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 Problem

A 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 ChatGPT

Matt 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 Reporting

A 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 Moment

Jonathan 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 Energy

Zanskar 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 References

ChatGPT’s voice mode no longer separate interface

https://tinyurl.com/4m3dtmcu

‘6-7’ viral phrase may have a meaning

https://tinyurl.com/4m3dtmcu

Measuring Skills-Centered Exposure in AI Economy

https://tinyurl.com/2w8p6es7

AI Agents Disaster

https://tinyurl.com/2s3u3tb5

Google’s AI Deletes User’s Hard Drive

https://tinyurl.com/3n284eht

AI on Jobs in Five Years

https://tinyurl.com/42vtyvus

AI Chatbots in Schools

https://tinyurl.com/yvntwfr6

Professors using AI in course design

https://tinyurl.com/yevrmbet

Dropout Hired at OpenAI After Learning PhD-Level AI with ChatGPT

https://tinyurl.com/ym7tt62t

Poll: Americans Doubt Degree Value

https://tinyurl.com/3cvccufr

NewCollege Major: A.I.

https://tinyurl.com/35d32zhu

Geothermal company makes big discovery using AI

https://tinyurl.com/3fenuej7

Announcements

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-balance

Sponsor

This 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 Pathways

New 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 Integrity

After 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 Sovereignty

As 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 Coding

Inspired 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 Birds

Matt 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 & References

AI-Powered Stuffed Animal Pulled From Market After Disturbing Interactions With Children

https://tinyurl.com/5fn6uf8h

AI Tutors in Early Reading Instruction

https://tinyurl.com/3mdvj4zu

Businesses Want Employees With AI Skills

https://tinyurl.com/wasm78jn

Māori Culture, Language, and Data Sovereignty

https://tinyurl.com/3yhb7xkf

Images made with AI recycle colonial stereotypes and bias

https://tinyurl.com/mvmnta5x

New Zealand is turning to AI and genetic research to save rare birds

https://tinyurl.com/4ck3zn4e

Learning They'll Love - Dr. Elizabeth Radday

ASCD: https://tinyurl.com/bde652nn

Amazon: https://tinyurl.com/22t9hz77

Barnes and Noble: https://tinyurl.com/bdckf6zw

Announcements & Sponsors

Check 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/micro⁠

The National Center for Next Generation Manufacturing. ⁠www.nextgenmfg.org⁠

In this episode of ChatEDU (The AI-Ready District - Inside a Superintendent’s Strategic Plan), Matt is joined by Westport, CT Superintendent Tom Scarice, stepping in while Liz is away in Costa Rica. They open with a quick hit about an AI app that creates avatars of deceased loved ones, raising questions about ethics, grief, and whether some tools should even be built. From there, Matt and Tom dig into the biggest stories of the week and then take a deep dive into Westport’s bold new plan for AI in public education.

Story 1: Gemini’s Vibe Coding

Matt tests Google’s new vibe coding features in Gemini 3 to build a real-time tracker for Westport’s strategic plan and an app that recognizes facial emotion. Both tools are built in under five minutes. Tom reflects on how this lowers the barrier to coding and brings creative problem solving into the hands of every student and teacher.

Story 2: The Teacher Training Gap

A new EdWeek report finds that half of U.S. teachers have now received some AI training, but most sessions are still short and surface level. Matt and Tom compare experiences from Connecticut and beyond, highlighting the importance of embedded professional learning and why leadership modeling matters more than one-off exposure.

Story 3: Google’s Personalized Textbooks

Google’s Learn Your Way platform tailors textbook content to student interest and reading level. Matt and Tom explore whether this boosts student agency or simply repackages old formats. They discuss how AI can support personalization while still protecting instructional coherence and equity.

Story 4: Smarter AI Powered Reading Assessments

AI tools like Amira now provide real-time reading feedback using natural language processing. Tom explains why formative assessment matters and how systems that reveal student thinking can improve instruction. They also flag risks of outsourcing too much teacher judgment to automation.

