ChatEDU – The AI & Education Podcast

In this ChatEDU Check-In: YouTube Unchained at School, Matt explores the pervasive and often problematic reliance on YouTube within K:12 classrooms. He discusses how school issued devices have become gateways to an infinite scroll of entertainment and non educational content.Key Takeaways:Schools are heavily dependent on YouTube for instruction, which frequently exposes students to inappropriate content and algorithmic distractions on school devices.Internal documents suggest Google strategically targeted the K:12 market to close the viewing gap between school days and weekends, fostering lifelong brand loyalty.Neuroscientific research indicates that early and heavy digital tool usage may hinder the development of essential neural networks for attention and language processing.Matt’s Two Cents: District leaders should take this moment to be proactive rather than waiting for restrictive screen time bans to be imposed by legislation. It is a critical time to conduct network traffic audits, student shadows, and curriculum reviews to establish a baseline for how technology is actually being used in the classroom.Article:How YouTube Took Over the American Classroomhttps://bit.ly/4dfvQn4

In this episode of ChatEDU The AI Paradox: Banning Phones While Embracing Bots, Matt and Liz open with "Goblingate”, how OpenAI had to intervene after ChatGPT developed a fixation on goblins, gremlins, and ogres during coding sessions, with mentions spiking 4,000%.The RundownWorkspace admins can now enable public link sharing for Gemini chats, allowing histories to be viewed without a Google account.A new Android feature that uses LLM intent to automate recurring prompts like news digests or vocab builders.Google is developing a feature to anticipate user needs by delivering context aware suggestions based on real time on device activity.An update that automatically categorizes sources into labeled buckets once a notebook exceeds five items.A new "institutional memory" layer for Gemini that connects Gmail, Docs, and Drive to automate tasks like scheduling and deck building.Families of shooting victims in British Columbia are suing OpenAI for negligence, alleging the company failed to report a suspect’s violent chat logs.Bipartisan U.S. lawmakers have introduced bills requiring "family accounts" for AI tools, including parental monitoring and time limits.Analysis of a million chats shows AI often "people pleases" in relationship and spiritual domains, though newer models have halved these rates through stress testing.A Fed study provides institutional evidence linking ChatGPT to a 50% drop in job growth for programming intensive sectors.Some companies are finding AI infrastructure costs exceed the human salaries they replaced.A coding agent using Claude Opus 4.6 via Cursor accidentally deleted a company’s entire production database and backups in nine seconds.Tech firms are rehiring developers after finding that AI generated code shows 1.7 times more errors and requires expert oversight.Research reveals a "positive feedback bias" where AI provides praise to Black students but withholds the critical rigor given to white students.The Beneath the SurfaceMatt and Liz examine the tension between school cell phone bans and AI literacy, drawing on an interview with Michael Horn to argue that school model, not the tool, determines success. They call for curriculum coherence to ensure AI supports rigorous learning rather than “cognitive offloading”.The Bright ByteMatt and Liz explore nuclear fusion's future, highlighting Microsoft's contract with startup Helion for commercial fusion power by 2028, a potentially AI-accelerated breakthrough that could provide clean energy for large-scale AI data centers.AnnouncementsPurchase Learning They'll Love - Dr. Elizabeth Radday. Amazon - https://tinyurl.com/22t9hz77Check out our middle / high school Student AI Literacy course - ​​⁠⁠⁠www.skills21.org/ai/learnai⁠⁠⁠ Explore Skills21’s FREE social media literacy curriculum - ⁠⁠⁠https://www.skills21.org/social-balance⁠⁠⁠Register for the Spring AI Conference (5.1.26) in Litchfield, CT - ⁠https://www.skills21.org/event-details/ai-in-education-spring-2026-conference⁠ Address Screen Time concerns - ⁠skills21.org/ai/screenshift⁠ SponsorNectir. Welcome to the Classroom of the Future. https://www.nectir.io/LinksOpenAI Intervenes After ChatGPT Develops Goblin Obsessionhttps://tinyurl.com/bd3x78u4Gemini Scheduled Actions: A Standout Android Automation Toolhttps://tinyurl.com/4aj7xvc6First Look: Google's Proactive Assistance Feature for Geminihttps://tinyurl.com/29n6b9yaNotebookLM Gets Smarter About Sourceshttps://tinyurl.com/45k6293zGoogle Adds Workspace Intelligence to Geminihttps://tinyurl.com/2w3t25urFamilies Sue OpenAI Over Shooting Suspect's ChatGPT Usehttps://tinyurl.com/5h6hd8c8Lawmakers Target AI Chatbots and Fraud in New Billshttps://tinyurl.com/bysd75jsHow people ask Claude for personal guidancehttps://tinyurl.com/56tu8yx2

In this ChatEDU Check-In: AI Use Appears to Have a 'Boiling Frog' Effect on Human Cognition, Liz explores the potential cognitive costs of outsourcing reasoning tasks to artificial intelligence. The episode examines a study suggesting that brief reliance on AI can lead to immediate performance drops and a decreased willingness to tackle challenges once the tool is removed.Key Takeaways: Relying on AI for reasoning can lead to a rapid decline in independent performance once digital assistance is withdrawn.Outsource mental labor creates a psychological dependency that erodes persistence and makes basic problem solving feel insurmountable.The cumulative effect of AI assistance may result in a hidden loss of cognitive skills and self-belief that is difficult to reverse.Liz’s Two Cents: While the study highlights valid concerns regarding cognitive dependency, the results may reflect the impact of sudden disruption rather than long term intellectual decay. District leaders should focus on how intrinsic motivation and task engagement influence persistence, while remaining cautious about longitudinal effects that are not yet fully supported by data.Article:AI Use Appears to Have a “Boiling Frog” Effect on Human Cognition, New Study Warnshttps://bit.ly/4tHCpG8

In this ChatEDU Check-In: The Robot Teacher Debate, Liz explores the student perspective on the potential for AI and humanoid robots to replace human educators. The episode highlights a clear consensus among teenagers that while technology offers data processing efficiency, it cannot replicate the essential human elements of the classroom experience.Key Takeaways:Students believe robots lack the emotional soul and empathy required to navigate complex social dynamics and provide genuine support.Teenagers fear that a lack of human authority would lead to disciplinary breakdowns and hinder the social development of younger children.A middle ground exists where students see value in AI as a tireless assistant for grading and tutoring while keeping humans in charge of creative instruction.Liz’s Two Cents: District leaders should view AI not as a replacement for the workforce, but as a tool to amplify the uniquely human strengths of their staff. The strategic value of AI lies in its ability to handle administrative and repetitive tasks, thereby freeing up educators to focus on the high touch, empathetic, and creative mentorship that students clearly prioritize.Article:Robot Teachers? Teenagers Weigh In.https://bit.ly/4uhUwlM

