A Beginner's Guide to AI Teaching, Startups, and AI Beards: Mike Todasco on the Beautiful Chaos of the Now
Sep 12, 2025
Join Mike Todasco, former Senior Director of Innovation at PayPal, as he explores the intersection of AI and education. Mike shares insights on how teachers can leverage AI to personalize learning for students dramatically. He discusses the often-overlooked skills that will remain valuable even as automation takes over mundane tasks. Listen as he dispels the myth of AI as a looming threat, highlighting instead its potential to enhance everyday life — from robot lawnmowers to helping kids learn German in the car.
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Curious Finance Guy Joins AI At PayPal
- Mike Todasco described moving from finance into PayPal where machine learning was crucial for fraud and risk.
- He later led innovation and began writing about AI before ChatGPT popularized it.
Personalize Homework Around Interests
- Ask students what they love and use AI to customize math problems to their interests for deeper engagement.
- Generate personalized homework for each student and print tailored copies to save teacher time.
Car Ride Quizzes With ChatGPT
- Mike shares turning on ChatGPT voice mode and quizzing his kids during the car ride to school.
- The AI adapts question difficulty and acts like a low-cost tutor for test prep.
