AI in Education Podcast

After starting with an existential crisis - "Are we basically doing the AI equivalent of a maths calculator podcast from the 1970s?" - in this news and research update, Dan and Ray unpack the latest developments in AI and education. Starting with China’s decision to shut down AI tools during national exams, they then revisit NSW’s EduChat chatbot, now in widespread use, with compelling data on time savings for teachers and learning benefits for students. The hosts dive into fresh research from the LEGO Foundation and Microsoft, both highlighting how young students engage with generative AI—and the equity and creativity issues that come with it. They also tackle the viral MIT study suggesting AI could cause "cognitive debt" and discuss why such claims should be taken with academic caution. Finally, Dan and Ray trace the recurring media fear that each new technology - from books to bicycles - has been accused of making us stupid. As always, they bring wit, warmth, and real insight into how AI is shaping education. Links and references for the studies, news and research discussed: News China shuts down AI tools during nationwide college exams [Bloomberg, The Verge] AI is in every NSW public school classroom. Is that a good thing? Anthropic's copyright case with Claude Research Lego research into children's use of ChatGPT [Project website] New Microsoft report on AI in Education announced at ISTE Your Brain on ChatGPT: Accumulation of Cognitive Debt when Using an AI Assistant for Essay Writing Task [Project website - Natalie Kosmina's LinkedIn announcement post - Time news story] And finally For your enjoyment, Donald Clark's "Sisyphean nature of moral panics against new technology" aka What's making us dumb this time? And if you want more enjoyment like Donald's article, then you'll love the Pessimists Archive on Twitter or their newsletter      

We're halfway through Season 12 - the Student one - and in episode 6 you finally get to meet Megan (Year 7) and James (Year 11). Long-term listeners will have heard co-host Dan talking about how his own children use AI, and so now you can hear their perspectives. Dan asks both of them share how they and their friends use AI in school and outside. Enjoy the honest revelations!

In this news and research-packed episode, Ray and Dan dive deep into the AI highlights from EduTech 2025 in Sydney - reflecting on the vibe, standout presentations, and the surprisingly light AI presence on the expo floor. They unpack major news from the UK’s Department for Education, OpenAI’s model pricing shake-up, and raise serious red flags over Meta AI’s privacy approach. The duo also tackles the big questions educators face: is AI destroying the planet? Can we trust AI with student data? And what do students themselves think? Featuring insights from two key research pieces - Australia’s "From Gen Z to Gen AI" and Jisc’s UK-based "Student Perceptions of AI 2025" - this episode reveals how students are using AI, what they’re worried about, and why institutions need to catch up. Links: UK Government's Policy Paper "Generative AI in Education" OpenAI releases o3-pro (Model Release Notes) and slashes the cost of o3-pro for developers, compared to o1-pro OpenAI forced to retain all conversation logs by the New York Times lawyers, and details of OpenAI's response Meta.ai privacy approach - so far, only covered by Crikey Energy/water usage of ChatGPT In Sam Altman's blog  he said "the average query uses about 0.34 watt-hours, about what an oven would use in a little over one second, or a high-efficiency lightbulb would use in a couple of minutes." (about the same as a Google search) Dr Karen Boyd's excellent blog post we discussed: "Ethics & LLMs: Sustainability" which also contains the great comparison charts for electricity and water use for common activities. Details on Karen's upcoming book, Amplify Good Work Research on students' AI attitudes and use Dr Anna Denejkina's research "From Gen Z to GenAI: The impact, opportunities and challenges of Generative AI for young Australians" JISC's research "Student Perceptions of AI 2025", from Sue Attewell

