Week in Edtech 5/14/25: AI Lawsuits in Classrooms, Utah’s EdTech Surge, Youth Unemployment Rises, Google’s Gemini Targets Students, Corporate AI Layoffs Accelerate, Personalized Tutoring at Scale, and More! Feat. Sam Chaudhary of ClassDojo

May 22, 2025

Sam Chaudhary, Co-founder & CEO of ClassDojo, discusses the transformative role of AI in education, emphasizing personalized tutoring and gamified learning. He touches on the growing concerns over academic integrity and the effectiveness of AI tools like Google’s Gemini for students. Chaudhary also highlights Utah as an emerging edtech hub and addresses the challenges posed by rising youth unemployment linked to AI advancements. His insights underscore the importance of community building and adapting education to thrive in an AI-driven future.

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INSIGHT

Dual Narratives on AI in Education

Two narratives about AI in education are emerging: one sees AI as transformative, the other as disruptive chaos.
The conversation needs to stay high-level to avoid focusing solely on integrity and cheating concerns.

INSIGHT

AI Use Misinterpreted in Teaching

Using AI to create teaching materials is often mistakenly seen as lowering standards.
The challenge is showing how AI can free educators to provide deeper learning rather than just easier work.

ADVICE

Demonstrate AI's Educational Value

Teachers must show concrete examples where AI saves effort without sacrificing quality.
EdTech should actively demonstrate AI's benefits to overcome the assumption that AI engagement lowers standards.

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Join hosts Alex Sarlin and Ben Kornell as they explore the latest developments in education technology, from AI in classrooms to workforce shifts and EdTech innovation across the globe.

✨ Episode Highlights:

[00:03:16] Ezra Klein podcast brings AI and education to mainstream conversation
[00:07:20] Alex and Ben compare and critique GPT-4, Claude, Gemini, and other AI tools
[00:09:28] Utah emerges as a leading hub for EdTech startups and innovation
[00:12:21] New AI bundles help educators explore tools like Superhuman and Perplexity
[00:13:19] Surge in media coverage on cheating, lawsuits, and educator use of AI
[00:16:17] Lawsuit filed against professor for using AI-generated content in class
[00:18:00] Concerns grow about students using AI tools to bypass cognitive learning
[00:23:10] Direct-to-student AI sparks debate about academic integrity and design
[00:25:20] Google plans to roll out Gemini to students under 13
[00:29:41] AI enables hands-on science learning like virtual frog dissections
[00:33:43] AI compared to electricity as foundational infrastructure for the future
[00:36:09] Rising youth unemployment signals early impact of AI-driven disruption
[00:38:57] Major firms lay off workers while shifting strategy toward AI adoption
[00:40:34] EdTech must define and prepare students for new AI-native job roles

Plus, special guest:

[00:41:22] Sam Chaudhary, Co-founder & CEO of ClassDojo on tutoring, gamified learning, and community building

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