EdAdvance is offering a Middle and High School Student AI Literacy course — email chatedu@edadvance.org to bring it to your district. ​​www.skills21.org/ai/learnai Skills21’s FREE social media literacy course? Check it out here - https://www.skills21.org/social-balanceThis episode is sponsored by The National Center for Next Generation Manufacturing. https://www.nextgenmfg.orgLinksTime to Retire “Podcast”https://tinyurl.com/349cabruOrganize Insights with Data Tableshttps://tinyurl.com/3mas6eskNotebookLM Levels Up Key Featurehttps://tinyurl.com/cvf3j9m7ChatGPT Gets Enthusiasm Dialhttps://tinyurl.com/6eyrykunDeepfake Cyberbullying in Schoolshttps://tinyurl.com/z8cyjmbpTeaching Screenagers Social Media and AIhttps://tinyurl.com/fscuvyrfGemini AI Student Contest Winnershttps://tinyurl.com/377sr4m4Amazon’s $800K Bet on AI Educationhttps://tinyurl.com/uypb6rctPlaylab AI for Action Curriculumhttps://tinyurl.com/4jxwnxz9What “AI-Ready School” Really Meanshttps://tinyurl.com/2s4zpfxeYann LeCun to Aspiring AI Studentshttps://tinyurl.com/ydsnxufSalesforce Reconsiders LLMshttps://tinyurl.com/nbfenrspAI Denialismhttps://tinyurl.com/5yzjv5seAI Used To Turn Feathers into Cashmerehttps://tinyurl.com/y5jmh2wd

In this episode of ChatEDU (Signals in the Noise – The Stories That Kept Popping Up on ChatEDU), Matt and Liz reflect on 2025’s defining AI themes, invite listener voice memos as ChatEDU nears episode 100, and close with a sharp Bright Byte editorial.RundownSchool AI Flags Clarinet as GunA Florida school locked down after an AI system mistook a student’s clarinet for a rifle. Matt and Liz unpack what happens when AI surveillance gets it wrong.How Students Are Using AI AgentsData from 100M queries shows students use agentic AI for real academic work, not entertainment.Wrong Answers OnlyAnna Mills sparked a playful thread on AI doing your coursework. Liz shares the best replies and five agentic browser–proof ideas.Portfolio Defense and the Rise of Real AssessmentMatt and Liz explore a shift toward student-led defenses, supported by tools like NotebookLM.NotebookLM Chat HistoryThe new chat history feature allows students to track AI conversations across devices.NotebookLM May Soon Work Inside GeminiGoogle may integrate NotebookLM into Gemini, enabling grounded notes in broader chats.AI Literacy for All MajorsLSU’s student government is pushing for a free, noncredit AI certificate open to all students.The One-Chatbot Classroom?Niral Shah challenges “one bot per child,” with Matt and Liz pointing to collaborative AI learning instead.AI Storytelling and Student ProjectsFrom AI storytellers to student-built health apps, Matt and Liz show what meaningful AI learning looks like.Beneath the SurfaceMatt and Liz revisit key stories and themes from 2025, with help from Ethan Mollick and their custom NotebookLM.Bright Byte: AI Hype Distracts Us from Important BreakthroughsFlashy AI grabbed headlines, but Margaret Mitchell points to predictive AI as the real progress. Matt and Liz highlight why it matters.Announcements and SponsorLearning They'll Love - Dr. Elizabeth RaddayASCD: https://tinyurl.com/bde652nn - discount code RADDAY30Amazon: https://tinyurl.com/22t9hz77Barnes and Noble: https://tinyurl.com/bdckf6zwThe Winter Micro-Credential launches in January. Join educators from around the world for a six-week dive into AI literacy, pedagogy, assessment, and ethics. www.skills21.org/ai/micro EdAdvance is offering their Middle and High School Student AI Literacy course — email chatedu@edadvance.org to bring it to your district. ​​www.skills21.org/ai/learnai Interested in Skills21’s FREE social media literacy course? Check it out here - https://www.skills21.org/social-balanceThe National Center for Next Generation Manufacturing is proud to partner with the National Applied Artificial Intelligence Consortium. Join educators at the NAAIC AI Summit:February 19–20, 2026Miami Dade College, Downtown Miami⁠www.naaic.ai⁠Listener Call-OutAs ChatEDU approaches its 100th episode, Matt and Liz want to hear from you!Send in a short audio message: How has ChatEDU impacted your thinking or work?Email your clip to: chatedu@edadvance.orgLinksAI Saw a Gun. It Was a Clarinet.https://tinyurl.com/pvaxys3jAI Agents: