In this episode of ChatEDU (What are we protecting? AI, learning, and the myth of the good old days), Matt and Jonathan return to the ChatEDU studio while Liz globe-trots her way to ASCD authorship, to tackle two big stories shaping the AI-in-education conversation. First, they dive into NASA’s spring guidance warning that generative AI is too unreliable for mission-critical applications, and unpack what that means for education, ethics, and expectations. Then, they go beneath the surface with a new article from Jonathan Costa exploring G.K. Chesterton’s “fence” and what it reveals about our assumptions around reading, writing, and what students really need to know. From dog impressions to deep epistemology, this episode covers serious ground.

Story 1: NASA’s Take on Generative AI

In a springtime memo to chief information officers, NASA came out strong: generative AI is not to be used for critical research or safety work. Why? Hallucinations, poor data quality, and instruction ignoring are still too common. Matt and Jonathan explore the implications of this position and why context matters; what’s a dealbreaker in rocket science might be a minor annoyance in dinner recipes. They also do a dramatic reading of a fictional “AI performance review” pulled from a CIO.com op-ed to highlight how strange our current AI tolerance levels really are.

Beneath the Surface: Chesterton’s Fence and the Myth of the Good Old Days

Jonathan shares his new piece on Chesterton’s Fence, a metaphor for not tearing down long-standing traditions unless you understand why they exist. He and Matt explore how this metaphor applies to the future of literacy, learning, and school design in an AI-powered world. Does reading still matter if you can generate a podcast from any text? Is decoding the same as thinking? They examine writing, world languages, engineering fluency, and post-literate futures, while offering practical insights for superintendents navigating change. It’s a smart, provocative conversation about learning in the age of acceleration.

Bright Byte: Stanford’s BRP Discovery

This week’s Bright Byte spotlights a health tech breakthrough from Stanford Medicine. Using a peptide-predicting AI model, researchers identified BRP, a naturally occurring amino acid that reduces appetite and body weight in animal studies with fewer side effects than Ozempic. The model analyzed 20,000 protein-coding genes to find active peptides, a task too complex for traditional lab methods. It’s another example of how AI can support high-impact research and deliver real-world benefits in health and medicine.

Announcements

Summer Micro-Credential Cohort is Open

Learn more and register at: skills21.org/ai/micro

Referenced Articles and Resources

Wendy Costa's awesome photography websitehttps://www.alternaterealityphotos.com/

NASA’s Generative AI Caution

https://www.computerworld.com/article/3951046/nasa-finds-generative-ai-cant-be-trusted.html#:~:text=The%20NASA%20report%20found%20that,systems%20that%20create%20unacceptable%20risk.

Stanford’s AI Discovery of BRP

https://med.stanford.edu/news/all-news/2025/03/ozempic-rival.html#:~:text=Naturally%20occurring%20molecule%20rivals%20Ozempic%20in%20weight%20loss%2C%20sidesteps%20side%20effects&text=The%2012%2Damino%2Dacid%20BRP,causing%20nausea%20or%20food%20aversion.

Sponsor

This episode is sponsored by the National Center for Next Generation Manufacturing, supporting AI-powered innovation and workforce readiness.

In this episode of ChatEDU (Screens, Hallucinations, and Steak Sauce), Matt and Liz return from a cross-country swing through Wyoming and Oregon to tackle two big stories shaping the AI-in-education conversation. First, they explore Sam Altman’s generational breakdown of how people use ChatGPT and what Gen Z’s habits reveal about the skills schools value. Then they go Beneath the Surface with a fiery New York Times op-ed from Jessica Grose that says AI is destroying critical thinking in K–12. With nuanced pushback, classroom strategies, and a little steak sauce on the side, this one is loaded.

Story 1: Altman’s Take on Gen Z and AI

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman says Gen Z isn’t just using AI, they’re building their lives around it. While older adults treat ChatGPT like a smarter search engine, students aged 18 to 24 are using it to manage decisions, schoolwork, and even relationships. Matt and Liz connect these patterns to Portrait of a Graduate (POG) skills like self-direction, communication, and lifelong learning. Instead of viewing AI as a shortcut, they argue, educators should see it as a tool students are using to build real-world competencies.