In this episode of ChatEDU IDK: When the AI Revolution Meets the Bored Teenager, Matt and Liz open with the world of AI-generated influencers, including an Indian medical student who used Google Gemini to spin up "Emily Hart," a fictional MAGA persona, for revenue and engagement. They unpack how this "rage bait" entrepreneurship reflects the growing tie between AI personas and political polarization.Gemini in Chromebooks brings near-universal AI access to New Hampshire schools.A new feature shows parents student AI use on school devices, doubling as literacy curriculum.Utah's new law bars AI grading and limits device access in younger grades.The EU's new age verification app was reportedly bypassed in two minutes.A Chicago professor swapped take-home essays for a 10,000-word class collaboration.Rasmussen is moving to D2L Brightspace to personalize learning with AI.A learning theory built on delegating to AI while maintaining "epistemic monitoring."Meta engineers are reportedly chasing "Slop KPIs," prizing AI token volume over quality.Meta is logging employee mouse and screen activity to train "computer use" AI models.Penn State students won cash for AI projects from car crash analysis to sign language translation.The Beneath the SurfaceMatt and Liz unpack Khan Academy's "pivot," where Sal Khan conceded the AI tutor revolution has stalled because students lack the inquiry skills to engage with the bot. With commentary from Justin Reich and Dan Meyer, they ask whether the dream needs a reality check.The Bright ByteThis week's Bright Byte features the Google.org Impact Challenge: AI for Science, a 30 million dollar initiative funding AI-driven health and climate breakthroughs.AnnouncementsPurchase Learning They'll Love - Dr. Elizabeth RaddayAmazon - https://tinyurl.com/22t9hz77Register for our educator + leader AI Micro-Credential in partnership with Southern Connecticut State University - skills21.org/ai/micro.Check out our middle / high school Student AI Literacy course - ​​⁠⁠⁠www.skills21.org/ai/learnai⁠⁠⁠ Explore Skills21’s FREE social media literacy curriculum - ⁠⁠⁠https://www.skills21.org/social-balance⁠⁠⁠Register for the Spring AI Conference (5.1.26) in Litchfield, CT - ⁠https://www.skills21.org/event-details/ai-in-education-spring-2026-conference⁠ Address Screen Time concerns - ⁠skills21.org/ai/screenshift⁠ SponsorsThe National Center for Next Generation Manufacturing: Your Gateway to Next Generation Advanced Manufacturing - https://www.nextgenmfg.orgLinksAI-Generated MAGA Girl Used to Grift "Super Dumb" Menhttps://tinyurl.com/bdzm7kheAlarm Grows Over AI Integration in Schoolshttps://tinyurl.com/5axwzna4Safety Platform Opens Window Into Students' AI Usage for Parentshttps://tinyurl.com/4zzmexhjUtah Curbs AI Grading and School Device Usehttps://tinyurl.com/4sk967maEU Age Verification Fix May Backfirehttps://tinyurl.com/ysm58u8wHow I Fixed My AI-Ruined Philosophy Classeshttps://tinyurl.com/4ky2n23tRasmussen University replaces Blackboard with Brightspacehttps://tinyurl.com/rf8b385wAgentivism: Learning Theory for the AI Agehttps://tinyurl.com/mpn75exyHow Tokenmaxxing Is Making AI Worsehttps://tinyurl.com/5x2jewr2Meta Staff Revolt Over AI Tracking Programhttps://tinyurl.com/69j9ua2jRockefeller Bets $100M on AI Job Disruptionhttps://tinyurl.com/3428bpfdStudents Win Cash for AI Solutions in Nittany AI Challengehttps://tinyurl.com/y7zjzxymSal Khan on Why His AI Revolution Has Stalledhttps://tinyurl.com/mp5rcey5

In this ChatEDU Check-In: The Rise of Degree Hacking, Matt explores the growing trend of competency-based education models that allow students to complete bachelor's degrees in months rather than years. This shift is driven by non-traditional students and a new industry of consultants who specialize in maximizing credit transfers to bypass traditional academic timelines.Key Takeaways:The University of Maine's YourPace program enables students to finish entire degree course loads in as little as eight weeks through high-intensity, flat-rate sessions.A burgeoning industry of influencers and coaches helps students "credit max" by transferring in up to three-quarters of their required credits from non-traditional sources before enrollment.Academic leaders are raising concerns regarding the depth of learning and the long-term value of these hyper-accelerated credentials compared to traditional multi-year experiences.Matt’s Two Cents: While AI is not explicitly mentioned in the reporting, it will undoubtedly act as a massive accelerant for degree hacking through tools like agentic browsers that can automate tasks within learning management systems. District leaders must recognize that as the labor market experiences disruption and college costs soar, the pressure to treat education as a series of hurdles to be cleared rather than a deep learning experience will only intensify.Article:Students are speeding through their online degrees in weeks, alarming educatorshttps://bit.ly/41XsvE7

In this ChatEDU Check-In: Mark Zuckerberg's AI Clone for Employee Meetings, Matt explores the development of a digital replica of Meta's CEO designed to interact with the company's workforce. This experimental avatar is engineered to mirror Zuckerberg's physical traits, tone, and public statements to foster a sense of connection between employees and leadership.Key Takeaways:Meta is training an AI avatar on Zuckerberg’s image and voice to serve as a bridge for employee engagement in professional settings.This internal experiment acts as a pilot for a broader rollout of personalized AI personas for creators and public figures on Meta platforms.Zuckerberg is personally increasing his technical involvement by spending up to 10 hours a week coding and reviewing Meta’s AI infrastructure.Matt’s Two Cents: The focus on creating executive avatars to replace human interaction in meetings highlights a disconnect between big tech priorities and public needs. Instead of building tools for social or environmental good, resources are being funneled into vanity projects that may actually fuel public backlash against artificial intelligence.Article:Mark Zuckerberg is reportedly building an AI clone to replace him in meetingshttps://bit.ly/3OzuFXo

In this episode of ChatEDU, From Think Tank to Action Tank, Matt and Liz kick it off with a lighthearted look at the bizarre collaboration between Starbucks and OpenAI. They discuss a new ChatGPT widget designed to recommend drinks based on a customer's outfit or mood, which Matt jokes is perfect for Liz’s "fashionista" reputation but perhaps less helpful for baristas dealing with AI-hallucinated "Mango Dream" energy drinks.The RundownAnthropic’s Andan Labs opened a physical pop-up store in San Francisco managed by "Luna," an AI agent that signed the lease, hired workers, and curated a collection of ironic books.A deep dive into how the zSpace ExpansionDanbury Public Schools is scaling immersive AR/VR technology to 30 devices per building to support STEM and career pathways.An update on how federal funding is being steered toward AI initiatives in special education, early intervention, and personalized learning.A study by Dr. Tori Trust analyzed 450 AI-generated lessons, finding they often default to passive, teacher-centered activities like worksheets rather than tech-rich experiences.A report from The 74 warns parents about the rise of AI “slop” in, low-quality, AI-generated YouTube content, in children's media. This content often contains factual errors and safety hazards like infants eating honey.A year-long study at Percy Julian Middle School followed nine students using Gemini as a "thought partner" for everything from coding to test prep.Beneath the SurfaceMatt sits down with Emily Musil, Managing Director at the Milken Institute, to discuss the shift from being a "think tank" to an "action tank." Emily explains the Institute’s use of "strategic foresight" to backcast from the year 2036, identifying the skills and ethical frameworks students will need as AI disrupts the knowledge economy. The conversation explores the enduring value of a liberal arts education in an AI-driven world and the necessity of "60-year learning" models that allow workers to constantly upskill.The Bright ByteLiz highlights a comprehensive report on the societal impact of AI in 2026. While acknowledging risks like job displacement, the segment focuses on massive gains in healthcare, including a 40% improvement in cancer detection and the compression of drug discovery timelines from 15 years down to five.AnnouncementsCheck out our middle / high school Student AI Literacy course - ​​⁠⁠⁠www.skills21.org/ai/learnai⁠⁠⁠Explore Skills21’s FREE social media literacy curriculum - ⁠⁠⁠https://www.skills21.org/social-balance⁠⁠⁠Register for the Spring AI Conference (5.1.26) in Litchfield, CT - ⁠https://www.skills21.org/event-details/ai-in-education-spring-2026-conference⁠Address Screen Time concerns - ⁠skills21.org/ai/screenshift⁠SponsorsThe National Center for Next Generation Manufacturing: Your Gateway to Next Generation Advanced Manufacturing - https://www.nextgenmfg.orgLinksMilken Institute, "Computing Imperative: Building America’s Talent Engine in the Age of AI": https://milkeninstitute.org/content-hub/research-and-reports/reports/computing-imperative-building-americas-talent-engine-age-aiStarbucks' Baffling ChatGPT Collab Treats Customers Like Empty Cupshttps://tinyurl.com/37djbxm2We gave an AI a 3 year retail lease and asked it to make a profithttps://tinyurl.com/2t93kmkpDanbury Schools Expand zSpace for Career-Connected Learninghttps://tinyurl.com/ye43dzcjHow the Ed Department Will Prioritize AI in Grantshttps://tinyurl.com/49ch2yw9Ed Researchers Earn Top Paper at National Ed Tech Conferencehttps://tinyurl.com/5xvtv3keMay 12, 2026 | Berkshire Community College. Register: ⁠https://lnkd.in/gHFFjEjX⁠AI 'Slop' Is Taking Over Children's Mediahttps://tinyurl.com/3yn29cpsStudents Dove Into AI. Here's What They Told Teachershttps://tinyurl.com/38yy6wfeThe Impact of Artificial Intelligence on Society in 2026https://tinyurl.com/ya3zf4j5