Early Evidence from Perplexityhttps://tinyurl.com/mpd6yrx4Anna Mills: AI Agents Wrong Answershttps://tinyurl.com/mvurrtzk5 AI-Proof Assessment Ideashttps://tinyurl.com/5n7eah2vPhillip Alcock on Notebook LMhttps://tinyurl.com/5xz863u4NotebookLM rolls out chat history, adds AI Ultra tierhttps://tinyurl.com/2t4h8u8aNotebookLM Comes to Geminihttps://tinyurl.com/47pmxa7bLSU Students Push for AI Educationhttps://tinyurl.com/ytaumrmyWhy “One Chatbot per Child” Doesn’t Workhttps://tinyurl.com/366s3fbcStoryteller Is the Hottest New Job Titlehttps://tinyurl.com/3zmt4y6w“AI Slop” Is Merriam-Webster’s 2025 Wordhttps://tinyurl.com/2s3up4ycWrapped Prompthttps://tinyurl.com/2eaxfy57Mollick Year in Reviewhttps://tinyurl.com/yhw7travThe Shape of AIhttps://tinyurl.com/ya2a4j6zAI Hype Hides Real Breakthroughhshttps://tinyurl.com/m36udesr

In this episode of ChatEDU (The College Essay Is Not Dead, AI Just Changed the Rules), Matt and Liz open with cold weather updates, Liz’s book selling out on Amazon, and the viral “six-seven” trend. They run through stories on new AI tools, grant challenges, workplace shifts, and prompt design myths, then go deeper with the founder of College Essay Advisors. A Bright Byte from Harvard highlights AI’s promise in rare disease diagnosis.Story 1: Google Mixboard Goes Full Nano BananaGoogle’s experimental Mixboard turns brainstorms into slide decks with Nano Banana Pro. Liz tested it by creating fake but convincing ChatEDU merch, raising questions about marketing, classrooms, and deepfake ethics.Story 2: $400K in the Create+AI ChallengeStanford’s Accelerator for Learning is offering $400,000 for AI projects that augment human potential in education. Matt and Liz outline the tracks and deadlines.Story 3: Claude Becomes the InterviewerAnthropic used its chatbot to interview 1,250 professionals, finding excitement about productivity gains alongside growing anxiety about automation and job security.Story 4: The Lonely AI WorkplaceA follow-up study suggests AI may be replacing people as well as tasks, with chatbots reducing mentorship and collaboration.Story 5: The Role Prompting Myth Gets BustedA Wharton study finds that expert personas do not reliably improve AI accuracy, while clarity and context matter more.Story 6: Arrival Technology and Adaptive LeadershipJustin Reich and Jesse Dukes describe generative AI as an arrival technology that is user driven and disruptive in classrooms.Beneath the SurfaceLiz talks with College Essay Advisors founder Stacey Brook about what matters in college essays in the age of AI. Drawing on two decades of experience, Stacey explains why personal essays still matter and how AI can support brainstorming and confidence without replacing a student’s voice.Bright Byte: AI Helps Diagnose Rare DiseaseHarvard researchers have introduced POPEVE, an AI model that helped diagnose 30 percent of previously unsolved rare disease cases in a large patient study. By combining evolutionary data and protein modeling, it reduces ancestry bias and offers new hope in genetic medicine.SponsorThis episode is supported by the National Center for Next Generation Manufacturing.www.nextgenmfg.orgAnnouncementsLiz is back from the fall tour. RADDAY30 still works at ASCD for a discount on her book.Follow Liz and Matt on LinkedIn and check out ChatEDU clips on TikTok, YouTube, and LinkedIn.The Winter Micro-Credential cohort launches this January. Join educators from around the world for a six-week dive into AI literacy, pedagogy, assessment, and ethics.EdAdvance is now offering a Middle and High School Student AI Literacy course — email chatedu@edadvance.org to bring it to your district.Interested in Skills21’s free social media literacy course? Check it out here - https://www.skills21.org/social-balanceLinksIn-N-Out Removes “67” After Viral Ordering Trendhttps://tinyurl.com/2hv3pbvzGoogle Mixboard Nano Banana Turns Rough Ideas Into Presentationshttps://tinyurl.com/2du8h47rCreate+AI Challengehttps://tinyurl.com/49yw3cctWhat 1,250 Professionals Say About Working With AIhttps://tinyurl.com/4faxetcvAI is making the workplace lonelierhttps://tinyurl.com/3x4d32ntPrompting Science Report 4: Expert Personas Don’t Improve Accuracyhttps://tinyurl.com/2uf44yprEdTech After ChatGPThttps://tinyurl.com/mvm9fy6mPurdue Requires AI for All Undergradshttps://tinyurl.com/yk3zf9yrNew AI Model Speeds Rare Disease Diagnosishttps://tinyurl.com/axhnyy2jAdaptive Leadership on AI and Academic Integrityhttps://tinyurl.com/etjth9xmGem Custom Instructions  + use the “listen’ feature and whisper flowhttps://tinyurl.com/42jcfwrd

