In this episode of ChatEDU (Micro Update Major Menace: Advertising in AI Requires K-12 Attention), Matt Mervis and Liz Radday kick off by covering the latest news including research on AI content detectors with some help from Abbott Elementary, as well as an AI-powered exhibit featuring WWII veterans. Liz reviews a major AI assessment announcement from PISA, while Matt explores new developments in holographic technology and how AI could change the way we interact with the digital world. Next, Matt and Liz go “Beneath the Surface” as they explore the potential negative impact of AI companies testing advertising in their chatbots. They analyze the underreported but enormously important story of how AI business models could affect students, families, communities and schools. The episode wraps by answering a listener question about students using generative AI for emotional support. 

In the News

AI Content Detectors: We discuss the effectiveness of AI content detectors with a particular focus on their limitations, as highlighted in a recent "Abbott Elementary" episode. Despite their popularity, these tools often produce false positives, particularly impacting ELL students. Learn more about these detectors' fallibility as reported by The Washington Post and The Guardian.

Links: 

Cheating Detection

AI Discrimination

Educators Juggling Generative AI

Humanizing Machine Generated Content

World War II Veterans Exhibit: Liz reviews an engaging AI-powered exhibit at the National WWII Museum in New Orleans, where AI helps visitors interact with life-sized representations of veterans. This use of AI in educational settings offers a new method to engage with history.

Links

WW2 Museum - AI Veterans Survivors

Holographics and New Interfaces: Discover the latest in holographic interfaces and how they could transform interactions with digital devices. From the potential use of AI in mundane tasks to its integration into everyday gadgets, we explore what's on the horizon for AI-enhanced interfaces.

Links

Scientists Create Color 3D Holographic

Human AI Pin: Review

Rabbit R1: Review

I tried Nothing Ear with ChatGPT and I’m impressed — but also a little terrified

Meta's Ray-Ban smart glasses just got another useful feature for free

PISA's New AI Assessment Announcement: A significant shift in educational assessment practices with PISA incorporating AI to evaluate critical thinking and problem-solving skills. This segment explores how AI-driven assessments could redefine educational benchmarks globally.

Links:

AI May Be Coming for Standardized Testing

Beneath the Surface

AI's Business Models: A deep dive into the economic strategies of AI companies as they transition from heavy investment phases to profit-making models. We discuss the implications of subscription versus advertising models in AI, highlighting concerns about user engagement and privacy. 

Links:

Perplexity will try a form of ads on its AI search platform

Google considers charging for AI-powered search in big change to business model

Meta’s new AI assistant is rolling out 

ChatBack

Mental Health and AI: We tackle a listener's question about the use of AI for mental health support among teens. The pros and cons of AI as a tool for emotional support are discussed, emphasizing the importance of human connection and the potential risks of over-reliance on AI for psychological support.

Mental health chatbots powered by artificial intelligence developed as a therapy support tool

ChatGPT-4 outperforms human psychologists in test of social intelligence, study finds