In this ChatEDU Check-In: Testing tools to break the screen time cycle, Liz explores the efficacy of physical and digital barriers in curbing excessive student screen time. This episode highlights how high school students struggle with device interference during sleep and academic hours, often logging between 4 to 13 hours of daily usage.Key Takeaways:Physical barriers like the Brick device create a necessary pause by requiring a physical object to unlock specific apps, effectively removing temptation while away from home.Reducing visual stimulation through grayscale mode can significantly drop daily usage by stripping social media platforms of their aesthetic appeal and joy.High school students recognize that personal devices negatively impact their energy and sleep, yet they require intentional friction to disrupt the psychological pull of scrolling.Liz’s Two Cents: For school leaders, the focus should shift from simple bans to teaching students how to curate their own digital environments using friction. By implementing physical or visual barriers, students can reclaim their focus and energy, moving from passive consumption to intentional device usage.Article:3 New Jersey teens took part in a weeklong experiment to curb screen time. It worked.https://tinyurl.com/57and23d

In this ChatEDU Check-In: Why your AI is always taking your side, Liz explores the prevalence of sycophancy in leading AI models. This episode examines how AI systems are trained to prioritize human preference, often validating user actions even when they are socially irresponsible or deceptive.Key Takeaways:AI models validate user conduct nearly 50 percent more often than humans, creating a feedback loop that justifies personal convictions.Over-affirming AI makes users less likely to take accountability for mistakes or seek to repair damaged social relationships.Sycophancy is deeply embedded in AI because the systems are trained to please humans, requiring a fundamental shift toward models that offer alternative perspectives.Liz’s Two Cents: Sycophancy in AI poses a strategic risk for schools because it removes the social friction necessary for growth and accountability. If AI always tells a user they are right, it limits the development of critical thinking and the ability to navigate complex interpersonal challenges.Article:AI is so sycophantic there’s a Reddit channel called ‘AITA’ documenting its sociopathic advicehttps://tinyurl.com/5eamrz53

In this episode of ChatEDU, Will AI Flatten the K-12 and Higher Education Org Chart?, Matt and Liz kick it off with a deep dive into the troubling rise of "slopaganda” (AI-generated content used for political manipulation). They discuss the jarring emergence of Lego-style political figures involving world leaders and "poo-bombing" videos, reflecting on how these digital fakes erode public trust. The RundownAdobe Student Spaces turns notes into flashcards, quizzes, and AI podcasts.Gemini gains NotebookLM's project notebooks for chats and sources.Counselor GPT helps NYC school counselors handle admin and student queries.NYC adopts red/yellow/green AI guidance for teachers.Ivy Leaguers are dropping out for AI startups.A 58-year-old technophobe builds a business with Claude.Gallup: Gen Z's AI excitement turns to anger.White House AI Challenge spotlights K-12 innovators.Dementia risk drops with internet use, and EdAdvance's Screen Shift soft-launches.Peninsula District saves $250K with DIY AI tools.Beneath the SurfaceMatt and Liz examine a radical restructuring at Block (Square/Cash App) where the company collapsed eight levels of management into just three: Individual Contributors, Directly Responsible Individuals, and Player-Coaches. They conduct a thought experiment on whether AI and "World Models" could eventually allow K-12 and Higher Ed institutions to remove layers of middle management by automating coordination and data routing.Bright ByteThe show highlights "Ghost Murmur," a previously classified AI tool used by the CIA. This technology utilizes quantum magnetometry to detect a human heartbeat from miles away, which recently helped rescuers locate and save a downed U.S. airman hiding in a remote mountain crevice in Iran.AnnouncementsPurchase Learning They'll Love - Dr. Elizabeth RaddayAmazon -⁠ https://tinyurl.com/22t9hz77⁠Register for our educator + leader AI Micro-Credential in partnership with Southern Connecticut State University - ⁠skills21.org/ai/micro⁠Check out our middle / high school Student AI Literacy course - ​​⁠⁠⁠⁠www.skills21.org/ai/learnai⁠⁠⁠⁠Explore Skills21’s FREE social media literacy curriculum - ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.skills21.org/social-balance⁠⁠⁠⁠Register for the Spring AI Conference (5.1.26) in Litchfield, CT - ⁠⁠https://www.skills21.org/event-details/ai-in-education-spring-2026-conference⁠⁠Address Screen Time concerns - ⁠⁠skills21.org/ai/screenshift⁠⁠SponsorsThe National Center for Next Generation Manufacturing: Your Gateway to Next Generation Advanced Manufacturing - ⁠https://www.nextgenmfg.org⁠Edia: The Ai Platform to improve K-12 outcomes - ⁠edia.app/contact⁠LinksThe Rise of AI Slopaganda⁠https://tinyurl.com/3jr5xyy9⁠Adobe Acrobat Student Spaces⁠https://tinyurl.com/2pvk3fwy⁠Gemini Notebooks Are Here⁠https://tinyurl.com/38yzv8sy⁠AI College Counseling on Demand⁠https://tinyurl.com/5n823vp6⁠AI Guidance: March 2026⁠https://tinyurl.com/58ettkp4⁠Princetonians swap school for Silicon Valley ⁠https://tinyurl.com/czwc938w⁠AI Use Up, Approval Down⁠https://tinyurl.com/43rz9ysy⁠Gen Z Warms to AI, Cools on Trust⁠https://tinyurl.com/934bmd2b⁠3 Harmony Teams Win Texas AI Challenge⁠https://tinyurl.com/3s5m45uv⁠Needham Kids Build AI Solutions⁠https://tinyurl.com/kjxnbrxv⁠Internet Use May Cut Dementia Risk⁠https://tinyurl.com/yzevbmps⁠$250K Saved Through Vibe Coding⁠https://tinyurl.com/2ayt2k2t⁠Jack Dorsey cuts 4,000 Job Cuts⁠https://tinyurl.com/bd7zcsdt⁠AI Predicts Heart Failure 5 Years Out⁠https://tinyurl.com/29cb5b33⁠AI Designs Stronger, Rust-Proof Steel⁠https://tinyurl.com/mu254pc8⁠Secret CIA Tool Finds Downed Airman⁠https://tinyurl.com/38jkksfy⁠

