AI in Education Podcast

Delve into the fascinating world where AI tools meet education. Discover how features like study modes raise ethical questions on academic honesty. Explore Google's innovative NanoBanana image editor and its potential to shape perceptions of reality. Learn about Corella, the AI assistant designed to lighten teachers' workloads in Australia. Plus, hear about groundbreaking research predicting that a staggering 95% of AI projects fail and how students might leverage AI tools like Grammarly to challenge traditional grading.

Dr. Sophie Fenton, Head of Leadership Learning at Amicus, emphasizes the importance of a human-first approach in the age of AI. She discusses how leadership styles must adapt to prioritize soft skills and emotional intelligence. Sophie explores the concept of 'human experience' departments and the essential role of AI ethics in decision-making. She challenges listeners to rethink productivity, advocating for meaningful human interactions over mere efficiency. Ultimately, she calls for education to return to its philosophical roots for a harmonious future with technology.

The discussion kicks off with a look at Microsoft's partnership with Australia's Future Skills Organization to boost vocational education. Exciting global initiatives from tech giants like Google promise big changes in AI training. The launch of GPT-5 has sparked debates over equity and its impact on classrooms. AI tutoring shows promise, improving student engagement and retention. The conversation also delves into the crucial issue of bias in AI, stressing the need for critical assessments to uphold fairness in educational contexts.

Dr. Anna Denejkina, a researcher at the Insight Centre and Student Edge, explores how young Australians are engaging with generative AI. She reveals that 30% of Gen Z students are reconsidering their career paths due to AI's impact on job security. Gender influences confidence in AI skills, with notable disparities affecting women in STEM. Denejkina emphasizes the need for clear guidelines on AI use to combat plagiarism misconceptions and advocates for more inclusive decision-making in AI development to better reflect student needs.

Discover the exciting new 'study mode' in ChatGPT designed to enhance student learning with interactive questions. Explore major tech releases from Google and Microsoft, including tools aimed at improving education. Delve into the implications of AI innovations on creative fields like music and storytelling. Learn about the impact of AI on job markets and education, alongside the ongoing efforts for equitable access to these technologies. Tune in for insights into the future of learning and workforce skills amidst rapid technological advancements.

In this eye-opening episode of the podcast, hosts Ray and Dan are joined by a remarkable group of students from All Hallows School in Queensland. Part of the student-led series 12, this conversation dives into how teens are really using AI in their schoolwork. And it’s far more sophisticated than you might think. From using Gemini and ChatGPT to find historical sources and generate study guides, to marking their own assignments with AI before submission, these students aren’t cutting corners. They talk openly about how they’re finding smarter ways to learn. The discussion explores ethical concerns like plagiarism, cheating, and data privacy, as well as creative uses of AI in coding, English, and even video production.

Discover the revolutionary use of AI in education, from Harvard's custom chatbot tutor that's reshaping classrooms to new training modules for Australian teachers promoting safe AI practices. Explore the challenges and breakthroughs in AI's mathematical abilities, and hear about universities' concerns over reliance on detection tools for academic integrity. Finally, students voice their apprehensions about AI's reliability and call for more educator support, highlighting the ongoing dialogue surrounding AI's role in learning.

High schoolers are embracing AI like ChatGPT and VEO3 as creative study buddies. Caitlyn, a Year 11 student, shares how these tools enhance essays and video projects, blending traditional learning with tech. She discusses a 'traffic light system' to ensure ethical use of AI and reflects on trust in AI feedback versus human teachers. The conversation highlights the importance of responsibility in harnessing technology for learning, giving a fresh perspective on how students are navigating their educational journeys in a tech-driven world.

Union-Powered AI: PD Meets Big Tech This solo news-and-research roundup unpacks a blockbuster fortnight for AI in education, highlighting a landmark partnership between U.S. teacher unions and tech companies that could rewrite professional development. Headlines AFT × UFT × Microsoft/OpenAI/Anthropic – launch the National Academy for AI Instruction (US $23 M) to train 400,000 educators as AI-savvy professionals Announcement: https://www.aft.org/press-release/aft-launch-national-academy-ai-instruction-microsoft-openai-anthropic-and-united AI Instruction website: https://aiinstruction.org/  Google “Gemini for Education” – 30 generative tools for lesson design, rubrics & more (ISTE 2025 reveal).  Blog post: https://blog.google/outreach-initiatives/education/gemini-iste-2025/ 21 page announcement PDF: https://services.google.com/fh/files/misc/gfe_launch_guide_iste2025.pdf  White House “EDAI” pledge – 67 “AI Education & Workforce Champions” commit resources for schools https://www.whitehouse.gov/edai/  And a questioning post from James O'Hagan Microsoft Elevate & AI Economy Institute – New Microsoft philanthropy arm plus research fellowships on AI, work & learning. Microsoft Announcement: https://blogs.microsoft.com/on-the-issues/2025/07/09/elevate/ Microsoft Elevate: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/elevate  AI for Good Lab: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/research/group/ai-for-good-research-lab/ai-economy-institute/  Research spotlights Teaching for Tomorrow (Walton Foundation × Gallup): 60% of U.S. teachers using AI save 5.9 hrs/week, yet only 19% of schools have policies. https://www.gallup.com/analytics/659819/k-12-teacher-research.aspx  Simple Techniques to Bypass Gen-AI Detectors (Perkins et al., 2024): popular text detectors flag 50% of genuine student work as AI. https://educationaltechnologyjournal.springeropen.com/articles/10.1186/s41239-024-00487-w  Jisc briefing: even 1% false-positive rates could falsely accuse 4,800 papers/year at a 20 k-student university. https://nationalcentreforai.jiscinvolve.org/wp/2025/06/24/ai-detection-assessment-and-learning-to-use-electricity/  Riding the Tiger of AI Feedback (Aus. multi-uni, 2025): 50% of students already use AI for feedback; teachers still ranked “more helpful.” https://aiinhe.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/2025-hedx-feedback-survey-insights.pdf   

Episode Series 12 Episode 8 AI by Students, for Students In this special episode of the AI in Education Podcast, recorded live at the AIS NSW ICT Management and Leadership conference, Dan and Ray chat with two forward-thinking school leaders about how students are using AI in transformative ways. First up, Thomas Blackwood, Head of ICT at Fahan School in Tasmania, shares how his school built its own AI tool – "Annabelle" – to give students a tailored, ethical, and effective AI tutor. From exam revision to building study guides, students are using it creatively and proactively, showing just how valuable thoughtful AI implementation can be. Then, Jake Turnbull, Digital Learning Leader at Pymble Ladies College, discusses empowering students through leadership and voice. From running AI professional learning for 500 teachers to organising student-led symposiums, Jake highlights how students are already shaping the future of AI in education. Links During the conversation we mentioned: Alpha School in Austin, Texas: https://www.alphaschools.org Khan Academy's AI Tutor Khanmigo: https://www.khanacademy.org/khan-labs