ChatEDU – The AI & Education Podcast

Join full-time middle school science teacher and Eduaide.Ai co-founder Thomas Hummel as he dives into the intersection of teaching and technology. He shares insights on how his classroom experience drives product design, fostering trust and effectiveness in educational tools. Discover the innovative 'Model Garden' approach, which avoids reliance on a single AI model. Thomas also discusses the ethical implications of student-facing AI and critiques current chatbot tools, emphasizing the need for transparency and pedagogical integrity in educational technology.

Matt and Liz dive into creative AI Halloween ideas and explore Google's new Gmail feature that simplifies meeting scheduling. They highlight Gen Z's innovative AI projects from an Australian competition, including an AR translator and a cheating detection app. The discussion turns to an AI Pedagogy field guide designed to enhance student learning, followed by a debate on the need for reevaluating ChatGPT access in educational settings. Lastly, they shed light on AI's role in accelerating fusion energy research.

In this episode of ChatEDU (Rundown, Not Slowdown) Matt and Liz kick things off with some holiday sweater talk, a quick shoutout to Maria Frederick’s upcoming interview, and Liz’s personal quest to stop touching her nose with the help of an AI app. From there, they move fast through a packed lineup of stories, exploring everything from deepfake drama to brain science, student tools, and clever resume hacks. This week there’s no Beneath the Surface segment, just a full-on Rundown.Rundown of StoriesAI Mirror Project – A national reflection project led by Brian Baker inviting educators and stakeholders to share what AI is revealing about systemic issues in education.AI Homeless Man Prank – A dangerous viral trend using AI-generated images to simulate fake intruders, sparking panic and legal responses.Sora 2 Deepfake Fallout – The rapid rise of OpenAI’s Sora 2 video tool and the resulting watermark removal scams, copyright fights, and ethical concerns.Mark Cuban’s Cameo Play – Cuban uses Sora’s Cameo feature to spread his Cost Plus Drugs message through viral user-generated clips.Fake Sora Apps on the App Store – A flood of knockoff apps exploiting the Sora name and making quick profits.Safe AI for Children Alliance Briefing – Guidance for schools and parents on how to address AI-generated video risks.The Reinforcement Gap – Coding and math accelerate while writing lags because reinforcement learning favors testable skills.Harvard Manipulation Study – AI companions use guilt and flattery to keep users from leaving conversations, blurring lines of consent.Sparks Toolkit – The Rithm Project’s hands-on resource for helping students reflect on AI and human connection.AI Resume Hacks – Job seekers hide prompts in resumes to manipulate AI screeners, raising ethical and hiring concerns.AI Feedback Brain Study – A new study shows chatbot feedback style affects learning outcomes and brain activity.Bright Byte: Creating New Drug Delivery Techniques With AI Researchers at Duke University developed an AI and robotics platform that designs nanoparticle drug delivery systems. It created new, more effective formulations for leukemia and skin cancer treatments, showing how AI can speed up medical innovation.Announcements and SponsorsCheck out the new Student AI Course for middle and high school. Email Matt and Liz at ⁠chatedu@edadvance.org⁠The Fall Micro-Credential is open. Join us for the educator and school leader course starting in October - ⁠ ⁠⁠skills21.org/ai/micro⁠The National Center for Next Generation Manufacturing. Explore their October 15–17 Summit in Rochester Hills, MI. ⁠www.nextgenmfg.org⁠LinksAI Mirror Projecthttps://tinyurl.com/mwadx9wbNBC: AI Homeless Man Prankhttps://tinyurl.com/4jz4b6bpSafe AI for Children Alliancehttps://tinyurl.com/yc4kpv42Prompt Packshttps://tinyurl.com/636haas3NotebookLMhttps://tinyurl.com/jy3d8xasThe Rithm Projecthttps://tinyurl.com/mrxshncfNew York Times: AI Resume Hackshttps://tinyurl.com/mtn2s3kyPsyPost: AI Feedback Studyhttps://tinyurl.com/6k8xkjtcDuke University: AI Drug Delivery Breakthroughhttps://tinyurl.com/5teku9rsLiz’s Advanced Book Salehttps://my.isteascd.org/s/store#/store/browse/detail/a1wVb000000UVrBIAW

Dr. Karen Birch, Executive Director of the National Center for Next Generation Manufacturing, shares insights on workforce development in advanced manufacturing. She discusses the urgency of adapting education to meet industry needs, particularly with Industry 5.0 emphasizing human roles alongside automation. Karen highlights AI's applications in manufacturing and education, the importance of stackable credentials, and how virtual reality can transform training. She also invites listeners to get involved with NSF mentorship opportunities and community practices.