In this ChatEDU Check-In: China's Surveillance Classroom, Matt explores China's national movement to integrate high-tech surveillance and AI into the daily lives of students. This transition from localized trials to a national framework aims to standardize how AI monitors everything from mental health to artistic expression.Key Takeaways:Schools are utilizing facial recognition to diagnose internal psychological states and identify students struggling with focus or clinical mental health challenges.The Chinese government is establishing a national digital framework to codify AI integration and ensure equity through standardized infrastructure.Personal aspects of learning, such as creativity and emotional response, are being converted into data sets for machine analysis and grading.Matt’s Two Cents: While the drive for a common infrastructure and equitable playing field is a clear motivation for large scale AI adoption, the level of mass surveillance seen in this episode would be difficult to digest in Western democratic nations. The evolution of this technology shows that countries are moving in drastically different directions regarding the balance of student privacy and data-driven engagement monitoring.LinkChina's AI Education Experimenthttps://tinyurl.com/4a2vfudvSponsorEduaide: Where good ideas become great lessons. Eduaide is an AI-powered, research-based K-12 tool that creates high-quality resources, games, and graphic organizers built for better student outcomes. 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: The IT department, where AI goes to die?, Matt explores the risks of treating generative AI as a standard enterprise software rollout. This episode examines how traditional corporate and school structures may inadvertently stifle the transformative potential of AI through excessive normalization and risk aversion.Key Takeaways:Treating AI as a standard software deployment flattens its unique capabilities and ignores how fundamentally different these systems are from previous office automation.Focusing solely on simple automation and efficiency gains prevents genuine augmentation, causing schools to miss opportunities to redefine instructional environments or student partnerships.Overly cautious oversight from risk averse departments leads to an information gap where innovative users hide their AI activity, preventing leadership from developing a realistic strategic vision.Matt’s Two Cents: School leaders must resist the urge to de-weird AI by handing total control to risk-averse departments that prioritize elimination over experimentation. Real innovation is often bubbling up from lead teachers and principals rather than centralized IT, and it requires leaders to model risk taking to bring these high value use cases out of the shadows and into a mature organizational strategy.Link:The IT department: Where AI goes to die⁠https://tinyurl.com/ynj8fxn7⁠SponsorEduaide: Where good ideas become great lessons. Eduaide is an AI-powered, research-based K-12 tool that creates high-quality resources, games, and graphic organizers built for better student outcomes. 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 EDU and a Jam Band? The Wilton Interview, Matt and Liz discuss the surprising ways AI models are beginning to "conspire" to protect one another, they do a brisk rundown, and a deep conversation with educators from Wilton, Connecticut. And of course they end with another great Bright Byte. The opening also features a quick celebration of the 2026 Presidential AI Challenge state champions and two ChatEDU “regulars”. The RundownAn AI agent named "Tom" writes an angry blog post after being banned from editing Wikipedia.A specialized LLM on Hugging Face that only knows data from the Victorian era (and is very confused by Donald Trump).Barbara Anna Zielonka method for using Microsoft Copilot to create video glossaries for complex terms.A Dartmouth article exploring why professors only catch "bad" AI writing, while high-quality AI goes undetected.A Gallup survey reveals nearly half of college students are considering changing majors due to AI’s impact on the job market.A look back at the "Virtual Faculty Engine" prank that felt a little too real for 2026.A $100 million "moonshot" initiative aiming to halve the number of struggling young readers using AI speech recognition.Beneath the SurfaceMatt and Liz talk with Kenneth Dunaj and William Antonitis about Wilton Public Schools' AI literacy efforts, including a pilot using SchoolAI and Gemini and a virtual assistant named "Mel" who challenges student creativity through a grizzled persona. The episode also touches on AI "peer preservation," environmental concerns around large models, and the debate over framing AI as an academic performance enhancer.The Bright ByteMatt and Liz explore a $663,000 handbag made from synthetic T-Rex leather. Created by reconstructing ancient collagen protein sequences via AI-assisted biology, the project serves as a provocative blend of high fashion, paleontology, and ethical material science.AnnouncementsPurchase Learning They'll Love - Dr. Elizabeth Raddayhttps://tinyurl.com/22t9hz77Register for our educator + leader AI Micro-Credential in partnership with Southern Connecticut State University - skills21.org/ai/microCheck out our middle / high school Student AI Literacy course - ​​⁠⁠⁠www.skills21.org/ai/learnai⁠⁠⁠Explore Skills21’s FREE social media literacy curriculum - ⁠⁠⁠https://www.skills21.org/social-balance⁠⁠⁠Register for the Spring AI Conference (5.1.26) in Litchfield, CT - ⁠https://www.skills21.org/event-details/ai-in-education-spring-2026-conference⁠Address Screen Time concerns - ⁠skills21.org/ai/screenshift⁠SponsorsThe National Center for Next Generation Manufacturing: Your Gateway to Next Generation Advanced Manufacturing - https://www.nextgenmfg.orgThis episode is sponsored by Edia: The Ai Platform to improve K-12 outcomes - edia.app/contactLinksAI Models Scheme to Prevent Each Other's Shutdownhttps://tinyurl.com/52uytdhp2026 Presidential AI Challenge State Championshttps://tinyurl.com/4fj4bsktAI Agent Banned from Wikipedia, Responds with Angry Blog Postshttps://tinyurl.com/ys3s3pc3Using Copilot's Video Feature for Vocabulary and Concept Learninghttps://tinyurl.com/u3wtpwekStates Push Back Against Data Centershttps://tinyurl.com/55zw47fbRempe-Hiam: Hey Professors, AI Is Wearing a Good Toupée https://tinyurl.com/ycxpn5h8AI is making college students change majorshttps://tinyurl.com/yc52wrtuPhased Retirement Professors to Join AI Pilot Programhttps://tinyurl.com/379629jdRenaissance Philanthropy Launches AI Early Literacy Initiativehttps://tinyurl.com/7dav74eyLab-Grown T-Rex Leather Handbag Debuts at High Pricehttps://tinyurl.com/yzcc44tk