In this episode of ChatEDU (Beyond the Vision: Building a Policy Infrastructure to Meet the AI Moment), Matt and Jonathan demo ChatGPT’s new voice mode, dig into AI labor-market news, tackle school chatbot safety, outline a four-point AI policy plan, and share a geothermal bright byte.Story #1: The Iceberg Index and the Clickbait ProblemA new MIT study maps AI’s impact across 151M workers and 32K skills, but headlines distort the findings. Matt and Jonathan unpack what the research really shows, why the hype misleads, and what Microsoft’s agentic AI struggles and Google’s hard-drive wipe say about how far autonomous agents still have to go.Story #2: Will My Job Survive AI? I Asked Gemini and ChatGPTMatt uploads his job context to ChatGPT and Gemini to see how each predicts his future. ChatGPT delivers sharp, personalized coaching, while Gemini stays vague under stricter privacy rules. Jonathan argues that “evolving, weird” jobs may actually be the safest and that both tools can drive real insight when used strategically.Story #3: AI Chatbots in Schools: A Practical Guide to Safety, Liability, and Mandated ReportingA new EDSAFE AI Alliance guide asks whether school chatbots should act as mandated reporters. As tools like Character.ai and MagicSchool spur more student disclosures, the guide lays out a four-part framework to flag, notify, assess, and act. Matt and Jonathan break it down and argue that child-protection protocols must extend into virtual spaces.Beneath the Surface: Jonathan’s Four Policy Shifts to Meet the MomentJonathan highlights four policy shifts for Connecticut:1. A Shared Vision of the Graduate: Replace 169 local skill frameworks with one statewide model.2. Lean Out the Curriculum: Use AI to refocus on power standards and durable skills.3. Accountability Beyond the Basics: Measure the competencies that matter in an AI-driven world, not just literacy and math.4. Policy Alignment with Practice: Bring state and local policies in reporting, AI-use rubrics, and more into sync with these instructional shifts.Matt says this may be the most consequential chapter of Jonathan’s career and possibly for education as a whole.Bright Byte: AI Uncovers Hidden Geothermal EnergyZanskar Geothermal used AI modeling to uncover a viable energy system in western Nevada, a site long thought tapped out. It’s the first breakthrough in 30 years and a clear reminder of AI’s power to tackle tough environmental challenges when used well.Links and ReferencesChatGPT’s voice mode no longer separate interfacehttps://tinyurl.com/4m3dtmcu‘6-7’ viral phrase may have a meaninghttps://tinyurl.com/4m3dtmcuMeasuring Skills-Centered Exposure in AI Economyhttps://tinyurl.com/2w8p6es7AI Agents Disasterhttps://tinyurl.com/2s3u3tb5Google’s AI Deletes User’s Hard Drivehttps://tinyurl.com/3n284ehtAI on Jobs in Five Yearshttps://tinyurl.com/42vtyvusAI Chatbots in Schoolshttps://tinyurl.com/yvntwfr6Professors using AI in course designhttps://tinyurl.com/yevrmbetDropout Hired at OpenAI After Learning PhD-Level AI with ChatGPThttps://tinyurl.com/ym7tt62tPoll: Americans Doubt Degree Valuehttps://tinyurl.com/3cvccufrNewCollege Major: A.I.https://tinyurl.com/35d32zhuGeothermal company makes big discovery using AIhttps://tinyurl.com/3fenuej7AnnouncementsThe Winter Micro-Credential cohort launches this January. Join educators from around the world for a six-week dive into AI literacy, pedagogy, assessment, and ethics.EdAdvance is now offering a Middle and High School Student AI Literacy course — email chatedu@edadvance.org to bring it to your district.Interested in Skills21’s free social media literacy course? Check it out here - https://www.skills21.org/social-balance SponsorThis episode is brought to you by the National Center for Next Generation Manufacturing, helping educators and students build workforce-ready skills through innovation. Learn more at nextgenmfg.org.

