In this news-packed episode, hosts Ray and Dan explore Purdue University's bold new requirement for all graduates to demonstrate AI competency; and the strategic partnerships between Harvey.ai (the specialised system for the legal profession) and universities in Sydney, Oxford and Chicago.

The conversation turns to the "first in the world" move by the University of Manchester to provide Microsoft 365 Copilot to 65,000 students and staff - paying homage to the legacy of Alan Turing.

A highlight of the episode is the deep dive into "vibe coding"— the phenomenon of non-programmers using AI to build applications through iterative prompting rather than manual syntax. They also tackle the "AI bubble," the rise of "work slop," and the surprising research showing that Boomers often have a more accurate understanding of how AI works than Millennials.

Links & Resources:

Purdue University adds 'AI working competency' graduation requirement https://www.purdue.edu/newsroom/2025/Q4/purdue-unveils-comprehensive-ai-strategy-trustees-approve-ai-working-competency-graduation-requirement/

University Law Schools introduce AI partnerships https://www.afr.com/companies/professional-services/sydney-and-uts-law-schools-bow-to-ai-wave-partner-with-harvey-20260119-p5nv49

University of Manchester announces 'world first' AI rollout with Microsoft https://www.manchester.ac.uk/about/news/world-first-ai-partnership-between-the-university-of-manchester-and-microsoft-announced/

"What we are doing about AI at UWA" https://www.uwa.edu.au/news/article/2026/february/what-we-are-doing-about-ai-at-uwa

High school students forced to fight false allegations of AI cheating https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-12-22/ai-detectors-incorrectly-brand-high-school-students-ai-cheats/106138394

New Future of Work Report from Microsoft https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/research/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/New-Future-Of-Work-Report-2025.pdf

The Impact of AI on Work in Higher Education https://www.educause.edu/research/2026/the-impact-of-ai-on-work-in-higher-education

Americans Have Mixed Views of AI – and an Appetite for Regulation https://www.searchlightinstitute.org/research/americans-have-mixed-views-of-ai-and-an-appetite-for-regulation/

And finally....

From the "Do you ever read T&C's" dept https://www.linkedin.com/posts/matthewwemyss_i-logged-into-ai-studio-yesterday-and-i-ran-activity-7411400400177729536-hgPL

AI in Universities: Why Connection, Not Content, is Now King

This was an exciting episode, because we recorded it on campus at the world's newest university - Adelaide University. It officially started on-campus delivery this week, as it finally opened the doors after merging the University of Adelaide and the University of South Australia. Amid the buzz of students arriving for week 1, Eddie Major and I found some time to sit down and talk about how AI is impacting universities. Eddie is the university's AI Learning and Teaching Coordinator and you may not be surprised to learn that we discussed the AI myths of higher education and what being an "AI-first university" means.

Eddie debunks the "AI brain rot" myth, explaining that while the technology is disruptive, it is not the end of the university. Instead, we are moving from an era where "Content is King" to one where "Connection is King." We explore:

• Upstream AI Use: How students are using tools like NotebookLM to synthesise information before they even start an assignment.
• The Soft Skills Surge: Why communication and critical thinking are now more valuable than hard technical skills.
• The AI-First University: What it truly means to embed AI literacy across a global curriculum.

References:

We discussed the research from Hiromu Yakura at the Max Planck Institute about the way that ChatGPT was influencing speech. The paper, called "Empirical evidence of Large Language Model's influence on human spoken communication" is available at this link: https://arxiv.org/abs/2409.01754

Research Update: 8 papers on AI in Education you need to know for 2026 In this episode, Ray and Dan provide a rapid-fire rundown of the most significant research papers hitting the AI in Education space so far in 2026. After a series of news-heavy episodes, the hosts catch up on the data behind synthetic avatars, grading accuracy, and the psychological biases we hold against AI. Key highlights include: Synthetic Lecturers: Exploring stakeholder perspectives on digital twins and the emotional reaction to the term Deepfake in academia. The Grading Gap: Why ChatGPT tends to be more sycophantic and generous with weak work compared to human instructors. The Disclosure Penalty: New findings from 16 experiments showing why humans devalue creative writing the moment they know AI is involved. Prompting Hacks: The "Groundhog Day" method 😂 Why simply repeating your prompt twice can boost accuracy across 70 different AI systems. Tools for Researchers: Insights into Jasper Roe's research checklist and the "Paper Banana" tool for automating scientific diagrams. Links to all the research papers discussed