Beneath the Surface: A Strategic Plan for the AI Era

Tom walks through Westport’s 92-page strategic plan, which integrates AI across ethics, personalization, instruction, leadership, and even drama class. With sections on algorithm audits, professional learning, and operational efficiency, the plan offers a blueprint for leading through complexity. Matt and Tom break down how the plan was built, what it prioritizes, and what other districts might take away.

Bright Byte

Google DeepMind’s SynthID now embeds invisible watermarks into AI-generated images, audio, video, and text. Matt calls this a seatbelt moment for AI safety and a promising tool for combating deepfakes and supporting academic integrity.

Links & References

AI App Creates Avatars Of Dead Relatives Sparks Backlash

https://tinyurl.com/mpjrm57c

Teacher AI Training Has a Long Way to Go

https://tinyurl.com/2att7m9s

Google Reinvents The School Textbook With AI

https://tinyurl.com/4uttcv74

AI-Powered Assessment

https://tinyurl.com/48yyc3ms

Meta is about to start grading workers on their AI skills

https://tinyurl.com/24sycbt4

SynthID: A Tool to Watermark and Identify Content Generated Through AI

https://deepmind.google/models/synthid/

Learning They'll Love - Dr. Elizabeth Radday

ASCD (use code RADDAY30 for 30% off until December 5th): https://tinyurl.com/bde652nn

Amazon: https://tinyurl.com/22t9hz77

Barnes and Noble: https://tinyurl.com/bdckf6zw

Announcements & Sponsors

Check 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/micro⁠

The National Center for Next Generation Manufacturing. ⁠www.nextgenmfg.org⁠

In this episode of ChatEDU (From ChatGPT to Chat Group GPT), Matt and Liz open with Kim Kardashian blaming ChatGPT for tanking her law exams and Dr. Radday publishing a Fulbright piece on AI hallucinations. From there, they run through agentic cheating, Amazon vs. Perplexity, shifting labor demands, a prompt drop, a gems hack, the new edugems.ai library, federal AI grants, AI bubble warnings, a Gamma update, and NotebookLM’s new Deep Research features. They go Beneath the Surface to look at ChatGPT sliding into 20 person group chats, and close with a Bright Byte on Google’s new Earth AI.

Rundown

Tech companies don’t care that students use AI agents to cheat

AI firms and LMS platforms shrug as agentic tools automate coursework and flood professors with AI generated apologies.

Amazon sends legal threats to Perplexity

Amazon tells Perplexity’s Comet agent to stop bot browsing the site and bypassing ads.

The Boss Has a Message: Use AI or You’re Fired

Some companies now cut workers who refuse to adopt AI tools.

Microsoft resumes hiring with full AI focus

The new roles all center on human AI collaboration.

Remote Labor Index

Real world testing shows frontier agents can automate only a tiny slice of complex remote work.

Prompt Drop

A step by step walkthrough prompt that quizzes understanding before advancing.

Gem Hack

A URL tweak forces gem copies so colleagues don’t overwrite your instructions.

edugems.ai

A growing collection of teacher friendly gems for inspiration and customization.

FIPSE Federal AI Grants

One to four million dollar projects supporting AI integration in higher ed. Deadline tight.

AI Bubble Watch

J.P. Morgan says the industry may need $650B annually to justify investment.

Gamma’s growth

Profitable, lean, and now valued at $2.1B. A rare AI business that actually works.

NotebookLM updates

Deep Research arrives with support for Sheets, images, Drive URLs, and more.

Beneath the Surface

ChatGPT group chats

Up to twenty people plus the bot in a shared thread. Use cases include study groups, capstones, and planning teams.

Bright Byte

Google Earth AI

Google fuses satellite data, population data, and Gemini reasoning into a environmental intelligence platform used by WHO Africa and others.