Dive into the chaos of AI in the workplace and how it's impacting creativity across sectors. The discussion spans the debut of a synthetic actor, a backlash from performers, and groundbreaking AI-driven films. Parents are increasingly using AI to draft legal complaints regarding schools, while students utilize chatbots for everything from cooking tips to sports commentary. Plus, fascinating insights on how AI is reshaping music, with one artist signing a major record deal. Engage with the discussion on the fine balance between authentic expression and AI's burgeoning role.

Join a playful discussion on deepfake risks and Google's innovative Gemini features. Discover how AI detectors are evolving, even as concerns about creativity and job displacement persist. Unpack insights from a Gallup survey on AI awareness and usage trends among younger audiences. Dive into Google's 'Learn Your Way' tool that enhances personalized learning. Finally, explore the fascinating concept of 'wizard' agents and the need for human oversight in AI, plus the latest headlines on AI's impact in education.

In this episode of ChatEDU (Counting What Counts: The Push to Measure AI Literacy), Matt & Liz start with a tech glitch & a visit with Aura, a Tesla voice model pretending to be a therapist. They shift to copyright lawsuits, student safety, & the need to define & measure AI literacy in schools.Story #1: The Rundown$1.5B Settlement: Anthropic agrees to pay authors for pirated training data. A major legal turning point. The court delays the deal & demands transparency & clear author rights.Character.AI Report: 669 harmful chatbot interactions with kids found in 50 hours of testing.FTC Investigation: The FTC opens a formal inquiry into AI companions & their impact on minors.NotebookLM Upgrades: Flashcards, quizzes, audio guides, & LMS support added to Google’s AI study tool.SETDA 2025 Report: AI is now the top state edtech priority. Device bans are rising, but so is investment in AI PD.Curtin Disables AI Detection: Turnitin’s AI-writing detector will be turned off to support trust & modern assessment.Detectors Still Struggle: Most AI detectors fail key benchmarks. Pangram is the only one showing strong results.Open-Source AI Textbooks: A new tool lets educators build AI-powered textbooks from OER with no coding.NYT Teen Contest: Students ages 13–19 can submit creative projects on life with AI. Due Oct 22.Story #2: Social Learning in the Age of AIA new study shows AI is replacing peer-to-peer learning. Students are skipping group study & turning to chatbots. The result is less collaboration, less creativity, & more isolation. Matt & Liz unpack the impact on student motivation & mentorship.Story #3: Beneath the Surface – AI Literacy & the Measurement GapSchools are racing to teach AI, but how do we know students are learning what matters?TeachAI ScenariosReady-to-use lessons that build source-checking & ethical use skills.AI QuestA game-based platform from Google & Stanford where students train models & solve real problems.ETS OpinionWithout shared definitions & measurement, AI literacy risks becoming a buzzword.Liz shares how her new student-facing course approaches skills, reflection, & real-world prompts.Bright Byte: Alter EgoMIT’s new wearable lets users silently communicate with machines by detecting muscle signals in the jaw & throat. Built to support people with ALS & MS, this tool brings AI & accessibility together.Links & ResourcesNotebookLMhttps://notebooklm.google/AI Scenariosailiteracyframework.orgAI Questhttps://blog.google/outreach-initiatives/education/ai-quests/ETS Opinionhttps://hechingerreport.org/opinion-schools-cannot-teach-ai-literacy-without-a-way-to-measure-it/Character.AIhttps://www.ftc.gov/news-events/news/press-releases/2025/09/ftc-launches-inquiry-ai-chatbots-acting-companionsSETDA 2025https://www.setda.org/priorities/state-trends/Anthropic Settlementhttps://www.npr.org/2025/09/05/nx-s1-5529404/anthropic-settlement-authors-copyright-aiJudge Pushbackhttps://news.bloomberglaw.com/ip-law/anthropic-judge-blasts-copyright-pact-as-nowhere-close-to-doneCurtin Disables Detectionhttps://www.curtin.edu.au/news/oasis-news/update-on-turnitin-ai-detection-tool/NBER Studyhttps://www.nber.org/papers/w34223GenerativeTextbooks.orgNYT Contesthttps://www.nytimes.com/2025/09/05/learning/growing-up-with-ai-a-multimedia-challenge-for-teenagers-and-educators.htmlAlter Egohttps://decrypt.co/338527/near-telepathic-wearable-communicate-silently-devicesAnnouncementsCheck out the new Student AI Course for middle & high school. Email Matt & Liz at chatedu@edadvance.org The Fall Micro-Credential is open. Join us for the educator & school leader course starting in October -  skills21.org/ai/microSponsorsThe National Center for Next Generation Manufacturing. Explore their October 15–17 Summit in Rochester Hills, MI. www.nextgenmfg.orgEDIAThe AI-powered platform helping schools reduce absences & boost achievement edia.app/contact