• Can synthetic avatars replace lecturers? An exploratory international study of higher education stakeholder perceptions| https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s41239-025-00568-4
• Who grades best? Comparing ChatGPT, peer, and instructor evaluations across varying levels of student project quality https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/02602938.2025.2588682?src=
• The Artificial Intelligence Disclosure Penalty: Humans Persistently Devalue AI-Generated Creative Writing https://doi.org/10.1037/xge0001889
• The older "Transparency Dilemma" paper referenced too: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0749597825000172
• Asking generative artificial intelligence the right questions improves writing performance https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666920X25000141?via%3Dihub
• When AI only asks: how question-driven dialogue shapes prewriting in the classroom https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/education/articles/10.3389/feduc.2026.1740044/full
• Prompt Repetition Improves Non-Reasoning LLMs https://arxiv.org/html/2512.14982v1
• How to Use Generative AI in Educational Research https://www.cambridge.org/core/elements/how-to-use-generative-ai-in-educational-research/916142E735B678F86A59240BFE651F5C
• PaperBanana: Automating Academic Illustration for AI Scientists https://dwzhu-pku.github.io/PaperBanana/ https://arxiv.org/abs/2601.23265

Is AI an "efficiency engine" or a "cognitive crutch"? In this episode, Dan and Ray explore the OECD's latest warnings regarding "metacognitive laziness" - the risk of students offloading the thinking process entirely to generative tools. As the OECD Digital Education Outlook 2026 suggests, without pedagogical guardrails, we may be sacrificing long-term learning for short-term performance. The discussion shifts to the UK's aggressive new response: the Department of Education's Safety Standards. These rules explicitly ban "sycophantic" or flattering AI designs, stripping away avatars and "personhood" to ensure AI remains a tool rather than a digital companion. We discuss a NY Times article about AI in schools too, and the global experiments. We also dive into Deakin University's multidisciplinary inquiry, which provides six essential curriculum recommendations for a world of ubiquitous AI. Finally, we highlight the release of Leon Furze's Teaching AI Ethics, a vital new (and free) resource for teachers navigating these complex waters. Key References:

• OECD: Digital Education Outlook 2026
• UK DfE: Generative AI Product Safety Standards for Education (Jan 2026)
• UK DfE: Commitment to AI Tutoring for disadvantaged children
• NY Times: As Schools Embrace A.I. Tools, Sceptics Raise Concerns
• Deakin University's FutureFocus GenAI program
• Free E-Book: Teaching AI Ethics by Leon Furze (teachingaiethics.com)

In this special "flipped" episode, the tables are turned on your usual hosts, Dan Bowen and Ray Fleming. Interviewed by Dr. Michael Hallissy from (and for) the teachnet Ireland podcast, Dan and Ray step into the guest seats to share the "AI in Education" podcast origin story - from its 2019 "skunkworks" beginnings at Microsoft to its current status as an independent voice in the global edtech conversation.

The trio dives deep into how the podcast evolved through the 2022 Generative AI explosion, moving from technical "hoodie" discussions about algorithms to essential human skills like empathy and questioning. They reflect on impactful moments, including the complexities of indigenous data rights and why "AI detectors" are a failing tool for schools.

Beyond the backstory, Dan and Ray discuss the widening AI equity gap and their vision for 2026: a focus on "the doers"—the teachers implementing AI in the classroom today. Whether you're a long-time listener or new to the show, this episode offers a rare, personal look at the mission behind the mics.

We think this episode might be especially interesting to all the new listeners who have joined us over the last 6 months, who might have some questions about where and when the podcast started, and Ray and Dan's background! We want to especially thank Michael for asking us great questions, and Pat Brennan for being the technical & scheduling mastermind to make it happen.

Links & References TeachNet Ireland Podcast: https://teachnet.ie/category/podcasts/

• Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/teachnet-podcasts/id1650615051
• Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4hiz0yCcT7D5qs8J85Fl5K

Research Paper discussed: "Heads I Win, Tails You Lose"

Welcome to our first episode of 2026. In this heavy-hitting season opener, hosts Dan and Ray are joined by Dr. Mark Bassett, Academic Lead for AI at Charles Sturt University and a "superhero" of AI activism. Mark's an ally in our long standing mantra on the podcast, as we know you've got tired of hearing just Dan and Ray say "AI detectors don't work".

Dr. Bassett breaks down his landmark paper, "Heads We Win, Tails You Lose: AI Detectors in Education" which we describe (hopefully) as the final 'silver nail in the coffin' for detection software. We move past the surface-level "they don't work" argument and dive into the legal, ethical, and systemic risks universities face by relying on "black box" algorithms. Mark compares current AI detection to using a deck of tarot cards to determine a student's future - arguing that these tools have no place in a fair academic integrity process.

We also explore the S.E.C.U.R.E. framework, a tool-agnostic approach to integrating AI into education safely. If you're an educator, student, or leader wondering how to move from suspicion to capability-building, this is the blueprint you've been waiting for.

