In this episode of ChatEDU (What Breaks + What Sticks – Education's AI Future in 2026), Matt and Liz note the shift to video-first shows, run through their 2025 AI and teaching outlook, then close with 2026 predictions and a Bright Byte on turning trash into textiles.
The Rundown
Story #1: NotebookLM Gets Smarter and More Structured
Google’s NotebookLM adds Data Tables and a leaked Lecture Mode, moving it from research tool toward an instructional partner.
Story #2: ChatGPT Adds Mood Controls
OpenAI’s update lets users fine-tune ChatGPT’s tone and style, enabling new classroom uses while raising concerns about over-customization and dependence.
Story #3: Deepfakes in Schools Escalate
An AP report finds explicit deepfakes targeting students are surging, outpacing school responses and raising serious legal, ethical, and emotional risks.
Story #4: AI Literacy in Action
Valerie Ziegler teaches AI literacy to help students spot misinformation, fact-check content, and detect AI manipulation.
Story #5: Social Balance
Skills21’s Social Balance tool helps students reflect on AI and digital habits, encouraging more intentional tech use.
Story #6: Beyond the Bot – Gemini’s “Fund My Crazy” Student Challenge
Google’s Gemini contest drew 29,000 entries in nine days, with winners showing students moving beyond prompts to real AI problem solving.
Story #7: Amazon and Playlab Expand AI Access
Amazon’s $800K investment expands Playlab’s AI education program to nearly 500,000 students, highlighting scalable, equitable AI learning.
Story #8: AI for Action Curriculum
Playlab’s “AI for Action” unit teaches students to build real school and community solutions with AI, blending ethics, design thinking, and storytelling.
Story #9: The AI-Ready Graduate Profile
ISTE and ASCD released a six-part framework defining purposeful, human-led AI skills for graduates, already used in places like Winchester, VA.
Beneath the Surface
Matt and Liz predict durable assessments, classroom vibe coding, AI-driven LMSs, slimmer standards, and increased reliance on human judgment as detection improves.
Bright Byte: Chicken Feathers into Cashmere
Everbloom’s Braid.AI uses machine learning to turn keratin-rich waste like chicken feathers into soft, biodegradable, cashmere-like fibers.
Announcements and Sponsor
Learning They'll Love - Dr. Elizabeth Radday
ASCD: https://tinyurl.com/bde652nn - use discount code RADDAY30
Amazon: https://tinyurl.com/22t9hz77
Barnes and Noble: https://tinyurl.com/bdckf6zw
The Winter Micro-Credential starts soon. Join the six-week dive into AI literacy, pedagogy, assessment, and ethics. www.skills21.org/ai/micro
EdAdvance is offering a Middle and High School Student AI Literacy course — email chatedu@edadvance.org to bring it to your district. www.skills21.org/ai/learnai
Skills21’s FREE social media literacy course? Check it out here - https://www.skills21.org/social-balance
This episode is sponsored by The National Center for Next Generation Manufacturing. https://www.nextgenmfg.org
Links
Time to Retire “Podcast”
https://tinyurl.com/349cabru
Organize Insights with Data Tables
https://tinyurl.com/3mas6esk
NotebookLM Levels Up Key Feature
https://tinyurl.com/cvf3j9m7
ChatGPT Gets Enthusiasm Dial
https://tinyurl.com/6eyrykun
Deepfake Cyberbullying in Schools
https://tinyurl.com/z8cyjmbp
Teaching Screenagers Social Media and AI
https://tinyurl.com/fscuvyrf
Gemini AI Student Contest Winners
https://tinyurl.com/377sr4m4
Amazon’s $800K Bet on AI Education
https://tinyurl.com/uypb6rct
Playlab AI for Action Curriculum
https://tinyurl.com/4jxwnxz9
What “AI-Ready School” Really Means
https://tinyurl.com/2s4zpfxe
Yann LeCun to Aspiring AI Students
https://tinyurl.com/ydsnxuf
Salesforce Reconsiders LLMs
https://tinyurl.com/nbfenrsp
AI Denialism
https://tinyurl.com/5yzjv5se
AI Used To Turn Feathers into Cashmere
https://tinyurl.com/y5jmh2wd
ChatEDU – The AI & Education Podcast