Balancing AI tools and intrinsic motivation

In this final episode of our special series dedicated to AI, I’m delighted to welcome MacKenzie Price, a Stanford-trained psychologist turned education revolutionary and co-founder of Alpha School. 

We often hear that AI might disrupt education, but MacKenzie is proving that it can actually save it. After her own daughter told her that school was “boring,” MacKenzie didn’t just complain—she built a radical new solution from scratch. 

In our conversation, we dive deep into the Alpha School model, a bold approach that challenges the industrial “factory model” of education we’ve accepted for a century. 

Together, we explore a fascinating reality: What happens when you use adaptive AI to handle core academic learning? MacKenzie reveals that her students achieve mastery in just two hours a day. 

But the real revolution isn't the speed. It is what happens with the rest of the time. We discuss how this efficiency frees up space for what makes us truly human: “Life Skills.” From public speaking and financial literacy to resilience and high-impact collaboration, we explore how to raise children who are not just good test-takers, but changemakers. 

In this episode, we cover: 

• The Origin Story: How a moment of frustration sparked a movement to rethink K-12 education. 
• The Mechanics: How AI tutors allow teachers to stop being "lecturers" and start being "Guides" and mentors. 
• The "2-Hour" Paradox: How accelerating academic learning actually creates more room for creativity, connection, and depth. 
• Agency & Leadership: How to give children the autonomy to own their learning journey. 
• The Future: What the world looks like when we raise a generation of purpose-driven, self-aware leaders. 

MacKenzie reminds us that Positive Leadership is about having the courage to rethink systems that no longer serve us. Whether you are a parent, an educator, or a leader interested in the future of human potential, this conversation offers a blueprint for a world where technology amplifies our humanity rather than replacing it. 

I hope you’ll enjoy this visionary conversation with MacKenzie Price. 

🎧 If you enjoyed this conversation, you may also like these episodes: 

• Peggy Johnson: Leading a Human-Centric Future of AI and Robotics https://www.jpcourtois.com/podcast/peggy-johnson-leading-a-human-centric-future-of-ai-and-robotics  
• Human centric AI (with Rana el Kaliouby): https://www.jpcourtois.com/podcast/human-centric-ai-with-rana-el-kaliouby  
• Revolutionizing Education with Sal Khan https://www.jpcourtois.com/podcast/revolutionizing-education-with-sal-khan 

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