Links and References

Prompt Drop

https://www.skills21.org/prompts

Gemini Gems hack

https://tinyurl.com/2hmr2k4d

College students “apologized” using AI

https://tinyurl.com/muksx346

Kim Kardashian blames ChatGPT for failing aw school tests

https://tinyurl.com/snnync85

Companies don’t care that students use AI agents to cheat

https://tinyurl.com/5n92vpzy

Amazon sends legal threats to Perplexity

https://tinyurl.com/wenryn6t

Use AI or You’re Fired

https://tinyurl.com/mpducds4

Microsoft will hire again, but with AI-first approach

https://tinyurl.com/yrmmxkzd

Measuring AI Automation of Remote Work

https://tinyurl.com/hjr5pxz9

Applications for New Awards

https://tinyurl.com/2pyuedtd

J.P. Morgan Bubble Concerns

https://tinyurl.com/f72was8n

We Didn't Start the Fire Bubble Parody

https://tinyurl.com/5fe7srb7

Gamma Raises Aims to Rival PowerPoint

https://tinyurl.com/bde527ed

NotebookLM adds Deep Research and more source types

https://blog.google/technology/google-labs/notebooklm-deep-research-file-types/

ChatGPT group chats

https://tinyurl.com/yvax4ajm

Google Earth AI

https://tinyurl.com/2x4h5wxs

Learning They'll Love - Dr. Elizabeth Radday

ASCD (use code RADDAY30 for 30% off until December 5th): https://tinyurl.com/bde652nn

Amazon: https://tinyurl.com/22t9hz77

Barnes and Noble: https://tinyurl.com/bdckf6zw

Announcements & Sponsors

Check 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/micro⁠

The National Center for Next Generation Manufacturing. ⁠www.nextgenmfg.org⁠

In this episode of Chat EDU (Unlocking Student Passions with PIPs and AI), Maria Frederick, a library media specialist, discusses her experiences with Personal Interest Projects (PIPs) and the integration of AI in education. She shares insights on how PIPs allow students to explore their passions, develop essential skills, and engage in meaningful learning experiences. The conversation highlights the importance of reflection, the role of authentic audiences, and the impact of AI on creativity and critical thinking. Maria emphasizes the need for educators to guide students in using AI responsibly and effectively, while fostering a supportive environment for project-based learning. This interview also connects directly to the ideas in Dr. Elizabeth Radday’s newly released book, Learning They'll Love, which showcases how PIPs can drive authentic engagement and meaningful learning.

Takeaways

• PIPs allow students to dive deep into their passions.
• AI can enhance the learning experience but should be used responsibly.
• Reflection is crucial for solidifying learning outcomes.
• Authentic audiences increase student engagement and motivation.
• Managing projects outside the classroom requires clear communication and support.
• Parent involvement can significantly impact student success in PIPs.
• Students often surprise educators with their diverse interests.
• PIPs can lead to long-term skills development and interests.
• Starting small with PIPs can lead to greater student engagement.

Learning They'll Love: Engage Students, Meet Standards, and Spark Creativity with Personal Interest Projects - Dr. Elizabeth Radday

• ASCD: https://tinyurl.com/bde652nn  (use code RADDAY30 for 30% off until December 5th): ⁠https://tinyurl.com/bde652nn
• Amazon: https://tinyurl.com/22t9hz77
• Barnes and Noble: https://tinyurl.com/bdckf6zw

Announcements

Check 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 October - ⁠ ⁠⁠skills21.org/ai/micro⁠

Sponsor

The National Center for Next Generation Manufacturing. ⁠www.nextgenmfg.org⁠

In this episode of ChatEDU (From Sycophants to Socrates), Matt and Liz open with a laugh reacting to a study showing LLMs may suffer “brain rot” when trained on low-quality data. The Rundown starts with a listener shout-out and then covers eight stories on how educators, researchers, and policymakers are navigating the AI moment.

Story #1: Prompt Reflections from Nano in Melbourne

Nano, a loyal listener in Australia, asked about the “clerk, colleague, or coach” prompt framework. Matt and Liz revisit two Skills21 frameworks that help educators and students reflect on AI use and extend it thoughtfully.

Story #2: MA Launches a Statewide AI Module

The MA Depart. of Elementary and Secondary Education released a free AI module for educators by Dr. Rebecca Mazur at CES. Grounded in five principles and avoiding tech hype, it includes videos, PD tools, and a certificate.

