Making AI human: Carlo Iacono's insights

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