Teaching in the Age of AI with Samantha Gleisten

What happens when artificial intelligence becomes part of how children learn, teachers work, and we relate to one another? Samantha Gleisten believes the answer isn't simply learning how to use new tools—it's strengthening the human capacities that should guide how we use them. Samantha brings her experience as a Montessori educator, digital citizenship teacher, and AI developer to a conversation about what education can contribute in an AI-powered world. She explains why relational intelligence, metacognition, interconnectedness, and the spiritual preparation of the adult matter more than ever—and how HeyBodhi, the AI platform she co-founded, is designed to support teachers rather than replace the human work of teaching. Together, they discuss:why Samantha believes Montessori has something important to offer in an AI worldthe difference between using AI to extend learning and using it to shortcut learningteacher burnout and the creation of HeyBodhihow AI can help teachers practice difficult conversations and reflect on their workwhy relational intelligence may become even more important as technology advanceshelping students develop metacognition and responsible AI habitsthe danger of creating unhealthy relationships between children and AImoving from student agency to the audacity to imagine and build a better worldAt a moment when AI is evolving faster than educators can keep up, Samantha offers a hopeful challenge: we may never be able to predict exactly what these tools will become, but we can decide what we want them to help us build.Contact Us: [email protected] the Human Potential is a podcast about optimizing education for a better society, through a Montessori lens. Hosts Nicole Coman, a licensed educational psychologist specializing in school psychology and child development -- and a "Montessori mom" -- and Biff Maier, an American Montessori Society Living Legacy with decades of experience as a Montessori educator and school leader, engage with experts, educators, parents, and students. Each episode explores strategies to unlock human potential, offering thought-provoking conversations on learning, child development, and the evolving landscape of education. This podcast is presented by AMS, the American Montessori Society.For more information about Montessori education, visit https://amshq.org/about-montessori/And consider this AMS course for families interested in incorporating the Montessori philosophy into their day-to-day lives and parenting approach:https://learn.amshq.org/parent-course-early-childhoodContact us: [email protected]