Beneath the Surface: Will AI Destroy Critical Thinking?

Jessica Grose’s recent New York Times opinion piece warns that AI is eroding student trust, literacy, and higher-order thinking. Matt and Liz agree with several points, including the risks of hallucinations and the need for transparency. But they push back on the article’s framing. Using examples like durable assessments, student voice, and classroom prompt audits, they argue that AI doesn’t have to replace thinking.

Bright Byte: OpenAI to Z Challenge

This week’s Bright Byte highlights OpenAI’s new A to Z Challenge, which blends archaeology and AI. Participants are invited to uncover lost Amazonian civilizations using GPT-4.1, satellite imagery, and indigenous records. Finalists will present their findings to experts, with a $250,000 prize and a chance to join real fieldwork. It’s a powerful example of how AI can support global exploration and learning.

Announcements

Summer Micro-Credential Cohort is Open

Learn more and register at: skills21.org/ai/micro

Links and Sponsorship

Referenced Articles and Resources

OpenAI usage by age group — Business Insider

https://www.businessinsider.com/sam-altman-people-use-chatgpt-differently-depending-age-2025-5

AI Will Destroy Critical Thinking in K–12 — Jessica Grose, New York Times

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/05/14/opinion/trump-ai-elementary.html

AI Hallucinations Are Getting Worse — New Scientist

https://www.newscientist.com/article/2479545-ai-hallucinations-are-getting-worse-and-theyre-here-to-stay/

AI Brown-Nosing Is Becoming a Huge Problem — Futurism

https://www.yahoo.com/news/ai-brown-nosing-becoming-huge-120041209.html

Citation bias in LLMs — arXiv

https://arxiv.org/abs/2504.02767

Anthropic court filing — Reuters

https://www.reuters.com/legal/litigation/anthropic-expert-accused-using-ai-fabricated-source-copyright-case-2025-05-13/

DeepMind’s Demis Hassabis at Cambridge — Business Insider

https://www.businessinsider.com/google-deepmind-ceo-advice-college-students-ai-change-2025-5

SAMR model and durable assessment prompts — skills21.org/prompts

Sponsor

This episode is sponsored by the National Center for Next Generation Manufacturing, supporting AI-powered innovation and workforce readiness. Learn more at: nextgenmfg.org

In this episode of ChatEDU (AI... But for Who?), Matt sits down with guest co-host and longtime friend Dan Noyes to examine the overlooked side of the AI boom: who it benefits, who it leaves behind, and what equity really means in the age of intelligent machines. With Liz traveling for work, Dan joins the pod to share his experience as a digital inclusion leader, bringing both humor and hard truths to the mic.

In the News: AI at McKinsey, Bain, and BCG

Matt and Dan unpack an April article from The Ken that reveals how the consulting giants are reshaping their business models around AI. While revenue is growing quickly, with AI-related work now accounting for up to 40 percent of McKinsey’s services and nearly 20 percent at BCG, the tools are also straining workplace dynamics. Younger consultants are pushed to deliver results at unrealistic speeds, while senior partners treat AI as a silver bullet. Dan reflects on how these tensions mirror broader challenges around AI expectations, labor, and the value of human insight.

Beneath the Surface: Digital Equity in a New Tech Era

Dan walks listeners through his decades long journey at the intersection of education, technology, and access. From his early work at Boston’s Lilla Frederick School to leading Tech Goes Home, he explores how digital equity involves more than just hardware. It's about broadband, skills, and sustained advocacy. With AI adoption accelerating, Dan argues that existing inequities are deepening. He calls for AI informed by local voices, designed with empathy, and distributed with intention.

Bright Byte: AI Gives Voice to the Voiceless

Matt and Dan highlight a breakthrough from UC Berkeley and UCSF, where researchers developed a brain-to-speech neuroprosthesis that restores real-time communication for people with paralysis. The system significantly reduces lag time and can reproduce a user's voice, offering a compelling example of AI’s potential to support human connection and autonomy.

