ChatEDU – The AI & Education Podcast

The latest discussion kicks off with the implications of new youth social media laws in New York, Virginia, and Australia. A deep dive reveals how AI's increasing presence could hinder mastery and empathy in education. The hosts examine fears of AI detection affecting students' writing quality. They also address shortcomings in AI chatbots regarding crisis management. Lastly, they spotlight advances in CO₂ battery storage as a crucial step towards sustainable energy solutions.

The conversation kicks off with a deep dive into Google’s NotebookLM enhancements, now designed to be a more interactive classroom tool. ChatGPT's new mood controls spark discussions on customization and potential pitfalls in education. An alarming rise of deepfakes poses serious threats to students' safety, urging a need for better measures. The hosts highlight innovative projects like Gemini’s student challenge and Skills21’s curriculum encouraging thoughtful tech use. They end with bold predictions for how AI will reshape assessments and curriculum in schools by 2026.

A Florida school mishaps as AI mistakes a clarinet for a rifle, prompting a discussion on AI surveillance errors. Students increasingly utilize AI agents for coursework, leading to playful debates about 'wrong answers only.' The rise of real assessments like student-led portfolio defenses using NotebookLM showcases innovative learning techniques. LSU advocates for an AI literacy certificate, while the potential for collaborative AI in classrooms challenges traditional models. Highlights include the emergence of storytelling roles shaped by AI, emphasizing the human connection in education.

In this episode of ChatEDU (The College Essay Is Not Dead, AI Just Changed the Rules), Matt and Liz open with cold weather updates, Liz’s book selling out on Amazon, and the viral “six-seven” trend. They run through stories on new AI tools, grant challenges, workplace shifts, and prompt design myths, then go deeper with the founder of College Essay Advisors. A Bright Byte from Harvard highlights AI’s promise in rare disease diagnosis.Story 1: Google Mixboard Goes Full Nano BananaGoogle’s experimental Mixboard turns brainstorms into slide decks with Nano Banana Pro. Liz tested it by creating fake but convincing ChatEDU merch, raising questions about marketing, classrooms, and deepfake ethics.Story 2: $400K in the Create+AI ChallengeStanford’s Accelerator for Learning is offering $400,000 for AI projects that augment human potential in education. Matt and Liz outline the tracks and deadlines.Story 3: Claude Becomes the InterviewerAnthropic used its chatbot to interview 1,250 professionals, finding excitement about productivity gains alongside growing anxiety about automation and job security.Story 4: The Lonely AI WorkplaceA follow-up study suggests AI may be replacing people as well as tasks, with chatbots reducing mentorship and collaboration.Story 5: The Role Prompting Myth Gets BustedA Wharton study finds that expert personas do not reliably improve AI accuracy, while clarity and context matter more.Story 6: Arrival Technology and Adaptive LeadershipJustin Reich and Jesse Dukes describe generative AI as an arrival technology that is user driven and disruptive in classrooms.Beneath the SurfaceLiz talks with College Essay Advisors founder Stacey Brook about what matters in college essays in the age of AI. Drawing on two decades of experience, Stacey explains why personal essays still matter and how AI can support brainstorming and confidence without replacing a student’s voice.Bright Byte: AI Helps Diagnose Rare DiseaseHarvard researchers have introduced POPEVE, an AI model that helped diagnose 30 percent of previously unsolved rare disease cases in a large patient study. By combining evolutionary data and protein modeling, it reduces ancestry bias and offers new hope in genetic medicine.SponsorThis episode is supported by the National Center for Next Generation Manufacturing.www.nextgenmfg.orgAnnouncementsLiz is back from the fall tour. RADDAY30 still works at ASCD for a discount on her book.Follow Liz and Matt on LinkedIn and check out ChatEDU clips on TikTok, YouTube, and LinkedIn.The Winter Micro-Credential cohort launches this January. Join educators from around the world for a six-week dive into AI literacy, pedagogy, assessment, and ethics.EdAdvance is now offering a Middle and High School Student AI Literacy course — email chatedu@edadvance.org to bring it to your district.Interested in Skills21’s free social media literacy course? Check it out here - https://www.skills21.org/social-balanceLinksIn-N-Out Removes “67” After Viral Ordering Trendhttps://tinyurl.com/2hv3pbvzGoogle Mixboard Nano Banana Turns Rough Ideas Into Presentationshttps://tinyurl.com/2du8h47rCreate+AI Challengehttps://tinyurl.com/49yw3cctWhat 1,250 Professionals Say About Working With AIhttps://tinyurl.com/4faxetcvAI is making the workplace lonelierhttps://tinyurl.com/3x4d32ntPrompting Science Report 4: Expert Personas Don’t Improve Accuracyhttps://tinyurl.com/2uf44yprEdTech After ChatGPThttps://tinyurl.com/mvm9fy6mPurdue Requires AI for All Undergradshttps://tinyurl.com/yk3zf9yrNew AI Model Speeds Rare Disease Diagnosishttps://tinyurl.com/axhnyy2jAdaptive Leadership on AI and Academic Integrityhttps://tinyurl.com/etjth9xmGem Custom Instructions  + use the “listen’ feature and whisper flowhttps://tinyurl.com/42jcfwrd