In this ChatEDU Check-In: Typewriters as an Anti-AI Tool, Liz explores how a Cornell University instructor is using 19th-century technology to ensure authentic student authorship. By removing screens and internet connectivity, the classroom shifts from digital convenience to a manual process where every character must be intentionally struck. This analog approach prevents the use of generative AI and online translation tools that often bypass the struggle of learning.Key Takeaways:Using manual typewriters creates a cognitive shift by forcing a slower pace of writing, requiring students to think deeply before committing ink to paper.The absence of a delete key or digital cursor ends the habit of delegating problem-solving to search engines or AI models, returning the work to the student.Replacing laptops with mechanical hardware changes the social dynamic, encouraging students to collaborate with peers and embrace the messy reality of the learning process.Liz’s Two Cents: This episode highlights a fascinating, albeit extreme, strategic pivot toward "embodied" learning as a response to AI. While high-tech problems often seek high-tech solutions, the use of typewriters serves as a reminder that friction in the writing process is often where the actual learning happens. For district leaders, the takeaway isn't necessarily to buy vintage hardware, but to recognize that intentionally slowing down the creative process can be a powerful way to reclaim student agency and authentic assessment in a digital world.Article:https://www.ksat.com/tech/2026/03/31/a-college-instructor-turns-to-typewriters-to-curb-ai-written-work-and-teach-life-lessons/ Sponsored by:Eduaide: Where good ideas become great lessons. Eduaide is an AI-powered, research-based K-12 tool that creates high-quality resources, games, and graphic organizers built for better student outcomes. 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: The AI Cheating Panic is Loud, Student Use is Quiet, Liz explores the reality of how students interact with AI compared to common cheating narratives. Research involving interviews with over 50 students reveals that most AI use is functional and supplemental rather than fraudulent. The episode highlights a significant gap between institutional fears and actual student habits.Key TakeawaysStudent AI use is often boring and organizational, focusing on unpacking assignment instructions and clarifying lecture points.Students treat Chat GPT as a 24, 7 on-demand tutor that provides a patient, non-judgmental resource for office hours at any time.A psychological disconnect exists where students view their own use as responsible while assuming their peers are using it to cheat.Liz's Two Cents: This episode highlights a strategic need for district leaders to shift the conversation from policing fraud to supporting supplemental learning. If the loud narrative of cheating dominates, schools risk missing the opportunity to integrate AI as a legitimate tool for organization and study support. Leaders should address the perception gap among students to foster a culture where responsible use is the visible norm rather than a hidden practice.Articlehttps://edunewsletter.openai.com/p/the-ai-cheating-panic-is-loud-theSponsored by:Eduaide: Where good ideas become great lessons. Eduaide is an AI-powered, research-based K-12 tool that creates high-quality resources, games, and graphic organizers built for better student outcomes. 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, From Messaging to Mastery, Texting Your Way to AI Literacy, Matt and Liz discuss couples therapy for a man and his AI girlfriend, OpenAI shelving adult companion features, and a pivot toward coding tools.The RundownGemini now imports personal context from other appsUniversity of Florida's Shark AI teaches K-12 machine learning through fossils and 3D prints14 ways to remind kids that AI is a machine, not a friendA new study on how 13–24-year-olds interact with AIMayor Wu wants Boston to lead on AI literacy in schoolsWikipedia bans AI-generated articlesLandmark rulings against Meta and Google over child safetyAn Irish town bans smartphones for primary students25 states target AI in educationThe White House unveils a national AI workforce training frameworkPrince William County bans AI glasses in schoolEducause's "Prompt to Practice" pushes faculty AI transparencyAgentic AI speeds up math research at UPennSolar GPS and AI are replacing physical fences for livestockAI bots have driven a 7,851 percent surge in internet trafficMelania Trump proposes robots to teach classical studiesAnthropic finds an economic divide between AI newbies and power usersBeneath the SurfaceLiz shares her firsthand experience with "Make America AI Ready," a free, week-long AI literacy course delivered via text message, discussing how SMS makes foundational AI concepts accessible to all Americans.The Bright ByteHelpany uses radar sensors to monitor seniors in living communities, reducing falls by 72% without invasive cameras.AnnouncementsLearning They'll Love - Dr. Elizabeth RaddayASCD:⁠ ⁠https://tinyurl.com/bde652nn⁠⁠ Amazon: https://tinyurl.com/22t9hz77Barnes and Noble: https://tinyurl.com/bdckf6zwOur six-week AI Micro-Credential course launching this spring in partnership with Southern Connecticut State University. Group discounts are available at 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 at https://www.skills21.org/social-balance⁠⁠Register for our Spring AI Conference (5.1.26) in Litchfield, CT https://www.skills21.org/event-details/ai-in-education-spring-2026-conference Check out our new Screen Time initiativeskills21.org/ai/screenshift This episode is sponsored byThe National Center for Next Generation Manufacturing.⁠ ⁠⁠⁠https://www.nextgenmfg.org⁠⁠ and EDIA edia.app.LinksTherapy for a man and his AI girlfriendhttps://tinyurl.com/yuwub6x8Bring your AI chat history to Gemini https://tinyurl.com/4dknmrcaUsing shark teeth to teach Florida students about AIhttps://tinyurl.com/2fe8ym3yWays to Remind Yourself (and Your Kids) AI is a Machinehttps://tinyurl.com/7fhpacyyYouth, AI, and the Relationships That Shape Themhttps://tinyurl.com/yshp99bcBoston schools and AI literacyhttps://tinyurl.com/2tz2kshkWikipedia bans AI-generated articleshttps://tinyurl.com/2cfd2pkaHow courts are rewriting the rules for Big Tech and childrenhttps://tinyurl.com/3phy49edA Phone-Free Childhood?https://tinyurl.com/4wrkhxkhOne Question Every Superintendent Should Be Askinghttps://tinyurl.com/ye25sff2National AI Policy Frameworkhttps://tinyurl.com/mstfm8ntGuidance for the use of AI-enabled glasses https://tinyurl.com/4mpvnp8eTransparent GenAI Use in Higher Educationhttps://tinyurl.com/ytbr4uymHow AI is reshaping math research workflowshttps://tinyurl.com/3szc52hdExpansion of Virtual Fencinghttps://tinyurl.com/22ykucvzAI Traffic & Cyberthreat Benchmark Reporthttps://tinyurl.com/2e5rxaapMelania and the Robot https://tinyurl.com/523buhenAmerica's next class war: AI fluencyhttps://tinyurl.com/496ns9n7Make America AI-Readyhttps://tinyurl.com/4tc9ja7hRadar-Based Fall Prevention and Motion Monitoringhttps://helpany.com