Students as AI Innovators In this inspiring episode of the podcast, hosts Ray and Dan speak with Brett Moller, Director of Knowledge Services / Head of Creative Industries at St. Andrew’s Anglican College on the Sunshine Coast. Brett shares how his school is flipping the AI narrative — from fear and compliance to student agency, creativity, and real-world problem-solving. He discusses how students are not only using AI tools but building their own large language models, crafting apps that respond to deeply personal challenges like Parkinson’s disease and anxiety, and collaborating with local industry on meaningful tech projects. From AI-powered research assistants to empathy-led app design, Brett’s stories highlight a future where students are not just consumers, but creators of AI solutions. This episode is packed with powerful insights on ethical AI use, teacher transformation, and the evolving role of libraries, educators, and students in the AI era. Learn more about the St Andrew's story: Interview with the winning students St Andrew’s Students Win International Recognition in Apple Swift Student Challenge Eight Aussie students recognised by Apple in their WWDC Student Challenge – Three from the SAME SCHOOL! Discover more about Sandy Robinson, the new St Andrew's Research Assistant St Andrew's Instagram  Links to things mentioned in this episode: The Learner's Apprentice: AI and the Amplification of Human Creativity - Dr Ken Kahn's book GitHub project: MacMind (student-built LLMs)  Apple Swift Student Challenge Microsoft Imagine Cup "Imagine Cup Junior" in a box  

In this episode of the AI in Education Podcast, Dan and Ray dive deep into how students are really using - beyond the hype. They unpack recent findings from the Anthropic Education Report, exploring how students interact with models like Claude for study, writing, and even problem-solving. They discuss the latest sentiment data from a KPMG/University of Melbourne Business School report, "Trust, attitudes and use of artificial intelligence", revealing surprising differences in global optimism and concern about AI. (See the chart below, which isn't in the report, but Ray's creation from Figure 15) Plus, they share updates from Google I/O and Microsoft Build, highlight emerging trends in multi-agent systems, and reflect on how AI tools like VO are reshaping content creation. From skeptical spouses to the evolving role of educators, this episode blends data, insight, and laughs.

In this episode of the AI in Education Podcast, hosts Ray and Dan kick off Series 12 with a powerful focus on students—how they learn, what they need, and how AI is shaping their academic journeys. Joining them is Nina Huntemann, Chief Academic Officer at Chegg, who shares revealing insights from Chegg.org’s 2025 Global Student Survey, which polled over 11,000 students across 15 countries. Nina dives into how students are turning to generative AI tools like ChatGPT more than their professors, not out of laziness but to fill gaps in clarity, access, and support. The trio explores the need for AI that’s student-specific - not just curriculum-aligned - and the importance of pedagogical design in educational tech. They also tackle key issues of equity, mental health, and the real-world skills students want for future workplaces. Links: Chegg.org Global Student Survey 2025 Anthropic Education Report: How University Students Use Claude  

New Series Alert - all about students In the kickoff episode of Series 12, Dan and Ray set the stage for a deep dive into AI from the student's perspective. Why are students confused about AI? How are they actually using it - and how should they be using it? The hosts explore the idea that AI can act as a tutor, a teacher, or a shortcut (a "cheater") and reflect on how this plays out in real classrooms and learning experiences. They also caught up on plenty of news this week - transdisciplinary learning models, new AI education policies from countries like China and the UAE, and how major tech players like Microsoft and Google are adapting their tools for younger learners. The episode also highlights a new meta-analysis on ChatGPT’s effect on student learning. UAE AI Curriculum Changes China AI Curriculum Changes Microsoft's new announcement on Microsoft 365 Copilot for students 13+ The meta analysis paper is The effect of ChatGPT on students’ learning performance, learning perception, and higher-order thinking: insights from a meta-analysis Finally, there's two things we ask you, the listener, for in this episode: If you haven't already, pop into your podcast app and give us a rating and review Help shape this season by connecting the podcast with students and researchers who can share insights into real-life student experiences with AI Have feedback or want to get involved? Email us at hosts@aipodcast.education

