Week in Edtech 3/19/25: OpenAI’s Writing Model, Gemini Canvas Goes Free, Zoom’s Chain of Draft, China Adds AI to Schools, EdTech Office Closes, and More! Feat. Annie Chechitelli of Turnitin & Sara Mauskopf of Winnie

Send us Fan MailJoin hosts Alex Sarlin and Ben Kornell as they break down a pivotal week of AI announcements, edtech disruption, and education policy shifts.✨ Episode Highlights:[00:00:00] China introduces AI education for 6-year-olds, sparking urgency for U.S. to respond[00:05:23] OpenAI teases a creative writing model as Google and Anthropic push into coding AI[00:07:59] Gemini Canvas and Deep Research go free, redefining educational productivity tools[00:11:09] Copyright clash: OpenAI wants to train on protected content, creatives push back[00:14:02] Gemini’s UI outpaces OpenAI with real classroom use cases[00:17:54] Chain of Draft from Zoom cuts AI costs by 90% and mimics human note-taking[00:18:34] Baidu, Alibaba launch emotion-reading and multi-modal AI models in China[00:20:50] Manus, China’s autonomous AI agent, sparks global interest in multi-agent systems[00:23:36] U.S. vs. China: centralized AI strategy meets decentralized innovation culture[00:27:57] U.S. Education Dept. shutters Office of Ed Tech, leaving a national guidance gapPlus, special guests:[00:30:11] Annie Chechitelli, CPO at Turnitin, on launching Clarity for ethical student AI use[01:03:49] Sara Mauskopf, CEO & Co-founder of Winnie, on expanding into K-12 and the rise of school choice😎 Stay updated with Edtech Insiders! Follow our Podcast on:Apple PodcastsSpotifyAmazon MusicSign up for the Edtech Insiders newsletter.Follow Edtech Insiders on LinkedIn!🎉 Presenting Sponsor:Tuck Advisors was founded by entrepreneurs who built and sold their own companies, frustrated by other m and a firms, they created the one they wished they could have hired but couldn't find. One who understands what matters to founders and whose North Star KPI is the percentage of deals closed. If you're thinking of selling your ed tech company or buying one contact Tuck advisors now. Every year, K-12 districts and higher ed institutions spend over half a trillion dollars—but most sales teams miss the signals. Starbridge tracks early signs like board minutes, budget drafts, and strategic plans, then helps you turn them into personalized outreach—fast. Win the deal before it hits the RFP stage. That’s how top edtech teams stay ahead. This season of Edtech Insiders is brought to you by Cooley LLP. Cooley is the go-to law firm for education and edtech innovators, offering industry-informed counsel across the 'pre-K to gray' spectrum. With a multidisciplinary approach and a powerful edtech ecosystem, Cooley helps shape the future of education. Innovation in preK to gray learning is powered by exceptional people. For over 15 years, EdTech companies of all sizes and stages have trusted HireEducation to find the talent that drives impact. When specific skills and experiences are mission-critical, HireEducation is a partner that delivers. Offering permanent, fractional, and executive recruitment, HireEducation knows the go-to-market talent you need. Learn more at HireEdu.com.