Story #3: 5 Myths About Oral Assessments

Interactive Oral Assessments (IOAs) are gaining traction as essay alternatives. A University of Sydney study debunks five myths, showing how IOAs simulate real-world dialogue, save time, and expand accessibility.

Story #4: NotebookLM Gets Smarter, Gemini Grows

NotebookLM now supports custom chat goals and conversation saving. Google launched a Wellness Gem, a “vibe coding” tool, and previewed auto-generated infographics. Gemini has doubled its market share, signaling AI tool consolidation.

Story #5: LLMs Fail at Therapy

An ethnographic study of 137 AI-led mental health sessions found 15 ethical violations. Matt and Liz explain why AI counseling isn’t ready for prime time and what schools should watch for.

Story #6: Character.AI Faces Pressure After Suicides

After suicides linked to chatbot dependency, Character.AI and OpenAI are adding safety measures. Senators propose banning chatbots for minors and requiring age checks.

Story #7: Parents Get a Guide to AI Advocacy

A new guide from Common Sense Media, EdSafe, and the National Parents Union helps families ask key questions about AI in schools. Built on the SAFE framework, it includes sample questions and actions.

Story #8: Living Without AI is Harder Than It Sounds

Author A.J. Jacobs tried living without AI for 48 hours. Matt and Liz suggest this as a student project to uncover hidden algorithmic systems.

Beneath the Surface:

The Sycophant Problem: A study using MMLU shows some AI models change correct answers to wrong ones if the user suggests them. Smaller models are most compliant, dropping accuracy up to 15 percent and raising equity concerns.

The Socratic Alternative: Khan Academy’s “Explain Your Thinking” feature shows student understanding deepens when learners explain reasoning. Even with wrong answers, AI can detect sound logic.

Bright Byte: Boston Uses AI to Untangle Traffic

Mayor Michelle Wu expanded Boston’s Project Greenlight with Google. Using AI to optimize light timing, it cuts delays by 13% and stops by one-third.

Links and References

Prompt Review + Beyond the Prompt Tools

skills21.org/prompts

skills21.org/btp

Massachusetts DESE AI Module

https://tinyurl.com/yuyrw4bv

Five Myths About Oral Assessments

https://tinyurl.com/2s42a6er

NotebookLM

notebooklm.google

LLMs Fail at Therapy

https://tinyurl.com/5e95vsp2

Character.AI Faces Pressure After Suicides

https://tinyurl.com/2cf3dy5p

WhisperFlow Tool

wisprflow.ai

SAFE Parent Framework

edsafe.org/resources

48 Hours Without AI

https://tinyurl.com/2ekxvk6m

MMLU Study

https://tinyurl.com/bdnzkw4t

Explain Your Thinking

https://tinyurl.com/wkd9sayw

AI and Traffic

https://tinyurl.com/yc869kzf

Announcements & Sponsors

Check 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 October - ⁠ ⁠⁠skills21.org/ai/micro⁠

The National Center for Next Generation Manufacturing. ⁠www.nextgenmfg.org⁠

In this episode of ChatEDU (When Teachers Build the Tools – Thomas Hummel of Eduaide.Ai), Matt sits down with Thomas Hummel, a full-time middle school science teacher and co-founder of Eduaide.Ai, a generative AI platform that has been used by over a million teachers. They talk about what it means to design AI tools while actively teaching and why staying in the classroom is more than a talking point. From morning planning routines to building curriculum games tied to Battleship, Thomas offers an unfiltered, grounded look at building edtech from the inside out.

Matt and Thomas have a wide ranging conversation that provides an insiders look at edtech and AI + edu. Some (but certainly not all) of what they discussed includes: 

Inside Eduaide.Ai’s Classroom-Centered DesignThomas shares how Eduaide.Ai began and why being a practicing teacher gives him, and the platform, a sharp edge. He uses the tool daily and gives direct feedback to his co-founders. Their goal isn’t just speed. It’s trust, alignment, and better instructional choices.

Beyond the Wrapper: A Model Garden ApproachRather than rely on one LLM, Eduaide.Ai routes different tasks through different models based on need. A custom knowledge graph and layered evaluators help ensure content is instructionally sound. The platform emphasizes transparency over automation.