In this special solo-hosted episode, Ray is joined by Dr. Mike Seymour from the University of Sydney, recorded live at the 2025 AI in Higher Education Symposium. You can find Mike through LinkedIn and the University of Sydney Mike shares captivating insights from his work in digital humans - lifelike AI avatars that can support learning, healthcare, and emotional wellbeing. From using VR to train veterinary students with virtual sheep, to exploring how emotionally intelligent digital tutors can transform how students ask questions, this episode dives deep into the practical, human-centered future of AI. Mike draws on his background in Hollywood visual effects and his current research to make a compelling case: AI isn't a single tool - it's a system, a landscape, a way to augment and extend human capability. The conversation ranges from the ethics of AI in healthcare to using AI for dubbing films, always returning to a central theme: how technology can support, not replace, people. And when you've listened to this podcast, jump across to Mike's two podcasts - the fxpodcast and thevfxshow - which both take you on a journey to Hollywood and visual effects There are so many resources that you can read to dive into this story further: Mike's fxguide25 website Motus Lab - researching AI Digital Humans Mike's portfolio on Vimeo Look at the timestamps on the videos - amazing videos from 5 years ago that we can now do in consumer apps, like this Mike vs Mike Test and the Pinscreen Test video - amazing that it's gone from bleeding edge to available in everyday consumer apps in half a decade! Whether you're an educator, technologist, or just curious about the future, this episode is packed with ideas that will stick with you.  

In this episode of the AI in Education Podcast, Ray and Dan return from a short break with a packed roundup of AI developments across education and beyond. They discuss the online launch of the AEIOU interdisciplinary research hub that Dan attended, explore the promise and pitfalls of prompt engineering—including the idea of the “Uber prompt”—and share first impressions of the OpenAI Academy. Ray unpacks misleading headlines about Bill Gates “replacing teachers” with AI and instead spotlights the real message about AI tutors. They also dive into the 2027 AI forecast report, the emerging impact of the EU AI Act, and Microsoft's latest Work Trend Index, which introduces the idea of "agent bosses" in the AI-driven workplace. And then round off with Ben Williamson’s list of AI fails in education and a startling story of an AI radio presenter nobody realised was fake. Here's all the links so you too can fall down the AI news rabbithole 😊 AI in Education at Oxford University interdisciplinary research hub  https://aieou.web.ox.ac.uk/  OpenAI Academy https://academy.openai.com/home  Introduction to ChatGPT Edu: Your AI-Powered Academic Companion https://academy.openai.com/home/videos/introduction-to-chatgpt-edu-2025-03-20  AI for Academic Success: Research, Writing, and Studying Made Easier https://academy.openai.com/home/videos/ai-for-academic-success-research-writing-and-studying-made-easier-2025-03-20  Mastering Prompts: The Key to Getting What You Need from ChatGPT https://academy.openai.com/home/videos/mastering-prompts-the-key-to-getting-what-you-need-from-chatgptmastering-prompts-the-key-to-getting-what-you-need-from-chatgpt-2025-03-20  AI 2027 Forecast Report  https://ai-2027.com/  2025 EDUCAUSE Students and Technology Report: Shaping the Future of Higher Education Through Technology, Flexibility, and Well-Being https://library.educause.edu/resources/2025/4/2025-educause-students-and-technology-report  Melbourne & KPMG AI Sentiment Survey https://kpmg.com/au/en/home/insights/2025/04/trust-in-ai-global-insights-2025.html  https://www.innovationaus.com/australians-the-most-pessimistic-in-the-world-on-ai/  Microsoft Work Trend Index 2025 https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/worklab/work-trend-index/2025-the-year-the-frontier-firm-is-born  Ben Williamson’s AI Fails in Education on LinkedIn This links to all the individual stories, so head to Ben's story, give it a like, and then click through to the warnings from the stories! https://www.linkedin.com/posts/ben-williamson-7a501b329_top-ai-in-education-fails-so-far-millions-activity-7318038426270806016-pIzp  Australian Radio Network digitises diversity with an artificially generated Asian female presenter https://www.startupdaily.net/topic/artificial-intelligence-machine-learning/eye-thy-with-my-ai-australian-radio-network-digitises-diversity-with-an-artificially-generated-asian-female-presenter 

In this engaging discussion, Minh Huynh, a key figure from the University of Sydney Education Innovation team, shares her journey from student to leader in AI integration for biology courses. Cory Dal Ponte, a learning designer and PhD researcher from the University of Melbourne, introduces innovative GPT-powered tools enhancing AI literacy. They explore the transformative role of learning designers in education, the blend of trust and collaboration necessary for AI adoption, and the exciting possibilities AI brings to course design and learner engagement.