Related Links:

The Ken – “How AI is Creating a Rift at McKinsey, Bain and BCG”

https://the-ken.com/story/bcg-and-mckinsey-sell-speed-as-ai-shakes-up-consulting-so-why-arent-consultants-buying-it/

Coded Bias – Documentary by Joy

Buolamwinihttps://www.pbs.org/independentlens/documentaries/coded-bias/

Tech Goes Homehttps:

//www.techgoeshome.orgAI and K-12

Micro-Credentialhttps:

//www.skills21.org/ai/micro

Nature Neuroscience Article (Brain-to-Speech)

https://engineering.berkeley.edu/news/2025/03/brain-to-voice-neuroprosthesis-restores-naturalistic-speech/#:~:text=Marking%20a%20 breakthrough%20in%20the,for%20people%20with%20severe%20paralysis.

Have a question or comment?

Email Matt and Liz at [email protected]

Don’t forget to rate, review, and subscribe to ChatEDU on your favorite podcast platform.

This episode of ChatEDU is sponsored by the National Center for Next Generation Manufacturing.

Learn more at: https://www.nextgenmfg.org

In this episode of ChatEDU (Scroll State vs. Flow State: The Battle for Student Attention), Matt and Liz explore the growing tension between distraction and deep learning in the age of AI. They kick things off with a rapid-fire roundup of AI safety updates affecting students, then turn to Israel’s bold bet on AI avatars in education. Finally, they go Beneath the Surface with a provocative Time Magazine piece by “CatGPT” that asks whether AI is the scapegoat—or the solution—for our fraying attention spans.

Story 1 – AI and Student Safety RoundupCommon Sense Media calls out social AI companions like Character.ai and Replika as “unacceptable risks” for teens, citing emotional manipulation and access to explicit content. Meanwhile, Congress passes the bipartisan “Take It Down Act” to combat deepfake abuse. Matt and Liz dig into what it all means for student well-being, school policy, and how teachers can keep pace with an evolving risk landscape.

Story 2 – Israel’s AI Avatar RevolutionIsrael is piloting a high-profile program using AI avatars as virtual tutors and Harvard is in the mix as an academic partner. The avatars promise one-on-one support and academic coaching with a human-like interface.  Matt and Liz debate whether avatars are the future of personalized learning or just flashy distractions—and what kinds of avatars students might actually want to learn from.

Beneath the Surface – In a standout opinion piece for Time, Catherine Goetz (aka “CatGPT”) argues that AI isn’t killing learning, it’s exposing our fractured attention spans. Through personal reflection and student interviews, Goetz paints a nuanced picture: students aren’t lazy, they’re overloaded and conditioned for quick dopamine hits. Matt and Liz unpack her central claim that AI can actually restore flow state and deep learning if used well. From critical thinking breakdowns to the promise of AI as a coach, it’s a sharp and timely lens on a familiar debate.

Bright Byte – AI-Enhanced Lung SurgeryThis week’s AI Bright Byte highlights a new system that turns CT scans into 3D lung models, improving surgical accuracy and cutting pre-op time. One more way AI is quietly saving lives behind the scenes.

Announcements:

Summer Micro-Credential Cohort is Open - skills21.org/ai/micro

Reddit persuasion studyCoverage via Engadget/Yahoo News: https://tech.yahoo.com/articles/researchers-secretly-experimented-reddit-users-194328083.html?guccounter=1

New California Bill (SB 243) on AI chatbot regulationOpinion piece in The Hill:https://thehill.com/opinion/technology/5267744-ai-companions-mental-health/

Google Gemini access for under 13 via Family LinkArticle:https://9to5google.com/2025/04/28/gemini-app-kids/

AI use by kids for learning - Business InsiderOp-ed by Tiffany Ng:https://www.businessinsider.com/teaching-kids-use-ai-chatgpt-responsibly-learn-2025-5

Congressional passage of the Take It Down ActAssociated Pressreport:https://apnews.com/article/take-it-down-deepfake-trump-melania-first-amendment-741a6e525e81e5e3d8843aac20de8615

AI avatars in Israeli educationYnet News: https://www.ynetnews.com/business/article/skhub3rygx

Time Magazine opinion piece by Katherine Gehl (Cat GPT)https://time.com/7276807/why-students-using-ai-avoid-learning/