Why They Refuse Student-Facing ChatbotsEduaide.Ai doesn’t allow students to chat with AI. Thomas explains why: from misinformation to ethical ambiguity, the risks are real. “You’re teaching a student based on a lie,” he says, especially when bots impersonate historical figures or return questionable writing feedback.

Built-In Quality Scoring, Powered by CZIWorking with the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, Eduaide.Ai now includes a built-in evaluator that checks AI-generated content for age appropriateness, vocabulary, readability, and pedagogical quality. Teachers can also use it to vet their own materials, even if they weren’t created on the platform.

Matt and Liz are grateful for the time Thomas was able to share and look forward to more conversations on this shared journey. 

Announcements & Sponsors

Check 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 October - ⁠ ⁠⁠skills21.org/ai/micro⁠

The National Center for Next Generation Manufacturing. ⁠www.nextgenmfg.org⁠

Links and References

Eduaide.Ai 

Chan Zuckerberg Education https://chanzuckerberg.com/blog/scaling-proven-learning-practices/

In this episode of ChatEDU (Signing Off of ChatGPT), Matt and Liz open with an AI Halloween brainstorm and a surprisingly powerful prompt tweak. Then it’s a full rundown: a smart Gmail update, a Gen Z AI competition in Australia, new classroom templates from Instructure, and an important discussion on student AI access. Plus, an AI-powered fusion reactor in the Bright Byte.

Story 1: Use Help Me Schedule to Easily Set Up a Meeting Time Over Email

Google's Gemini-powered Gmail feature suggests ideal meeting times based on your calendar and email context. Once a time is chosen, a calendar invite is generated automatically. Currently supports one-on-one meetings only.

Story 2: Solve for Tomorrow Winners Prove AI Is Gen Z’s Tool for Societal Change

Australian students used AI to tackle real-world challenges in Samsung's 2025 competition. Projects included an AR translator for Auslan, a cheating-detection platform, and a mobile app connecting users to local sports, showing Gen Z embracing AI for inclusion and community impact.

Story 3: The AI Pedagogy Field Guide Helps Students Learn, Not Just Produce

A new field guide from Canvas makers offers practical assignment templates that shift AI from shortcut to scaffold, including real-time design critiques to semester-long research coaching. Templates model metacognition, synthesis, and deeper engagement.

Story 4: MagicSchool Adds Start and End Times for Student AI Rooms

Educators using MagicSchool Plus or Enterprise can now schedule start and end times for student access to AI "rooms," ensuring usage is limited to supervised hours and aligns with classroom goals.

Story 5: California Passes One AI Law, Vetoes Another

Governor Newsom signed a bill requiring platforms to notify minors every three hours they're interacting with AI. However, he vetoed a stricter bill that would have banned AI companions for minors. The decision was applauded by industry and criticized by child-safety groups.

Beneath the Surface: Time to Rethink ChatGPT Access in Schools

Matt and Liz present their first editorial recommendation: schools should strongly consider blocking student access to ChatGPT on school devices. OpenAI is pivoting toward monetization through embedded advertising, affiliate commerce, plans for adult content and emotional companions, TikTok-style video tools like Sora, and closed-loop hardware. In contrast, Gemini prioritizes educational tools and compliance. From NotebookLM and shareable Gems to AI YouTube quizzes and field-level climate projects, Gemini builds tools that align with classroom goals. The platforms are diverging and so should school policy.

Bright Byte: AI Boosts the Future of Fusion

Google DeepMind is working with Commonwealth Fusion Systems to use AI in developing SPARC, a compact fusion reactor. AI tools simulate plasma behavior, optimize energy output, and manage reactor conditions in real time. It's a small step toward a massive leap in clean energy.