Links

1. The Research Paper: Heads We Win, Tails You Lose: AI Detectors in Education

2. The Framework: The SECURE Framework for AI Integration

3. Find Mark Bassett online via his website and LinkedIn

4. Referenced Study: University of Reading's "Turing Test" paper on AI in Exams

AI in Education's Christmas Special: Hallucinations, Headbands, and Bad Ideas In this end-of-year Christmas special, Ray and Dan squeeze in one final episode to reflect on a whirlwind year in AI and education - with a healthy dose of festive chaos. They unpack the latest AI news, including Australia's National AI Plan, OpenAI's Australian data centre and teacher certification course, major university rollouts of ChatGPT, and global experiments like nationwide AI tools in schools and targeted funding for AI-assisted teaching. But this episode quickly moves beyond policy and platforms into something more fun - and more unsettling! Ray challenges Dan with a "Real or Hallucinated?" quiz featuring AI products that may (or may not) exist, from focus-monitoring headbands and robot teachers to pet translators and laugh-track smart speakers. Along the way, they explore what these products reveal about current AI practice, the risks of anthropomorphising technology, and why education must keep humans firmly at the centre of learning - even as experimentation accelerates. It's a light-hearted but thoughtful way to wrap up 2025, and a reminder that just because AI can do something, doesn't always mean it should. News Items in the episode Tech companies advised to label and 'watermark' AI-generated content https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-12-01/ai-guidance-label-watermark-ai-content/106083786 El Salvador announces national AI program with Grok for Education https://x.ai/news/el-salvador-partnership Hong Kong schools to get HK$500,000 (about AU$100K/ US$65K) each under AI education plan https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3336600/hong-kong-schools-get-hk500000-each-under-hk500-million-ai-education-plan OpenAI to open Australian hosted service https://www.afr.com/technology/openai-becomes-major-tenant-in-7b-data-centre-deal-20251204-p5nkr4 OpenAI ChatGPT for Teachers foundations course https://www.linkedin.com/posts/chatgpt-for-education_new-for-k-12-educators-chatgpt-foundations-activity-7404242317718487042-He9H La Trobe chooses ChatGPT Education https://www.latrobe.edu.au/news/articles/2025/release/openai-collaboration-drives-inclusion,-innovation Australia's Nation AI Plan https://www.industry.gov.au/publications/national-ai-plan

In this special end-of-year episode, Ray and Dan unwrap the biggest moments, ideas, guests, and breakthroughs that shaped AI in education in 2025. From standout tools to unforgettable interviews, they look back at a year defined by rapid change, bold experimentation, and extraordinary people driving meaningful impact.

[If you want to see, rather than just hear, this episode, then come over and join us on YouTube at https://youtu.be/IhGwPPuWA4o - this episode is a visual treat with bonus Dad humour]

They reveal their AI Product of the Year (NotebookLM), the worst offenders in AI hype, and their most loved - and most hated - research papers. And then they revisit the year's most-downloaded episode, celebrate exceptional system-level leadership from Brisbane Catholic Education, and honour powerful student voices from Caitlin and the All Hallows' cohort. The awards extend to professional learning champions Lee Barrett & Prem Radhakrishnan, Indigenous perspectives with Peta-Anne Toohey, and reflective insights from Carlo Iacono on what it means to stay human in an AI-saturated world. Finally, Ray and Dan name their overall winners of 2025 - and map out the essential episodes to revisit over the holidays.

Full Awards list

• AI in Education Product of the Year: Notebook LM
• Research Paper of the Year: "Heads we win, tails you lose: AI Detectors in Education" from Mark A Bassett et al.
• Most downloaded Episode of the Year: "Learning Designers Meet AI" with Minh Huynh & Cory Dal Ponte
• K–12 Leadership & Vision Award: Leigh Williams and team at Brisbane Catholic Education
• Best AI Professional Development Work: Lee Barrett & Prem Radhakrishnan
• Award for "Voices Representing a Billion people": To the students we had in Series 12, especially Caitlin, and Abby, Abby, Miranda, Eloise, Charlotte, Annie
• Most Nerve-Wracking Interview / Indigenous Voice Award: Peta-Anne Toohey
• Making AI Human Award: Carlo Iacono
• Researcher of the Year: Dr Anna Denejkina

Runners Up People not on the podcast this year, but who we feel have been influential in the AI in Education community

• Community Leaders in AI & Education: Simone Kirsch & Julianne Peloche; Sarah Ratner & the A-I-E-O-U team
• Education Leader Runner-Up of the Year: Jason Lodge

And finally, Winner of Winners

Dan's pick: Leigh Williams from Brisbane Catholic Education

Ray's pick: Students in general

This week delivered one of the biggest waves of AI news in recent memory - and Dan and Ray unpack what it all means for schools, universities and vocational education. From Microsoft's upcoming Copilot upgrades to Google's jaw-dropping Gemini 3 and Nano Banana Pro image model, the landscape for teachers shifted fast. They explore how these tools are already reshaping lesson design, image generation, student support and academic workflows - and why NotebookLM might quietly be the most important education tool Google has ever released.