AI Trust Chrome extension for classroom AI transparencyInfo:https://www.lbusd.org/resources/news-archive/individual-news-posts/~board/news/post/lbusd-introduces-ai-trust-you

Nature study on AI-driven 3D lung reconstructionFull paper: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-025-59200-8

This episode is proudly sponsored by:

The National Center for Next Generation Manufacturing Learn more about their work and support for AI-driven education innovation at: https://nextgenmfg.org

As educators convene for the EdAdvance Spring AI Conference, this episode is sponsored by Kiddom, the AI-powered curriculum platform helping teachers save time and improve outcomes with high-quality instructional materials and human in the loop tools.

In this episode of ChatEDU (AI for All: A National Plan to Teach America’s Youth), Matt and Liz open with a deep dive into lesson design bias, unpack a new wave of AI agents in higher ed, and explore the implications of a bold new executive order on AI literacy in U.S. schools.

Story 1 – Bias in the Bot: Lesson Plans That Miss the Mark A recent study finds that AI-generated lesson plans often reinforce outdated, teacher-centered models, relying heavily on worksheets with little room for student agency or collaboration. Matt and Liz look at why this happens and how better prompts (like those from Skills21’s own libraries) can help educators reclaim the power of these tools.

Story 2 – Agents in Admissions: AI Goes to CollegeAt ASU+GSV, Element451 demoed “agentic AI,” a tool designed to guide prospective students through visits, applications, and financial aid. But is higher ed ready for autonomous AI helpers? A recent test at Carnegie Mellon, where bots failed to run a simulated business, suggests we still have a long way to go.

Beneath the Surface – A Presidential Push for AI LiteracyOn April 23, the Trump administration signed an executive order promoting nationwide AI literacy across K–12. From dual enrollment pathways to a new White House task force, the plan is ambitious. Matt and Liz explore what it could mean for schools and how Skills21’s new student-facing literacy initiative fits right in.

Bright Byte – AI vs. Wildlife TraffickingThe EcoSolve initiative is using AI to monitor and flag illegal animal trade across six countries. It’s working and showing how generative AI can serve global environmental goals when used with purpose and precision.

Related Links

Study: Pedagogical Bias in AI-Powered Educational Tools

https://socialinnovationsjournal.com/index.php/sij/article/view/10004/8134 

Element451 Agentic AI Demo

https://element451.com/

Carnegie Mellon Agent Simulation – Business Insider

https://www.businessinsider.com/ai-agents-study-company-run-by-ai-disaster-replace-jobs-2025-4

Executive Order on AI Literacy – EdSurge

https://www.edsurge.com/news/2025-04-24-trump-executive-order-calls-for-artificial-intelligence-to-be-taught-in-schools

Skills21 AI Prompt Library

 https://www.skills21.org/prompts

TeachAI – National AI Literacy

Frameworkhttps://www.teachai.org/ailiteracy

EcoSolve Wildlife Monitoring – Global

Initiativehttps://www.acamstoday.org/eco-solve-using-ai-to-disrupt-global-wildlife-trafficking/

Sponsors

This episode is sponsored by Kiddom, helping educators bring powerful curriculum and responsible AI into the classroom. Download their AI & Assessment white paper at: https://go.kiddom.co/chatEDU

Ongoing support for ChatEDU is provided by the National Center for Next Generation Manufacturing. Learn more at: https://www.nextgenmfg.org

Have a question or comment?

Email Matt and Liz at: [email protected] don’t forget to rate, review, and subscribe to ChatEDU on your favorite podcast platform.

In this episode of ChatEDU (Beyond the Bot – When a High Schooler Rewrites NASA’s Playbook), Matt and Liz explore AI’s growing role in schools, cities, and culture. From prompt politeness and energy costs to anime selfies and a Google AI giveaway, AI is everywhere. They wrap with a teen whose AI research is changing how we see space.

Story 1 – Please, Thank You, and Power Drain

Matt and Liz discuss whether courtesy helps or hurts, citing a Waseda study linking impolite prompts to more bias and less accuracy. They also spotlight SaveTheAI.ai, a satirical campaign urging energy conservation for AI as a funny but thoughtful nudge toward sustainability.