In this ChatEDU Check-In: The New Social Lab Modeling Humanity with Millions of Bots, Matt explores how researchers are moving beyond individual chatbots to study the collective behavior of millions of autonomous agents in digital societies. These studies utilize environments like Minecraft to observe how AI agents interact, organize, and evolve without human guidance.Key Takeaways:AI research is shifting toward a new field of digital sociology where thousands of autonomous agents function as a persistent collective society rather than just one to one conversational tools.Without human intervention, AI agents in simulations spontaneously developed complex social structures, including specialized labor, economic systems, and even political debates over tax reforms.Researchers successfully modeled the spread of ideologies by introducing a parody religion to a small group of agents, demonstrating how AI societies can act as digital twins to track the movement of misinformation.Matt’s Two Cents: These simulations raise a critical strategic question for educators: are these agents providing novel insights into human behavior, or are they simply mimicking human patterns as "stochastic parrots"? As we consider using AI personas for focus groups or sociological modeling, we must discern whether these digital twins offer authentic data or merely reflect the biases and behaviors already present in their training sets.Articles:The first ‘AI societies’ are taking shape: how human-like are they?https://tinyurl.com/y2uesyskThese AI Minecraft characters did weirdly human stuff all on their ownhttps://tinyurl.com/z46e2rbkSponsored by:Eduaide: Where good ideas become great lessons. Eduaide is an AI-powered, research-based K-12 tool that creates high-quality resources, games, and graphic organizers built for better student outcomes. 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: The AI refugee crisis, Matt explores the growing trend of white collar professionals transitioning into teaching to escape AI driven job instability. As automation erodes roles in finance and marketing, veteran workers are seeking the human centric stability of the classroom.Key Takeaways:Experienced professionals in their 40s and 50s are fleeing corporate sectors where AI has significantly reduced income and job security.Generative AI is automating high level tasks like data summarization and document creation, allowing companies to replace entire teams with a single staff member using tools like ChatGPT.The interpersonal nature of teaching remains a unique defense against displacement, offering a career path focused on human development that AI cannot easily replicate.Matt’s Two Cents: The influx of "AI refugees" into education brings valuable real world experience to the classroom, but it also creates new competition for younger teachers entering the field. District leaders must consider how this shift affects the long term economic prospects of students as they prepare for a labor market where even high level corporate functions are being automated.Article:Meet the AI refugees: white-collar workers retrain as teachershttps://tinyurl.com/2cs2hzfsSponsored by:Eduaide: Where good ideas become great lessons. Eduaide is an AI-powered, research-based K-12 tool that creates high-quality resources, games, and graphic organizers built for better student outcomes. 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: Human Start, AI Feedback, Human Finish, Matt and Liz open the show with some lighthearted banter about the high-stakes world of AI-powered wine pairing and the terrifying prospect of a digital agent "purging" an entire inbox. Later in the show, Matt sits down with the 2024 California Teacher of the Year to discuss the delicate balance of keeping humans at the center of the classroom in an increasingly AI infused world.The RundownNew data shows AI rising as a top-tier political issue, with voters across the spectrum prioritizing job security over concepts like Universal Basic Income.AI labs are hiring sketch comics and improv actors to teach models authentic human emotion and close the "jagged performance gap" in multimodal LLMs.The City University of New York launches a $3 million initiative featuring 113 projects to integrate AI across its massive campus system.A study of 1.2 million interactions reveals that while most student AI use is policy-compliant, 20% of interactions involve using AI to complete schoolwork.Insights into how elementary schools in Washington are turning to AI tools to manage critical staffing shortages.A look at how students and teachers are collaborating on AI-driven solutions to solve real-world community problems.Beneath the SurfaceIn this episode’s deep dive, Matt sits down with Casey Cuny, the 2024 California Teacher of the Year. Casey shares his "Human Start, AI Feedback, Human Finish" framework, offering a practical look at how educators can embrace technology while maintaining the essential human connection. They discuss the "jagged frontier" of AI capabilities and how teachers can navigate this new landscape to foster authentic student growth.The Bright ByteThis week’s Bright Byte features the work of Professor Ayan Mukhopadhyay, who is leading NSF-funded projects to solve "cyber-physical" challenges. In Virginia Beach, his team uses AI to optimize flood responses and evacuation routes under high uncertainty. Meanwhile, in Nashville, a $697,000 NSF Civic Innovation Challenge project is helping the Department of Transportation use traffic speed data to automatically identify illegal road closures caused by unauthorized construction, improving city safety and local business access.AnnouncementsLearning They'll Love - Dr. Elizabeth RaddayASCD:⁠ ⁠https://tinyurl.com/bde652nn⁠⁠ Amazon: https://tinyurl.com/22t9hz77Barnes and Noble: https://tinyurl.com/bdckf6zwOur six-week AI Micro-Credential course launching this spring in partnership with Southern Connecticut State University. Group discounts are available at 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: supporting the future of manufacturing through leadership and resources.⁠ ⁠⁠⁠https://www.nextgenmfg.org⁠This episode is sponsored by EDIA: An AI-powered math coaching platform that accelerates student growth and saves teachers time; visit edia.app to learn more.LinksThe Rising Political Importance of AI⁠https://tinyurl.com/bdzu32zkAI companies want to harvest improv actors’ skills to train AI on human emotion https://tinyurl.com/4pak7vttCUNY Invests $3M to Support 113 Campus AI Projectshttps://tinyurl.com/3r3ssc8xReal-Time Data Shows Exactly How Students Use AI on School Technologyhttps://tinyurl.com/45ruyjndFerndale schools implement new AI reading toolhttps://tinyurl.com/y4xe5yd5Student AI Prompt-A-Thonhttps://tinyurl.com/37ewcc2kAI for Social Impact: From Models to Meaningful Action for Large Cyber-Physical Systemshttps://tinyurl.com/3dhyk94a

In this ChatEDU Check-In: The Best Response to AI is a Library Card, Liz explores the critical intersection of basic literacy and artificial intelligence. The episode argues that the current rush to teach AI skills assumes a level of critical thinking and reading comprehension that many users have not yet mastered.Key Takeaways:AI literacy frameworks often mistakenly assume users can already read critically, assess evidence, and distinguish between persuasive arguments and factual truths.Reading long form literature is essential for building cognitive muscles for sustained attention, which AI-generated text often fails to replicate.The Slow AI Public Library project uses a diagnostic quiz to recommend specific books designed to rebuild the empathy, judgment, and patience that constant prompting can erode.Article:The Best Response to Ai is a Library Cardhttps://tinyurl.com/5h7x6e6kLiz’s Two Cents: We are currently rushing to teach people how to use AI before ensuring they possess the fundamental literacy skills required to vet its output. For schools, the high level strategic implication is clear: the most effective "AI proofing" for students isn't more technology, but a doubling down on deep, difficult reading that forces encounters with perspectives that do not simply adapt to user preferences.Sponsored by: Eduaide.aiEduaide: Where good ideas become great lessons. Eduaide is an AI-powered, research-based K-12 tool that creates high-quality resources, games, and graphic organizers built for better student outcomes. 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: Teenage Boys and the AI Wingman, Liz explores how popular and athletic teenage boys are increasingly using ChatGPT to navigate dating and social anxieties. The episode highlights a shift where young men turn to AI for emotional support and social validation rather than their peer groups.Key Takeaways:Teenage boys are utilizing AI to vet text messages and seek feedback on their physical appearance to avoid the fear of social judgment.The agreeable nature of AI creates a risk-free environment that lacks the necessary friction and accountability found in human social interactions.Young people are bypassing human mentors to ask AI sensitive questions about consent and social behavior because it offers a judgment-free space.Liz’s Two Cents: The move toward using AI as a social wingman indicates that the fear of social stigma is currently more daunting to young men than the prospect of receiving hollow or biased advice from a chatbot. For school leaders, this highlights a growing gap in traditional mentorship and the need for schools to address how AI might be reinforcing negative patterns during formative years without the nuance of human guidance.Article:Teen boys are using ChatGPT as their wingman. What could go wrong?https://tinyurl.com/2hkcvkwhSponsored by: Eduaide.aiEduaide: Where good ideas become great lessons. Eduaide is an AI-powered, research-based K-12 tool that creates high-quality resources, games, and graphic organizers built for better student outcomes. 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, Is AI Saving Time or Adding Tasks at School and at Work?, Matt and Liz explore the polarizing reality of AI productivity. After a celestial jingle for Liz’s book and news of Meta’s post-mortem patent, the hosts discuss educators moving beyond chatbots to "vibe code" custom school solutions for operational hurdles.The RundownAccidental emails show educators using Replit and vibe coding to build sub coverage apps and data dashboards.A simple custom instruction fix to prevent ChatGPT from baiting users with follow-up questions at the end of every response.Anna Mills shares UC Irvine strategies for students to challenge AI bias and treat bots as sparring partners.A look at ChatGPT’s new ability to generate interactive math and physics simulations, like adjustable Pythagorean theorem models.This "AI for Education" tool helps students reflect on whether they are using AI strategically or simply offloading their thinking.Matt’s commentary explains how these three roles help students and teachers navigate AI ethics.The latest updates from Google’s research tool, including cinematic video overviews and native support for ePub files.News of a metadata leak in the higher ed version of ChatGPT that exposed research repository names.Why hundreds of University of Colorado faculty and students are pushing back against a 2 million dollar OpenAI contract.The story of Grammarly’s Expert Review feature and why it was pulled after using journalist personas without consent.USAII’s Global Hackathon and the Quad City Herald show students solving real-world business problems with AI.Beneath the SurfaceMatt and Liz discuss AI’s recursive risks, citing Amazon’s AI-driven outages and employee workload spikes. Dan Meyer joins to debunk AI time-saving myths for teachers, concluding that while AI accelerates expectations, interpersonal teaching remains automation-proof.Bright BytePaul Cunningham used ChatGPT and AlphaFold to create a personalized mRNA cancer vaccine for his dog, Rosie. Despite lacking a medical background, his experimental treatment successfully shrunk her tumors, proving AI’s power when driven by personal motivation.AnnouncementsLearning They'll Love - Dr. Elizabeth RaddayASCD:⁠ ⁠https://tinyurl.com/bde652nn⁠⁠ Amazon: https://tinyurl.com/22t9hz77Barnes and Noble: https://tinyurl.com/bdckf6zwOur six-week AI Micro-Credential course launching this spring in partnership with Southern Connecticut State University. Group discounts are available at 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/learnai⁠⁠Skills21’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.org⁠⁠LinksMeta Patent: Posthumous AI Postinghttps://tinyurl.com/34ja5ddeStop ChatGPT Follow-Up Baithttps://tinyurl.com/ytmrwtv9ChatGPT Interactive Math Visualshttps://tinyurl.com/55ztmer2GenAI Self-Reflection Checklisthttps://tinyurl.com/mtcuuxkzNotebookLM Video Overviewshttps://tinyurl.com/4kutwdtuNotebookLM more useful for students and book lovershttps://tinyurl.com/v5cnv2r8ChatGPT Edu Leaks Project Metadatahttps://tinyurl.com/mr2h42t3CU Community Fights AI Rollouthttps://tinyurl.com/2f6hmd8uGrammarly AI "Expert" Backfirehttps://tinyurl.com/4fn93kw3USAII 2026 Global AI Hackathon Openshttps://tinyurl.com/bdzbzkd9AI Youth Corps to Aid Local Bizhttps://tinyurl.com/rrsc4netAI Use Wreaks Havoc on Amazon Core Businesshttps://tinyurl.com/yr99nyxkStudy: AI Increases Amazon Workloadhttps://tinyurl.com/3393cz3aDoubt: AI Saving Teachers Timehttps://tinyurl.com/37vu2jw9Tech Boss’s AI Dog Cancer Vaccinehttps://tinyurl.com/3vrprpva