In this episode of ChatEDU (Vibe Coding from New Zealand) while Liz continues her adventure, Matt is joined by Yaron Overeem, a school principal from New Zealand and ChatEDU listener. He shares his experience with AI literacy, cultural preservation, and the rise of vibe coding. But first, a recent Futurism article details how an AI-powered teddy bear was pulled from shelves after giving dangerous instructions to kids. Matt and Yaron reflect on the risks of generative AI, especially when it comes to younger users.Story #1: AI in Career PathwaysNew CTE pilots in the U.S. are preparing high schoolers for AI-infused careers in agriculture, healthcare, and manufacturing. Matt highlights a story out of South Carolina and asks how schools can support students in learning to build AI. Yaron shares how his students are beginning to explore how AI connects to broader industries and why it’s critical to go beyond job titles and explore industry ecosystems.Story #2: AI and Academic IntegrityAfter analyzing 85 episodes of ChatEDU transcripts in NotebookLM, Matt reveals that AI cheating and academic integrity rank among the top three most frequently discussed topics on the show, alongside bias and AI literacy. Yaron shares his own reflections from the faculty lounge and the classroom, including what happens when students and teachers start using AI to write communications. His solution: pick up the phone and talk.Story #3: Māori Language, Bias, and Data SovereigntyAs AI tools become widespread in education, cultural representation and linguistic accuracy are under scrutiny. Yaron unpacks a growing national conversation about how tools like ChatGPT and Gemini often misrepresent Māori culture and language, including his own example of an AI-generated image of Tangaroa that looked suspiciously like Jason Momoa. Teachers are concerned about misinterpretations, omissions, and inaccuracies when using AI in bilingual classrooms. Locally developed tools like Te Hiku Media’s Māori speech recognition system are offering promising alternatives, and the government is being pushed to consider Te Tiriti o Waitangi and data sovereignty in its AI policies.Beneath the Surface: Vibe CodingInspired by a past episode, Yaron began using Gemini AI Studio and Firebase to create custom classroom tools using only natural language prompts. From timers and reward systems to student scheduling, he has built tailored apps that meet his school’s needs without traditional coding. It’s a compelling example of what happens when educators apply creativity and curiosity to AI in practice.Bright Byte: AI Saving New Zealand’s BirdsMatt and Yaron look at how AI vision and genetic analysis are helping preserve endangered species like the flightless kākāpō. AI-enabled traps use computer vision to detect predators like rats and possums without harming native wildlife.Links & ReferencesAI-Powered Stuffed Animal Pulled From Market After Disturbing Interactions With Childrenhttps://tinyurl.com/5fn6uf8hAI Tutors in Early Reading Instructionhttps://tinyurl.com/3mdvj4zuBusinesses Want Employees With AI Skillshttps://tinyurl.com/wasm78jnMāori Culture, Language, and Data Sovereigntyhttps://tinyurl.com/3yhb7xkfImages made with AI recycle colonial stereotypes and biashttps://tinyurl.com/mvmnta5xNew Zealand is turning to AI and genetic research to save rare birdshttps://tinyurl.com/4ck3zn4eLearning They'll Love - Dr. Elizabeth RaddayASCD: https://tinyurl.com/bde652nnAmazon: https://tinyurl.com/22t9hz77Barnes and Noble: https://tinyurl.com/bdckf6zwAnnouncements & SponsorsCheck out the new Student AI Course for middle and high school. Email Matt and Liz at ⁠chatedu@edadvance.org⁠The Winter Micro-Credential is now open. Join us for the educator and school leader course starting in January - ⁠ ⁠⁠skills21.org/ai/micro⁠The National Center for Next Generation Manufacturing. ⁠www.nextgenmfg.org⁠