Story 2 – Google’s Higher Ed Land Grab

Google now gives U.S. students free access to Gemini Advanced (NotebookLM, Gemini Pro 1.5, and full Workspace tools_ through Spring 2026. Matt and Liz call it a strategic move to dominate student AI use. They ask: is this about access or dependency? With built-in study tools and AI analysis, schoolwork is shifting. As Matt says, it’s nonstop content but less reflection.

Story 3 – AI Cosplay Goes Viral

OpenAI’s growth came from anime, not upgrades. Ghibli-style selfies let users turn photos into Studio Ghibli characters via GPT-4. Matt and Liz explore what this says about creative AI use. They also touch on copyright law and how AI art is reshaping ideas of originality. Liz demos it live with fun results.

Story 4 – Your AI Image Library Is Here

ChatGPT’s new image library lets users save, organize, and edit visuals. It improves how students and teachers use AI-generated media in class. Liz shares how she used it for Skills21’s College and Career Accelerator, making visuals about kindness. It hints at a more collaborative AI future.

Story 5 – When Helpful Bots Hallucinate

Cursor, an AI coding tool, drew backlash when its support bot “Sam” invented a device policy. It was a hallucination. The company refunded users and now labels AI responses. Matt and Liz ask: are bots ready for schools? When AI slips, the fallout can be serious.

Beneath the Surface – A Teen’s AI Discovery Stuns NASA

Teen Mateo Paz used AI to find 1.5 million hidden space objects in NASA’s NEOWISE archive. With Caltech’s Davey Kirkpatrick, he built a model tracking brightness to classify stars and quasars. His solo paper in The Astronomical Journal shows the power of student-led science. This isn’t AI for homework, it’s discovery!

Bright Byte – AI for the Visually Impaired

Researchers at Shanghai Jiao Tong University created a wearable for the blind using AI and haptics. It beats canes by detecting obstacles in real time. It’s a reminder that AI boosts mobility and not just productivity.

Related Links

• The Carbon Cost of Being Polite to AI

  https://www.techradar.com/computing/artificial-intelligence/chatgpt-spends-tens-of-millions-of-dollars-on-people-playing-please-and-thank-you-but-sam-altman-says-its-worth-it
  

  Save the AI Satire Campaign

• https://savethe.ai/

  
  

  Google Student Gemini Giveaway

  https://blog.google/products/gemini/google-one-ai-premium-students-free/

  
  

  Studio Ghibli and AI Style Law

  https://siliconangle.com/2025/04/13/openai-doubles-users-800m-1b-thanks-ghibli-style-image-generation/

  
  

  Mateo Paz Research

  https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.3847/1538-3881/ad7fe6

  
  

  OpenAI Image Library Overview

  https://www.tomsguide.com/ai/openai-just-added-an-image-library-to-chatgpt-heres-why-its-a-game-changer

  
  

  AI for the Blind Navigation System

  https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-025-01214-9

  
  Have a question or comment? Email Matt and Liz at [email protected]

Help Us Grow

Like what you hear? Rate and review ChatEDU on your favorite podcast platform. Share with a friend, colleague, or educator curious about the future of AI in learning. And don’t forget to follow us on TikTok: @ChatEDUPodcast

This episode of ChatEDU is sponsored by the National Center for Next Generation Manufacturing. Learn more at: https://www.nextgenmfg.org

In this episode of ChatEDU (Dear AI – Why We’re All Talking to Robots in 2025), Matt reunites with Liz after her trip to Ireland to unpack a shift happening in real time— (em dash on purpose) AI is moving beyond utility and entering emotional, educational, and existential territory. From new research tools that rethink how we teach synthesis, to universities baking AI into their business programs, to Reddit users turning to bots for therapy—(2nd em dash) this episode dives into how and why we’re not just using AI, we’re talking to it. And be sure to check out the intro about Hyodols and the MUCH used em dash.

Story 1 – Deep Research, Reimagined

Google’s new Deep Research feature in Gemini transforms the AI from summarizer to synthesizer. Matt and Liz discuss how this impacts student learning, dissertation writing, and the future of teaching research in K–12 and higher ed. They also look at how equity comes into play when AI can scaffold complex thinking for every learner.