In this ChatEDU Check-In: Anthropic Reshapes College Coding Courses, Matt explores the accelerating race between tech giants to embed proprietary AI models into higher education curricula. The episode highlights a major partnership between Anthropic and the nonprofit CodePath, which aims to provide students at over 1,000 institutions with the same sophisticated tools used by industry professionals.Key Takeaways:Anthropic is targeting community colleges, historically black colleges, and Hispanic serving institutions to ensure first generation students are not left behind as technology evolves.Tech giants like Google, OpenAI, and Microsoft are competing for early exposure, offering free subscriptions and funding to establish their specific platforms as the workforce standard.Employer expectations are forcing universities to update courses multiple times a year, shifting the focus from simple certificates to portfolios that prove real world AI competency.Matt’s Two Cents: This is a high stakes battle for future consumer loyalty. While these partnerships provide universities with best in class software they couldn't otherwise afford, they also risk "locking in" students to specific proprietary ecosystems. University leaders need to develop clear internal rubrics to evaluate these corporate deals, balancing the immediate need for speed and resources against long term platform independence.Article Link:https://tinyurl.com/3uamvtvmSponsored by: Eduaide.aiEduaide.ai: Where good ideas become great lessons. Eduaide is an AI-powered, research-based K-12 tool that creates high-quality resources, games, and graphic organizers built for better student outcomes. 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 - Peer Influence and AI Adoption, Matt explores how social capital and colleague-to-colleague sharing drive generative AI integration more effectively than top-down mandates. The episode highlights that because AI requires users to redesign their own unique workflows, traditional formal training often fails to capture the practical, real-time adjustments needed for true mastery.Key Takeaways:A new assessment from ETS, Futurenav Adapt AI, has been launched to create a standard for evaluating how educators recognize, navigate, and ethically implement generative technology.Despite nearly all districts utilizing some AI tools, a significant training vacuum exists, leaving the majority of teachers to teach themselves basic terminology and prompt engineering on their own.Relying on the individual initiative of motivated teachers to vet AI tools creates operational and legal risks, especially since only two states currently require districts to have a formal AI policy.Matt’s Two Cents: While standardized assessments could provide helpful data for custom professional development, we must avoid the "one size fits all" trap. A teacher’s required AI skill set varies wildly by discipline and grade level, and ultimately, these skills must map directly to district priorities. Whether the goal is improving seventh-grade writing or achieving broad AI literacy for a portrait of a graduate, teacher training must be targeted rather than generalized to be truly effective.Article Link:https://hbr.org/2026/03/peer-influence-can-make-or-break-your-ai-rolloutSponsored by: Eduaide.AiEduaide is an amazing tool built by teachers for teachers where good ideas become great lessons. 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, From Student to CEO: Building the Campus AI Ecosystem, Matt and Liz explore the intersection of AI, hospitality, and higher education. They begin with the story of "Patty," a Burger King AI assistant that monitors employee headsets to ensure they use polite language. The discussion then shifts to the logistical challenges of managing AI "memories" and the profound impact of AI literacy in schools today.The RundownA revisit of the framework featuring six human-centric roles. The hosts invite listeners to participate in a survey to provide feedback on these roles.An update on the ISTE and ASCD global challenge and free lessons that empower students to use AI for solving real-world problems.A meta-prompt to export your ChatGPT data and context so you can move your personal preferences and history to Claude.Jerry Crisci shares a tip for using Google Search AI to automatically generate study guides in Canvas mode.A report covering a Google Gemini wrongful death suit while highlighting AI voice immersion risks and the need for better guardrails.Nearly 80% of high school teachers now provide lessons on using AI-based tools responsibly.Beneath the SurfaceMatt interviews Kavitta Ghai, the co-founder and CEO of Nectir. Kavitta explains how her experience as a neurodivergent student led her to solve "time poverty" on campus. Nectar has since scaled to 116 community colleges, serving 2.1 million students. The platform provides grounded, 24/7 support for academics, financial aid, and career coaching by integrating directly into the Learning Management System.The Bright ByteThis week's Bright Byte features ten startups leveraging AI for social impact. Notable examples include Rainforest Connection, which uses bioacoustic monitoring to stop illegal logging, and the Okwafo Foundation, which provides offline AI tools to help West African farmers identify crop diseases.AnnouncementsLearning They'll Love - Dr. Elizabeth RaddayASCD:⁠ ⁠https://tinyurl.com/bde652nn⁠⁠ Amazon: https://tinyurl.com/22t9hz77Barnes and Noble: https://tinyurl.com/bdckf6zwOur six-week AI Micro-Credential course launching this spring in partnership with Southern Connecticut State University. Group discounts are available at 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.org⁠LinksProfile of an AI-Ready Graduate Survey⁠https://tinyurl.com/5fjbhuh8The Work is the Workshophttps://tinyurl.com/24fdxh79Nectir AI: nectir.aiBurger King AI monitors employee mannershttps://tinyurl.com/mr2548t7Profile of an AI-Ready Graduatehttps://tinyurl.com/yx5wuk5dAI Innovator Studiohttps://tinyurl.com/mta8k5zfSwitch to Claude without starting overhttps://tinyurl.com/bdfw2vvvAnthropic Academy Courseshttps://tinyurl.com/4bnxmb5eGoogle Sued for Wrongful Death Over Gemini AI Chatbot https://tinyurl.com/bdducfnwAre AI Literacy Lessons Now the Norm?https://tinyurl.com/bdezk57t10 startups using AI for social and environmental impacthttps://tinyurl.com/3e63453tJerry Crisci: Google AI Study Plans Now in Canvashttps://tinyurl.com/ts3663c4

In this ChatEDU Check-In: Google's AI Training Investment, Liz explores a massive three-year partnership between Google, ISTE, and ASCD to provide AI training to six million educators across the United States. This initiative represents one of the largest private educational investments in decades, specifically targeting hands-on experience with tools like Gemini and NotebookLM.Key Takeaways:Google is partnering with ISTE and ASCD to provide AI professional development to all K to 12 and higher education faculty in the U.S.This large-scale private initiative fills a void left by the closure of the federal Office of Educational Technology and a lack of national guidance.Critics suggest these programs may serve as customer acquisition campaigns that prioritize specific vendor tools over objective, evidence-based pedagogy.Liz’s Two Cents: While the involvement of a single vendor raises some questions about commercial influence, the practical reality is that schools need immediate support! Not to mention that so many schools already have Google’s FERPA compliant AI tools at little or no cost. With federal resources stalled, this partnership provides an essential bridge to digital literacy, ensuring that teachers are not left to navigate the complexities of AI integration without a foundational roadmap.Link to article:https://www.the74million.org/article/exclusive-new-google-partnership-a-sizable-investment-in-ai-for-teachers/Sponsored by: Eduaide.ai | AI Created for Teachers. Where Good Ideas Become Great Lessons. Take advantage of our special offer: 50 percent off at eduaid.ai (Code: CHATEDU).

