Week in EdTech 12/03/25: PhysicsWallah IPO Shakes Indian EdTech, Google & OpenAI Escalate AI Race, Higher Ed Adopts AI, New AI Leaderboard Launches, and More! Feat. Andrew Carlins of Songscription and Eric Tao & Austin Levinson of MegaMinds

Dec 12, 2025

Guest

Austin Levinson

In this discussion, Andrew Carlins, CEO of Songscription, shares the transformative power of AI in music education, highlighting accessibility and student engagement. Eric Tao and Austin Levinson from MegaMinds dive into immersive AI simulations, showcasing impressive learning gains in middle-school math. They explore how AI tutors enhance student comfort and promote participation in learning. The conversation also covers the evolving landscape of higher education's acceptance of AI and the importance of keeping teachers central in tech integration.

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INSIGHT

Affordability + Celebrity Scale Indian EdTech

PhysicsWallah grew from low-cost YouTube test-prep to a massive IPO with tens of millions of students.
The model shows affordability + superstar instructors can unlock huge user bases in emerging markets.

INSIGHT

Google Reclaims Technical And Distribution Edge

Google regained a technical lead and distribution advantage in the model race after folding AI into DeepMind.
That shift pressures OpenAI to accelerate model development and rethink platform strategy.

INSIGHT

Models Need Platform To Win

OpenAI's startup culture produced rapid shipping but less coherent platform distribution versus Google.
Platform and distribution remain as important as model quality in long-run dominance.

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Join hosts Alex Sarlin and Ben Kornell as they break down the biggest shifts in global edtech. From PhysicsWallah’s major IPO to Google–OpenAI competition, higher-ed adoption of AI, and new benchmarks shaping the future of learning.

✨ Episode Highlights
[00:07:00] PhysicsWallah’s IPO reshapes Indian edtech and signals renewed global momentum
[00:15:00] Google and OpenAI escalate the AI race with Gemini 3, Nano Banana Pro, and OpenAI’s “garlic” model
[00:31:00] Higher education shifts from AI resistance to AI integration across teaching and majors
[00:39:00] Rural districts test new connected learning models backed by major tech partners
[00:40:00] Learning Agency launches the first Education AI Leaderboard for model benchmarking

Plus, special guests:
[00:45:30] Andrew Carlins, Co-Founder & CEO of Songscription on AI-powered music transcription and access

[01:01:10] Eric Tao, Founder & CEO of MegaMinds, and Austin Levinson, Director of Learning at MegaMinds on immersive AI simulations for CTE and AI literacy

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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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