Story 2 – AI in the Wild at American University

American University’s School of Business launches an Institute for Applied AI, shifting from AI-avoidance to AI fluency. Students are using AI to design marketing campaigns, assess risk, and model financial statements— (em dash) no coding required. Their tool of choice? Perplexity Pro, now being piloted in higher ed as a full-stack platform.

Beneath the Surface – The Emotional Side of AI

A new Harvard Business Review analysis of Reddit and Quora threads shows that 2025’s top AI use cases aren’t just about speed—(em dash) they’re about support. Users are turning to AI for therapy, motivation, and life planning. Matt and Liz explore what this means for education, memory, privacy, and how we guide students through emotionally intelligent AI use.

Bright Byte – AI and the Climate

AI’s energy use is real—(em dash) but so is its potential to help. This week’s Bright Byte features insights from The Economist on how AI is reducing emissions, optimizing grids, forecasting renewable power, and identifying methane leaks. Thoughtful deployment could turn AI into an ally in climate resilience.

Related Links

Gemini Deep Research

https://www.tomsguide.com/ai/google-just-gave-gemini-a-major-research-upgrade-and-its-already-beating-the-competition

Harvard Business Review: "How People Are Really Using Gen AI in 2025"-

https://hbr.org/2025/04/how-people-are-really-using-gen-ai-in-2025

OpenAI’s Memory Update (ARS Technica)-

https://arstechnica.com/ai/2025/04/chatgpt-can-now-remember-and-reference-all-your-previous-chats/

Axios: American University’s AI Business Institute-

https://www.axios.com/2025/04/03/generative-ai-business-school-students

Hyodol: AI Care Companion for Seniors-

https://en.hyodol.com/

Skills21 AI Micro-Credential-

https://www.skills21.org/pip-platform

The tasks college students are using Claude AI for most, according to Anthropic-

https://www.zdnet.com/article/the-tasks-college-students-are-using-claude-ai-for-most-according-to-anthropic/

The Economist: How AI could help the climate-

https://www.economist.com/leaders/2025/04/10/how-ai-could-help-the-climate

Have a question or comment?

Email Matt and Liz at [email protected]

Don’t forget to rate, review, and subscribe to ChatEDU on your favorite podcast platform.

This episode of ChatEDU is sponsored by the National Center for Next Generation Manufacturing. Learn more at: https://www.nextgenmfg.org

Overview

In this episode of ChatEDU (Murder, She Prompted: High School English with AI Twists), Matt sits down with guest co-host Joanne Mumley to explore the unexpected and creative ways AI is reshaping the high school English classroom. With Liz off knitting in Ireland, Joanne steps in to share her powerful blend of innovation, curiosity, and care as both a teacher and department head in Connecticut.

In the News: Character AI and the Rise of AI Companionship Among Teens

Matt and Joanne discuss a recent Rithm Project article, Why I Am Talking to a TV Show Character About the Nature of Life, which sheds light on teen use of Character.AI. Despite Character.AI's soaring popularity—now ranked third among AI tools—questions about emotional dependency, mental health, and bot overreach abound. Joanne shares her own unnerving experience chatting with a Kafka bot and reflects on how students are aware of the ethical gray areas even if they don’t always speak openly about it. They also explore new research from Dartmouth on AI therapy bots like Therabot and reflect on whether AI can provide real emotional support or just well-intentioned mimicry.

Beneath the Surface: From College Policy Sleuthing to Literary RPGs—AI in the Classroom

Joanne walks us through her innovative, hands-on approach to student-facing AI in her high school English classes:

- She begins with a college policy investigation where seniors research how their prospective schools are handling AI—discovering everything from detailed repositories to a total lack of guidance.

- She dives into project-based learning with interactive museum exhibits inspired by The Nickel Boys, using SchoolAI to simulate feedback from a fictional museum director.

- She highlights her shift toward helping students build confidence in their own voices as a strategy to reduce misuse of AI. Through creative exercises like an AI-assisted Julius Caesar football drama and a Handmaid’s Tale-inspired murder mystery, she crafts immersive, tech-informed experiences that are still rooted in classroom relationships and authentic expression.