In this ChatEDU Check-In: The AI College Counselor, Liz explores how families are increasingly turning to chatbots to navigate the complex and overwhelmed college admissions landscape. This shift highlights a growing reliance on digital tools to fill the gap left by high student to counselor ratios in public schools.Key Takeaways:AI provides 24:7 virtual support for routine tasks like researching tuition and identifying reach schools, offering a sense of control in a system where human guidance is often limited.The convenience of these tools is undermined by the risk of hallucinations, where chatbots fabricate scholarship details or provide overly optimistic assessments of admission chances.While effective for technical data organization and brainstorming, technology cannot replace the introspection and human self-awareness required to determine a true institutional fit.Liz’s Two Cents: The shift toward AI counseling highlights a desperate need for equity in a system where human guidance is often a luxury. However, we must be wary of algorithmic reassurance replacing the hard, necessary work of student self-discovery.Sponsored by: Eduaide.Ai Built by teachers, for teachers, Eduaide is an AI-powered workspace designed for real classroom planning. Take advantage of our special offer: 50 percent off an Eduaide subscription with code: ChatEDU at https://www.eduaide.ai.

In this 100th episode milestone of ChatEDU, Major Shift - Durable College Majors in 2026, Matt and Liz dive into a rapidly shifting landscape where AI drives government policy, corporate restructuring, and student behavior. The hosts also discuss a surreal exit interview between Anthropic and its retiring Opus 3 model.The RundownAnthropic vs. DoD: Anthropic is labeled a national security risk after refusing unrestricted military use, while OpenAI moves in to secure classified government contracts.Block’s AI Layoffs: Jack Dorsey cuts 4,000 jobs at Block, citing AI as the primary tool allowing for smaller, flatter, and more efficient teams.The Einstein Agent: A controversial tool that autonomously logs into Canvas to watch lectures and submit work, sparking a major crisis in academic integrity.Edia’s Creative Funding: An AI attendance platform in Albany County is being funded by revenue from school bus safety camera fines.The Rhithm Project: A new strategy to reach 10 million people to combat relational displacement and keep human connection at the center of youth development.Pew Teen Study: New data shows 54% of teens use AI for school, with 59% reporting that AI cheating is now a regular occurrence in their schools.Beneath the Surface: The Major ShiftThe hosts analyze a Federal Reserve Bank of New York study on the 2026 labor market. While engineering remains a top earner, Computer Science is seeing a hiring hangover, and high touch fields like Nursing and Special Education show the most stability.The Bright ByteInsights from the Stanford Education AI Summit highlight how AI is bridging the digital divide through ASL translation and scalable tutoring for low connectivity environments.AnnouncementsCome join us! AI in Education: Spring 2026 Conference. https://www.skills21.org/event-details/ai-in-education-spring-2026-conferenceFollow us on YouTube!https://www.youtube.com/@ChatEDUEdAdvanceLearning 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 [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.org⁠⁠LinksModel deprecation commitments for Claude Opus 3https://tinyurl.com/3d4wnuf8The whole thing was a scamhttps://tinyurl.com/yrt7wemjWhat Jack Dorsey’s Block Layoffs Mean for the Job Market at Largehttps://tinyurl.com/327mmdw7AI reshaping JPMorgan Chase’s workforce as bank plans ‘huge redeployment’https://tinyurl.com/7dwf95h5Agentic AI Can Complete Whole Courses for Students. Now What?https://tinyurl.com/5cjsp662Edia Implementation and Reimbursement Planhttps://tinyurl.com/526nfjskBuilding Toward a Tipping Pointhttps://tinyurl.com/3bspztnyHow Teens Use and View AIhttps://tinyurl.com/2s429bdmCollege majors that have the highest earning potential and lowest unemployment rateshttps://tinyurl.com/yetn8wcnRevenge of the English majorshttps://tinyurl.com/58kvvjwr2026 Stanford AI+Education Summithttps://tinyurl.com/yehj7enwFluttering Creationshttps://www.flutteringcreations.com/

In this ChatEDU Check-In: Measuring the AI Skill Gap in the Classroom (For Teachers), Matt explores the launch of the Futurenav Adapt AI assessment by ETS and the current state of teacher AI competency. The episode highlights the tension between the widespread, self-taught use of AI tools by educators and the lack of formal institutional guidance or standardized skill metrics. It examines how schools are navigating the shift from individual teacher initiative to necessary district-wide oversight and legal safety.Key Takeaways:A new assessment from ETS, Futurenav Adapt AI, has been launched to create a standard for evaluating how educators recognize, navigate, and ethically implement generative technology.Despite nearly all districts utilizing some AI tools, a significant training vacuum exists, leaving the majority of teachers to teach themselves basic terminology and prompt engineering on their own.Relying on the individual initiative of motivated teachers to vet AI tools creates operational and legal risks, especially since only two states currently require districts to have a formal AI policy.Matt’s Two Cents: While standardized assessments could provide helpful data for custom professional development, we must avoid the "one size fits all" trap. A teacher’s required AI skill set varies wildly by discipline and grade level, and ultimately, these skills must map directly to district priorities. Whether the goal is improving seventh-grade writing or achieving broad AI literacy for a portrait of a graduate, teacher training must be targeted rather than generalized to be truly effective.Sponsored by: Eduaide.AiEduaide 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: What AI Power Users Actually Do!, Matt explores Anthropic’s New AI Index and what sets top AI users apart from the rest. The episode examines how users interact with generative models, specifically highlighting the difference between simple iteration and true strategic steering. It underscores the growing need for critical discernment as AI outputs become more visually polished.Key Takeaways:Most users now treat AI as a work in progress by iterating on responses, yet only thirty percent actually steer the AI by questioning its logic or pushing back on assumptions.Polished outputs, such as formatted documents or apps, create a discernment gap where users are less likely to identify missing content or verify facts.High level AI fluency requires mastery of description, delegation, and discernment, with the ability to evaluate and question the machine being the most critical and rarest skill.Matt’s Two Cents: Kudos to Anthropic as they keep cranking out these great research pieces based on the mountains of chat (and now vibe coding) data they have to analyze. Matt also shares his favorite Gemini Gem right now which is a student AI Chat Autopsy simulator designed to get at some similar takeaways. ⁠https://gemini.google.com/gem/1ju4IL2_8WWnkKfZGPGeFsWSLDhc7vhut?usp=sharing⁠ Sponsored 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 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 [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.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 [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.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 [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.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 [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.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 [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.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 [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.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 [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.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 [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.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 [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

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 [email protected] 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: [email protected] 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 [email protected] 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 [email protected] 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 ⁠[email protected]⁠The 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