They also break down newly released case studies from the Australian Industry Group, discuss Claude's expansion through Azure, and look at how sectors like health, logistics and vocational training are adopting AI at speed.

In the second half, the episode dives into three significant peer-reviewed research papers - including new evidence of gender bias in AI explanations, emerging AI-pedagogy frameworks, and fresh insights into how students actually use (and feel about) AI in their studies.

News Microsoft

• Microsoft rolling more into the free version of Microsoft 365 Copilot Chat https://www.theverge.com/news/822789/microsoft-copilot-chat-outlook-word-excel-powerpoint
• Microsoft and NVIDIA invest $15 billion in Anthropic - and Anthropic agree to buy $30B of Microsoft's Azure https://www.anthropic.com/news/microsoft-nvidia-anthropic-announce-strategic-partnerships

Google

• Useful review of Gemini 3 by Ethan Mollick https://www.oneusefulthing.org/p/three-years-from-gpt-3-to-gemini
• Examples of the infographics we created with Google's NotebookLM can be found on these two links: The podcast episode infographic from the Aaron Driver, of UNE, interview https://www.linkedin.com/posts/ai-in-education-podcast_aiineducation-notebooklm-podcast-activity-7398861734071083008-08GD The podcast series infographic from Series 14 "the Humans of AI" https://www.linkedin.com/posts/rayfleming_aiineducation-podcast-notebooklm-activity-7398515648089468928-vOUS

• NotebookLM announcements https://x.com/notebooklm/status/1989078069454270649?s=46&t=p57lLRpTCXGNBiwhIjsl7Q

• Google announce new Gemini certifications for education https://blog.google/outreach-initiatives/education/gemini-certifications-education/

Cogniti

• 29 teachers sharing their stories about using AI with students https://cogniti.ai/2025-cogniti-mini-symposium-resources/

Anthropic

• Anthropic partners with Rwandan Government and ALX to bring AI education to hundreds of thousands of learners across Africa https://www.anthropic.com/news/rwandan-government-partnership-ai-education
• The London School of Economics has provided all students with access to Claude for Education https://www.lse.ac.uk/news/latest-news-from-lse/d-april/lse-partners-with-anthropic-to-shape-the-future-of-ai-in-education

OpenAI

• OpenAI announce "ChatGPT for teachers" for US school teachers - and makes it free until the middle of 2027 https://openai.com/index/chatgpt-for-teachers/ https://help.openai.com/en/articles/12844995-chatgpt-for-teachers
• First ChatGPT Edu deployment in Australian Vocational Education https://connectweb.com.au/news.aspx?id=1038171&headline=nexted-launches-australias-first-chatgpt-edu-deployment-in-vocational-education

Australian Industry Group

• Report: AI positive for companies, their people and Australian industry https://www.australianindustrygroup.com.au/news/reports/2025/artificial-intelligence-positive-for-companies-their-people-and-australian-industry/

Research Gender equity in GenAI science explanations https://www.ase.org.uk/resources/school-science-review/issue-395/gender-equity-in-genai-science-explanations https://www.linkedin.com/posts/victoriamhedlund_biasaware-aiineducation-genderbias-activity-7394637681978212352-1UUB

• Bonus research mentioned: Sexist textbooks: Automated analysis of gender bias in 1,255 books from 34 countrieshttps://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11463758/

A dialogic theoretical foundation for integrating generative AI into pedagogical design https://bera-journals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/bjet.70026 Time, emotions and moral judgements: how university students position GenAI within their study https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/07294360.2025.2580616

In this episode, Ray sits down with Aaron Driver, Director of LabNext70 at the University of New England (UNE), a regional Australian university making one of the boldest moves in higher education: giving every staff member and every student access to a full enterprise AI platform.

Aaron shares how UNE has built Madgwick, its white-labelled version of the SIMTheory AI platform, and why the university chose to go beyond standard tools like Copilot or ChatGPT for Education. With multi-model access, MCP connectors, and soon agentic capabilities, UNE staff have already created more than 3,000 AI assistants and reached an extraordinary 85% daily usage rate.

The conversation dives into UNE's four big reasons for giving AI to all students - safety, job readiness, equity, and privacy - and how this move positions graduates for a job market where AI capability is no longer optional.

Aaron also lifts the curtain on UNE's rapid cultural transformation, their sector-leading AI literacy programs, and the regional impact they hope to create by becoming Australia's most AI-enabled university.

A fascinating look at a university rewriting the rulebook in real time.

Bonus Links

Aaron mentioned the SIMTheory Academy that his team runs, and recommended the free AI Quick Wins course for a good overview of what SIM Theory can do