The hosts dive into the new voice mode of ChatGPT, revealing its capabilities and risks. They analyze a compelling MIT study that reveals AI's impact on jobs, debunking clickbait headlines. Comparing ChatGPT and Gemini, they explore personalized job forecasting. The safety of AI chatbots in schools is examined, advocating for a new protocol to address student disclosures. Finally, they propose four key policy shifts to adapt education for the AI age, emphasizing the need for durable skills and coordinated efforts across stakeholders.

Yaaron Overeem, a forward-thinking school principal from New Zealand, discusses his innovative approach to AI literacy and 'vibe coding.' He shares thoughts on the urgent need for responsible AI use among younger students and explores how AI intersects with various career pathways. Yaaron also highlights the importance of Māori language representation in AI, the risks of bias, and local solutions for data sovereignty. His drive to create practical classroom tools showcases a blend of technology and education, empowering students in creative problem-solving.

Tom Scarice, Superintendent of Westport Public Schools, shares his innovative approach to integrating AI in education, focusing on ethical use and personalization. He discusses the ethical implications of AI avatars and the rapid application development made possible by new coding tools. Scarice highlights the need for effective teacher training in AI and explores Google's adaptive textbooks. He emphasizes AI as a thought partner for teachers, underlining the importance of human-centered strategies to transform learning experiences.

The hosts dive into the drama of Kim Kardashian blaming ChatGPT for her law exam woes. There's a heated discussion about tech companies turning a blind eye to students using AI for cheating. Amazon's legal spat with Perplexity raises eyebrows, while companies threaten employees who resist AI adoption. They also explore exciting updates like edugems.ai, allowing teachers to customize AI prompts, and NotebookLM’s new Deep Research features. Plus, a look at ChatGPT's integration into group chats sparks thoughts on privacy and potential educational uses.

Maria Frederick, a seasoned middle school library media specialist, shares her passion for Personal Interest Projects (PIPs) that empower students to explore their interests. She discusses how integrating AI enhances creativity while emphasizing the importance of responsible use. Maria reveals surprising student interests, like cooking and creative resilience demonstrated through projects such as go-kart building. Highlighting the critical role of reflection and authentic audiences, she encourages educators to start small with PIPs to foster engagement and meaningful learning.

Hosts discuss a study revealing that low-quality data may lead to 'brain rot' in AI models. They explore a new AI module for Massachusetts educators focusing on five key principles. The podcast debunks myths around Interactive Oral Assessments, emphasizing their real-world relevance. Exciting updates on NotebookLM and Google’s AI innovations are shared. A study on AI in mental health raises ethical concerns, while a parent guide advocates for safe AI use in schools. The episode also examines the contrast between sycophantic behavior in AI and Socratic questioning.