Announcements & Sponsors

Check out the new Student AI Course for middle and high school. Email Matt and Liz at ⁠[email protected]⁠

Registration for Winter Micro-Credential is now open. Join us for the educator and school leader course starting in January - ⁠ ⁠⁠skills21.org/ai/micro⁠

The National Center for Next Generation Manufacturing. ⁠www.nextgenmfg.org⁠

Links and References

Prompt Liz used: “Generate five responses with their corresponding probabilities sampled from the full distribution”

Northeastern-Stanford-WVU prompt

studyhttps://tinyurl.com/3mu4hnv4

Anna Mills on LMS agents:

https://tinyurl.com/3fm79yjk

AI Pedagogy Field Guide:

https://tinyurl.com/5n8cuk7e

MagicSchool Start/End Times:

https://tinyurl.com/9uunkrp7

California AI Law Coverage:

https://tinyurl.com/2te6d8d3

DeepMind and Fusion Collaboration:

https://tinyurl.com/mvke6nh7/

"Help me schedule" feature in Gmail

https://tinyurl.com/ypdmxbua

Solve for Tomorrow 2025 competition

https://tinyurl.com/2pssk274

In this episode of ChatEDU (Rundown, Not Slowdown) Matt and Liz kick things off with some holiday sweater talk, a quick shoutout to Maria Frederick’s upcoming interview, and Liz’s personal quest to stop touching her nose with the help of an AI app. From there, they move fast through a packed lineup of stories, exploring everything from deepfake drama to brain science, student tools, and clever resume hacks. This week there’s no Beneath the Surface segment, just a full-on Rundown.

Rundown of Stories

AI Mirror Project – A national reflection project led by Brian Baker inviting educators and stakeholders to share what AI is revealing about systemic issues in education.

AI Homeless Man Prank – A dangerous viral trend using AI-generated images to simulate fake intruders, sparking panic and legal responses.

Sora 2 Deepfake Fallout – The rapid rise of OpenAI’s Sora 2 video tool and the resulting watermark removal scams, copyright fights, and ethical concerns.

Mark Cuban’s Cameo Play – Cuban uses Sora’s Cameo feature to spread his Cost Plus Drugs message through viral user-generated clips.

Fake Sora Apps on the App Store – A flood of knockoff apps exploiting the Sora name and making quick profits.

Safe AI for Children Alliance Briefing – Guidance for schools and parents on how to address AI-generated video risks.

The Reinforcement Gap – Coding and math accelerate while writing lags because reinforcement learning favors testable skills.

Harvard Manipulation Study – AI companions use guilt and flattery to keep users from leaving conversations, blurring lines of consent.

Sparks Toolkit – The Rithm Project’s hands-on resource for helping students reflect on AI and human connection.

AI Resume Hacks – Job seekers hide prompts in resumes to manipulate AI screeners, raising ethical and hiring concerns.

AI Feedback Brain Study – A new study shows chatbot feedback style affects learning outcomes and brain activity.

Bright Byte: Creating New Drug Delivery Techniques With AI Researchers at Duke University developed an AI and robotics platform that designs nanoparticle drug delivery systems. It created new, more effective formulations for leukemia and skin cancer treatments, showing how AI can speed up medical innovation.

Announcements and Sponsors

Check out the new Student AI Course for middle and high school. Email Matt and Liz at ⁠[email protected]⁠

The Fall Micro-Credential is open. Join us for the educator and school leader course starting in October - ⁠ ⁠⁠skills21.org/ai/micro⁠

The National Center for Next Generation Manufacturing. Explore their October 15–17 Summit in Rochester Hills, MI. ⁠www.nextgenmfg.org⁠

Links

AI Mirror Project

https://tinyurl.com/mwadx9wb

NBC: AI Homeless Man Prank

https://tinyurl.com/4jz4b6bp

Safe AI for Children Alliance

https://tinyurl.com/yc4kpv42

Prompt Packs

https://tinyurl.com/636haas3

NotebookLM

https://tinyurl.com/jy3d8xas

The Rithm Project

https://tinyurl.com/mrxshncf

New York Times: AI Resume Hacks

https://tinyurl.com/mtn2s3ky

PsyPost: AI Feedback Study

https://tinyurl.com/6k8xkjtc

Duke University: AI Drug Delivery Breakthrough

https://tinyurl.com/5teku9rs

Liz’s Advanced Book Sale

https://my.isteascd.org/s/store#/store/browse/detail/a1wVb000000UVrBIAW

In this episode of ChatEDU (Machines, Minds, and Making – Dr. Karen Birch on AI & Workforce Development) Matt and Liz reflect on atonement season and a ChatGPT confession prompted by journalist Ina Fried. They share highlights from EdAdvance's fall conference, including Matt's keynote on Sora 2 and AI-generated video companions. From deepfakes to digital twins, this episode explores attention, agency, and the future of learning.