In this episode of ChatEDU (The AI-Ready District - Inside a Superintendent’s Strategic Plan), Matt is joined by Westport, CT Superintendent Tom Scarice, stepping in while Liz is away in Costa Rica. They open with a quick hit about an AI app that creates avatars of deceased loved ones, raising questions about ethics, grief, and whether some tools should even be built. From there, Matt and Tom dig into the biggest stories of the week and then take a deep dive into Westport’s bold new plan for AI in public education.Story 1: Gemini’s Vibe CodingMatt tests Google’s new vibe coding features in Gemini 3 to build a real-time tracker for Westport’s strategic plan and an app that recognizes facial emotion. Both tools are built in under five minutes. Tom reflects on how this lowers the barrier to coding and brings creative problem solving into the hands of every student and teacher.Story 2: The Teacher Training GapA new EdWeek report finds that half of U.S. teachers have now received some AI training, but most sessions are still short and surface level. Matt and Tom compare experiences from Connecticut and beyond, highlighting the importance of embedded professional learning and why leadership modeling matters more than one-off exposure.Story 3: Google’s Personalized TextbooksGoogle’s Learn Your Way platform tailors textbook content to student interest and reading level. Matt and Tom explore whether this boosts student agency or simply repackages old formats. They discuss how AI can support personalization while still protecting instructional coherence and equity.Story 4: Smarter AI Powered Reading AssessmentsAI tools like Amira now provide real-time reading feedback using natural language processing. Tom explains why formative assessment matters and how systems that reveal student thinking can improve instruction. They also flag risks of outsourcing too much teacher judgment to automation.Beneath the Surface: A Strategic Plan for the AI EraTom walks through Westport’s 92-page strategic plan, which integrates AI across ethics, personalization, instruction, leadership, and even drama class. With sections on algorithm audits, professional learning, and operational efficiency, the plan offers a blueprint for leading through complexity. Matt and Tom break down how the plan was built, what it prioritizes, and what other districts might take away.Bright ByteGoogle DeepMind’s SynthID now embeds invisible watermarks into AI-generated images, audio, video, and text. Matt calls this a seatbelt moment for AI safety and a promising tool for combating deepfakes and supporting academic integrity.Links & ReferencesAI App Creates Avatars Of Dead Relatives Sparks Backlashhttps://tinyurl.com/mpjrm57cTeacher AI Training Has a Long Way to Gohttps://tinyurl.com/2att7m9sGoogle Reinvents The School Textbook With AIhttps://tinyurl.com/4uttcv74AI-Powered Assessmenthttps://tinyurl.com/48yyc3msMeta is about to start grading workers on their AI skillshttps://tinyurl.com/24sycbt4SynthID: A Tool to Watermark and Identify Content Generated Through AIhttps://deepmind.google/models/synthid/Learning They'll Love - Dr. Elizabeth RaddayASCD (use code RADDAY30 for 30% off until December 5th): https://tinyurl.com/bde652nnAmazon: https://tinyurl.com/22t9hz77Barnes and Noble: https://tinyurl.com/bdckf6zwAnnouncements & SponsorsCheck out the new Student AI Course for middle and high school. Email Matt and Liz at ⁠chatedu@edadvance.org⁠The Winter Micro-Credential is now open. Join us for the educator and school leader course starting in January - ⁠ ⁠⁠skills21.org/ai/micro⁠The National Center for Next Generation Manufacturing. ⁠www.nextgenmfg.org⁠