Throughout, Joanne emphasizes balance—tech when it helps, no-tech when it matters, and always human in the foreground.

Bright Byte: AI for Earthquake Recovery in Myanmar

In this week’s Bright Byte, Matt shares a compelling story about how Microsoft’s AI for Good Lab and Planet Labs used AI-customized satellite imagery to help first responders assess damage from a 7.7 earthquake in Myanmar. By identifying over 2,000 impacted buildings, the AI-powered effort helped relief agencies like the Red Cross prioritize aid—offering a concrete example of AI doing good at scale.

Related Links:

Why I Am Talking to a TV Show Character About the Nature of Life – Rhythm Project on Medium:

https://medium.com/@info_42369/why-am-i-talking-to-a-tv-show-character-about-the-nature-of-life-d91898da420c

MIT Tech Review on Therabot:

https://www.technologyreview.com/2025/03/28/1114001/the-first-trial-of-generative-ai-therapy-shows-it-might-help-with-depression/

Stanford’s AI Policy Hub:

https://ai.stanford.edu

The Anxious Generation (book referenced in discussion):

https://www.anxiousgeneration.com

MLA Guidance on Citing AI:

https://style.mla.org/citing-generative-ai/

Skills21 PIP Curriculum:

https://skills21.org/pip

Have a question or comment? Email Matt and Liz at [email protected]’t forget to rate, review, and subscribe to ChatEDU on your favorite podcast platform.

This episode of ChatEDU is sponsored by the National Center for Next Generation Manufacturing.

Learn more at: https://www.nextgenmfg.org

Overview:

In this episode of ChatEDU (Flipped Out: How AI Might Save the Flipped Classroom), Matt and Liz explore three views of AI intelligence, spotlight student-led projects using AI in real-world STEM challenges, and revisit the flipped classroom model through the lens of AI support. Plus, a new AI weather tool could make forecasting more accessible than ever.

In the News: Three Views on AI Intelligence

A recent meme study found AI consistently created humorous, shareable content—but lacked standout originality. Meanwhile, GPT-4.5 produced a metafictional short story about AI and grief with surprising emotional depth. In contrast, Anthropic’s Claude struggled to play Pokémon, repeatedly getting stuck and failing to learn from mistakes. Together, the stories highlight AI’s jagged abilities: poetic in one context, directionless in another.

AI in the Wild: Samsung’s Student Innovators

This year’s Samsung Solve for Tomorrow competition saw 60% of finalists use AI to solve real-world problems. Highlights include:

- Arkansas: AI-powered oral cancer screening for rural dental gaps

These students are building the skills—creativity, empathy, tech fluency—highlighted in the World Economic Forum’s future jobs report.

Beneath the Surface: Can AI Save the Flipped Classroom?

Student Megan Adelman argues the flipped classroom often leaves learners behind when they can’t engage with content on their own. Matt and Liz explore how AI might help:

- AI tutors like Cogniti can serve as just-in-time help before class

- Harvard research showed AI boosted engagement and performance

Bright Byte: Forecasting for All

Aardvark Weather, a new AI model from Cambridge and Microsoft, brings hyperlocal forecasts to any desktop computer—without the need for expensive supercomputers. It opens up accurate, fast forecasting for underserved areas and developing regions.

Our Episode Sponsor

This episode of ChatEDU is sponsored by the National Center for Next Generation Manufacturing. Learn more at: https://www.nextgenmfg.org

Links Referenced in This Episode

Meme Study via Ethan

Mollickhttps://www.linkedin.com/posts/emollick_i-regret-to-announce-that-the-meme-turing-activity-7307199008630816769-uHdp?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_android&rcm=ACoAAAE6BUsBQZUD9qMfCOj_0jiGbY_HNE-ZgaU

ChatGPT 4.5 Metafiction Story – TechRadar

https://www.techradar.com/computing/artificial-intelligence/chatgpt-just-wrote-the-most-beautiful-short-story-and-i-wonder-what-im-even-doing-here

Claude & Pokémon – Ars Technica

https://arstechnica.com/ai/2025/03/why-anthropics-claude-still-hasnt-beaten-pokemon/#:~:text=But%20despite%20recent%20advances%20in,at%20all%2C%E2%80%9D%20he%20said.