Story #1: The Rundown

Parental controls arrive for ChatGPT and Sora. OpenAI now lets parents moderate content, restrict features, and receive alerts for self-harm risks.

Ban the bots? A Forbes op-ed argues that autonomous AI agents are bypassing LMS security and completing coursework. Matt and Liz demo their own course-taking agent.

AI surveillance tool sparks backlash. In Kansas, students say Gaggle is flagging jokes and art as threats. The $160,000 tool faces scrutiny for false positives and algorithmic bias.

Australia rolls out AI to students. Starting October 14, public school students in New South Wales (Years 5–12) will access NSWEduChat, a curriculum-aligned AI app for literacy.

Ghana launches subject-based AI learning apps. Over 1.4 million students will use curriculum-tuned AI tools in 2025, with strong support for offline access and teacher training.

AI isn't culturally neutral. An MIT Sloan study finds that models like GPT reflect different cultural reasoning styles based on prompt language.

Student voice leads policy design. In Los Altos, California, high school interns are running workshops and building a chatbot to draft their district's AI policy.

Story #2: Beneath the Surface

Matt interviews Dr. Karen Birch, Executive Director of the National Center for Next Generation Manufacturing. Karen shares how AI is changing manufacturing, why community colleges are central to upskilling, and what Industry 5.0 means. They explore digital twins and AI-driven quality control.

Bright Byte: AI Detects Tiny Brain Lesions

Researchers in Melbourne, Australia, developed an AI tool that detects tiny brain lesions in children with drug-resistant epilepsy. These focal cortical dysplasias are often missed in MRI scans, but the AI model achieved 94 percent accuracy. In one study, 11 of 12 children became seizure-free after AI-guided surgery. Faster diagnoses could reduce cognitive impacts, but access may be limited without funding.

Announcements and Sponsors

Check out the new Student AI Course for middle and high school. Email Matt and Liz at ⁠[email protected]⁠

The Fall Micro-Credential is open. Join us for the educator and school leader course starting in October - ⁠ ⁠⁠skills21.org/ai/micro⁠

The National Center for Next Generation Manufacturing. Explore their October 15–17 Summit in Rochester Hills, MI. - ⁠www.nextgenmfg.org⁠

EDIAThe AI-powered platform helping schools reduce absences and boost achievement ⁠- edia.app/contact⁠

Links and References

Kiss Reality Goodbye: AI-Generated Social Media Has Arrived - NPR

https://tinyurl.com/4k7xh2eb

Introducing Parental Controls for ChatGPT and Sora - OpenAI

https://tinyurl.com/jzktp2nv

Colleges And Schools Must Block And Ban Agentic AI Browsers Now. Here’s Why. - Forbes

https://tinyurl.com/bdzkdf3m

AI school safety tool sparks backlash after flagging art as porn and deleting emails - Moneycontrol via Washington Post

https://tinyurl.com/mr3wh8k6

NSW Public School Students from Years 5–12 to Get AI in the Classroom - news.com.au

https://tinyurl.com/3z2enxez

Senior High School Students in Ghana to Use New AI Learning Apps from October 2025 - Graphic Online via BusinessGhana

https://tinyurl.com/55b72wra

Generative AI isn’t culturally neutral, research finds - MIT Sloan

https://tinyurl.com/majhwr9w

This school district asked students to draft its AI policy - The Washington Post

https://tinyurl.com/n62f8h3m

Advanced AI tool detects tiny brain lesions in children with epilepsy - MCRI

https://tinyurl.com/3utfyesf