What Breaks + What Sticks – Education's AI Future in 2026 | Ep. 91

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 [email protected] 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