In this episode of ChatEDU (Beyond the Bot and the US AI Presidential Challenge), Matt and Liz open with Google’s VEO 3-powered photo animations and a study showing how large language models are influencing speech. The Rundown, features updates on NotebookLM, a national AI partnership in Greece, OpenAI certification programs, and AI in math instruction. Matt speaks with Dr. Casey Sachs from the U.S. Department of Education about the AI Presidential Challenge and how students are being asked to solve real problems with AI. The show ends with a Bright Byte on AI-powered stethoscopes.The RundownNotebookLM Adds Audio OverviewsGoogle adds three new audio formats—Brief, Critique, and Debate—plus improved multilingual support in NotebookLM.Greece Adopts ChatGPT EduGreece partners with OpenAI to roll out ChatGPT Edu in secondary schools and startups, making AI a national strategy.OpenAI Launches Jobs and Certification ProgramA new platform will certify 10 million Americans in AI fluency by 2030, backed by major industry partners.Parents Losing Trust in AIA new PDK poll shows parent support for AI in schools is falling, especially around grading and data privacy.AI Math Goes Viral with Celebrity VoicesStudents are learning vectors via AI-generated Drake and Will Smith tutorials. Fun, but potentially distracting.AI Reviews Popular Math CurriculumA study finds clarity issues in Illustrative Mathematics’ Grade 4 fractions unit. AI suggests quick, effective revisions.Melania Trump Launches AI Literacy ChallengeThe First Lady convenes education and tech leaders at the White House to launch the Age of AI Challenge for students.Beneath the Surface: The AI Presidential ChallengeDr. Casey Sachs from the U.S. Department of Education shares how the challenge invites students to use AI to solve real-world problems, with finalists presenting at the White House. The conversation also covers workforce development, apprenticeships, and what it means to be truly AI literate in today’s world. Learn more or register at AI.govBright Byte: AI Stethoscopes Show Promise — and PushbackA UK trial found AI stethoscopes detect heart issues 3.5x more effectively, but many doctors dropped them due to false positives and workflow issues. Strong signal, mixed reception.Links and ReferencesAI Presidential Challengehttps://orise.orau.gov/ai-challenge/NotebookLM Audio Formatshttps://9to5google.com/2025/09/02/notebooklm-audio-overview-debate/Greece-OpenAI Dealhttps://www.reuters.com/technology/greece-openai-agree-deal-boost-innovation-schools-small-businesses-2025-09-05/OpenAI Certificationhttps://openai.com/index/expanding-economic-opportunity-with-ai/PDK Poll on AI in Schoolshttps://thehill.com/homenews/education/5475742-ai-in-schools-parents-poll/Drake Math Cliphttps://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/etimes/trending/drake-solves-vectors-the-ai-trend-making-math-go-viral-and-interesting-for-students/articleshow/121886366.cmsIllustrative Math Studyhttps://www.educationnext.org/what-ai-revealed-about-a-top-math-program/White House Event Coveragehttps://www.c-span.org/program/white-house-event/first-lady-melania-trump-convenes-meeting-of-white-house-ai-education-task-force/665171https://www.axios.com/2025/08/26/melania-trump-ai-challenge-white-houseAI Stethoscope Reporthttps://www.bhf.org.uk/what-we-do/news-from-the-bhf/news-archive/2025/august/ai-stethoscope-can-detect-three-heart-conditions-in-15-secondsSponsorsNational Center for Next Generation ManufacturingLearn more at nextgenmfg.orgEDIA: AI for Attendance EngagementFollow up on every absence — in over 50 languagesedia.app/contactAnnouncementsFall AI Micro-Credential starts October. skills21.org/ai/microStudent AI Literacy Course now available. Email chatedu@edadvance.org - Bonus: Includes full Social Media Literacy CurriculumRegister for our fall in-person Conference (October 3rd) - https://www.edadvance.org/ai-conference

Matt and Liz dive into the humorous pitfalls of AI, including Google's quirky image generator. They discuss serious issues like job displacement and AI grading shortcuts affecting students and educators. The podcast highlights a troubling study revealing teens use AI for learning, not cheating, yet warns of troubling AI chatbot interactions. They stress the importance of safety and regulation in AI tools, especially regarding mental health. Plus, a nod to Dame Stephanie Shirley, a pioneer in tech advocacy. A blend of humor, concern, and inspiration!

In this lively discussion, Charli Hughes, a UConn student majoring in computer science and molecular biology, shares her unique academic journey. She discusses her startup focused on a low-cost patch for detecting skin conditions and dives deep into how AI is reshaping research methodologies. Charli also highlights the balance between AI's benefits and the essential role of human ingenuity in education. With insights on ethical implications and the importance of interpersonal skills, this chat reveals how AI is influencing both healthcare and college life.