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Join hosts Alex Sarlin and Ben Kornell as they kick off 2026 with a wide-ranging Week in EdTech conversation covering tech backlash, AI in education, market consolidation, consumer learning tools, and major voices shaping the future of teaching and learning.
✨ Episode Highlights:
[00:00:00] Growing tech backlash around screen time, phone bans, and distrust of edtech.
[00:03:55] PowerSchool layoffs reflect private equity pressure and profitability focus.
[00:06:30] Layoffs highlight the human cost for educators working in edtech.
[00:09:04] Screen time skepticism reaches adult learning and professional assessments.
[00:10:52] Big Tech ramps up AI competition as Meta, Amazon, and Apple reposition.
[00:12:42] Consumer AI learning startups draw VC attention amid edtech valuation gaps.
[00:13:58] Funding: Obo raises $16M Series A for AI-generated, multimodal courses.
[00:17:16] UX, speed, and multimodality emerge as key edtech differentiators.
[00:19:10] Speechify secures NYC schools deal, blending accessibility with consumer-grade UX.
[00:21:08] Engagement-first consumer learning apps challenge traditional edtech models.
Plus, special guests:
[00:23:48] Eli Luberoff, Founder of Desmos Studio, on creative math tools and Desmos Professional.
[00:50:28] Rebecca Winthrop, Senior Fellow and Director, Center for Universal Education at The Brookings Institution, on how AI risks currently outweigh benefits for students without better guardrails.
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This season of Edtech Insiders is brought to you by Cooley LLP. Cooley is the go-to law firm for education and edtech innovators, offering industry-informed counsel across the 'pre-K to gray' spectrum. With a multidisciplinary approach and a powerful edtech ecosystem, Cooley helps shape the future of education.
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