Samsung Solve for Tomorrow Finalists – BusinessWire

https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250318875587/en/Samsung-Names-10-National-Finalists-in-Solve-for-Tomorrow-STEM-Competition-for-Community-Changing-Ideas-with-AI-3D-Printing-IoT-Robotics

Harvard’s Generative AI in Student Projects

https://creativecomputing.gse.harvard.edu/genai/GenAI_StudentProjects_Dec2024.pdf

Aardvark Weather – The Guardian

https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2025/mar/20/ai-aardvark-weather-prediction-forecasting-artificial-intelligence#:~:text=A%20single%20researcher%20with%20a,computing%20power%20than%20conventional%20systems.

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Overview:

In this episode of ChatEDU ("Spring Tool Time with Abbe Waldron"), Matt and Liz welcome back one of their most popular guests: Abbe Waldron, a professional learning specialist at EdAdvance. Abbe shares her spring picks for the most effective AI tools in K–12 education. From lesson planning to curriculum development, she offers real-world insights into how teachers and students can meaningfully integrate AI.

In the News: UK Higher Ed Stress Test

Matt and Liz unpack a recent UK survey on generative AI in higher education:

• 92% of full-time university students report using AI.

• 88% use it specifically for assessments.

• 51% say it saves time; 50% say it improves work quality.

  Students are split: some say they’d work harder if AI graded them, others say they’d work less.

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  They explore the idea of “curriculum stress testing,” where institutions evaluate whether assessments can be easily completed using AI. This connects to the need for “durable assessments”—tasks that require more than what AI can quickly generate.

  
  

  
  

  Beneath the Surface: Tool Time with Abbe Waldron

Abbe returns with an updated toolkit of AI tools she’s using herself—and sharing with educators across the region:

NotebookLM

A go-to for curriculum development. Abbe uses it to write learning targets, connect units, and organize plans. Features like mind maps, podcast summaries, and clickable citations make it especially teacher-friendly—but it can be scaffolded for students too.

Diffit’s “Books” Feature

Now includes a wide range of popular student texts like 1984, Tuck Everlasting, and Diary of Anne Frank. Teachers can create differentiated resources, adjust reading levels, and align materials to standards. A built-in Google Form allows users to request additional titles.

Perlego

A professional learning platform with over a million academic and instructional texts. Its research assistant tool pulls together synthesized responses, highlights relevant books, and links directly to full texts. Great for educators working on curriculum or independent study.

Goblin Tools

A free suite of tools designed with neurodivergent users in mind, but helpful for all. Includes a tone adjuster for emails, a time estimator, and a “magic to-do list” that breaks down tasks step by step. Abbe recommends it for both students and teachers, particularly around communication and organization.

Bright Bytes: AI Detects Cancer with 99% Accuracy

Researchers at Charles Darwin University have developed an AI model that can detect endometrial cancer with 99.26% accuracy by analyzing microscopic images. It also shows high performance in detecting colorectal, breast, and oral cancers. This advancement could dramatically improve diagnostic accuracy and patient outcomes in the near future.

Our Episode Sponsor

National Center for Next Generation Manufacturing –

https://www.nextgenmfg.org

Related Links:

• HEPI UK Student Survey –

  https://www.hepi.ac.uk/2025/02/26/student-generative-ai-survey-2025/  

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  NotebookLM –

  https://notebooklm.google/ 

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  Diffit –

  https://web.diffit.me/ 

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  Perlego –

  https://www.perlego.com/

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  Goblin Tools –

  https://goblin.tools/

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  The Scale of AI Pirated Books - https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2025/03/libgen-meta-openai/682093/ 

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  Search the LibGen Library -

  https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2025/03/search-libgen-data-set/682094/  

Cancer Detection Bright Bite (Charles Darwin University) -

https://www.cdu.edu.au/news/ai-diagnoses-major-cancer-near-perfect-accuracy 

Have a question or comment?

Email Matt and Liz at [email protected]

Don’t forget to rate, review, and subscribe to ChatEDU on your favorite podcast platform!