Beyond the Bot: students solving real problems

In this episode of ChatEDU (What Breaks + What Sticks – Education's AI Future in 2026), Matt and Liz note the shift to video-first shows, run through their 2025 AI and teaching outlook, then close with 2026 predictions and a Bright Byte on turning trash into textiles.

The Rundown

Story #1: NotebookLM Gets Smarter and More Structured

Google’s NotebookLM adds Data Tables and a leaked Lecture Mode, moving it from research tool toward an instructional partner.

Story #2: ChatGPT Adds Mood Controls

OpenAI’s update lets users fine-tune ChatGPT’s tone and style, enabling new classroom uses while raising concerns about over-customization and dependence.

Story #3: Deepfakes in Schools Escalate

An AP report finds explicit deepfakes targeting students are surging, outpacing school responses and raising serious legal, ethical, and emotional risks.

Story #4: AI Literacy in Action

Valerie Ziegler teaches AI literacy to help students spot misinformation, fact-check content, and detect AI manipulation.

Story #5: Social Balance

Skills21’s Social Balance tool helps students reflect on AI and digital habits, encouraging more intentional tech use.

Story #6: Beyond the Bot – Gemini’s “Fund My Crazy” Student Challenge

Google’s Gemini contest drew 29,000 entries in nine days, with winners showing students moving beyond prompts to real AI problem solving.

Story #7: Amazon and Playlab Expand AI Access

Amazon’s $800K investment expands Playlab’s AI education program to nearly 500,000 students, highlighting scalable, equitable AI learning.

Story #8: AI for Action Curriculum

Playlab’s “AI for Action” unit teaches students to build real school and community solutions with AI, blending ethics, design thinking, and storytelling.

Story #9: The AI-Ready Graduate Profile

ISTE and ASCD released a six-part framework defining purposeful, human-led AI skills for graduates, already used in places like Winchester, VA.

Beneath the Surface

Matt and Liz predict durable assessments, classroom vibe coding, AI-driven LMSs, slimmer standards, and increased reliance on human judgment as detection improves.

Bright Byte: Chicken Feathers into Cashmere

Everbloom’s Braid.AI uses machine learning to turn keratin-rich waste like chicken feathers into soft, biodegradable, cashmere-like fibers.

Announcements and Sponsor

Learning They'll Love - Dr. Elizabeth Radday

ASCD: https://tinyurl.com/bde652nn - use discount code RADDAY30

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

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

The Winter Micro-Credential starts soon. Join the six-week dive into AI literacy, pedagogy, assessment, and ethics. www.skills21.org/ai/micro 

EdAdvance is offering a Middle and High School Student AI Literacy course — email chatedu@edadvance.org to bring it to your district. ​​www.skills21.org/ai/learnai 

Skills21’s FREE social media literacy course? Check it out here - https://www.skills21.org/social-balance

This episode is sponsored by The National Center for Next Generation Manufacturing. https://www.nextgenmfg.org

Links

Time to Retire “Podcast”

https://tinyurl.com/349cabru

Organize Insights with Data Tables

https://tinyurl.com/3mas6esk

NotebookLM Levels Up Key Feature

https://tinyurl.com/cvf3j9m7

ChatGPT Gets Enthusiasm Dial

https://tinyurl.com/6eyrykun

Deepfake Cyberbullying in Schools

https://tinyurl.com/z8cyjmbp

Teaching Screenagers Social Media and AI

https://tinyurl.com/fscuvyrf

Gemini AI Student Contest Winners

https://tinyurl.com/377sr4m4

Amazon’s $800K Bet on AI Education

https://tinyurl.com/uypb6rct

Playlab AI for Action Curriculum

https://tinyurl.com/4jxwnxz9

What “AI-Ready School” Really Means

https://tinyurl.com/2s4zpfxe

Yann LeCun to Aspiring AI Students

https://tinyurl.com/ydsnxuf

Salesforce Reconsiders LLMs

https://tinyurl.com/nbfenrsp

AI Denialism

https://tinyurl.com/5yzjv5se

AI Used To Turn Feathers into Cashmere

https://tinyurl.com/y5jmh2wd