Designing Schools

In this episode, Dr. Sabba Quidwai explores the deeper cultural implications of AI’s evolution from tools to teammates. Using OpenAI’s recent personalization shift and the OnlyFans origin story as parallels, she reflects on societal responsibility, educational challenges, and why banning AI is not a solution. Through candid insight and current research, Sabba calls for reflection, redesign, and a commitment to future-focused leadership.Timestamps[00:00:00] The Shift from Clicks to ConversationsHow AI browsers like Atlas signal a fundamental change in how we interact with technology.[00:04:00] The OpenAI Controversy and Culture ClashSabba analyzes the backlash around ChatGPT’s personality features and what it says about freedom and responsibility.[00:06:00] Lessons from OnlyFans: When Users Redefine PlatformsA surprising yet powerful comparison showing how user behavior—not company intent—shapes digital culture.[00:14:00] Reports from the Field: The AI Literacy Gap in SchoolsInsights from Oxford University Press and the Center for Democracy and Technology highlighting students’ and teachers’ lack of AI confidence.[00:24:00] What Bold Leaders Do Differently with AISabba shares leadership lessons from top-performing teams and introduces the Spark Prompting Framework for deeper AI integration.Resources MentionedSam Altman Tweet on ChatGPT UpdatesOxford University Press - Teaching the AI Native GenerationHand in Hand: Schools Embrace of AI Connected to Increased Risk for StudentsExplore More from Designing Schools🤝 Partner with Us: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Join the AI Power Circle⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and collaborate with forward-thinking educators building the future with AI.📘 Get the Book: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Designing Schools⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ — a practical blueprint to transform your campus with creativity, leadership, and innovation.🎓 Prepare Your Students for an AI Future: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Free Course – AI Skills for College and Career⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to equip your school community with future-ready skills.For questions, email: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠hello@designingschools.org⁠

In this episode of Designing Schools, Dr. Sabba Quidwai breaks down OpenAI’s transformative Dev Day announcements and what they mean for the future of education, creativity, and digital life. Exploring the shift from clickable interfaces to conversational AI, she challenges educators and leaders to rethink skills, judgment, and imagination in the age of agents and apps.⏱️ Timestamps[00:53] From Apps to AgentsOpenAI's 2025 Dev Day unveils a new digital world where apps like Canva and Spotify live inside conversations, not screens.[03:00] Redefining Human SkillsSam Altman and Jony Ive discuss focus, speed, and why human creativity and design thinking are more vital than ever.[07:26] Agents That Use Computers Like HumansGoogle’s Gemini 2.5 model introduces AI agents that can navigate and interact with digital environments autonomously.[10:25] Sora and the Rise of Generative ImaginationOpenAI’s video creation app Sora takes off—sparking excitement, ethical debates, and concerns over deepfakes.[14:35] Deloitte's AI Report ScandalAn AI-generated government report filled with fake citations reveals why discernment, not just tech skills, is critical today.Resources MentionedOpenAI Dev Day AnnouncementsUpdate: Gemini 2.5 Computer Use ModelWalmart Partnership With ChatGPT New App from OpenAI - Sora2Deloitte Pays Money Back After Making AI Errors in ReportStudent Course Waitlist Explore More from Designing Schools🤝 Partner with Us: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Join the AI Power Circle⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and collaborate with forward-thinking educators building the future with AI.📘 Get the Book: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Designing Schools⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ — a practical blueprint to transform your campus with creativity, leadership, and innovation.🎓 Prepare Your Students for an AI Future: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Free Course – AI Skills for College and Career⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to equip your school community with future-ready skills.For questions, email: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠hello@designingschools.org⁠

In this solo episode, Dr. Sabba Quidwai explores how leadership is evolving in the age of AI, not through technical mastery, but by cultivating clarity, trust, and shared intelligence. She introduces four transformative leadership personas, explains how AI is shifting from tool to teammate, and unpacks emerging research that paints a bold picture of what the world could look like in 2030.⏱️ Timestamps[00:00] The Leadership Shift in the AI EraWhy your leadership identity—not your AI knowledge—is your greatest strategy during exponential change.[04:00] What Makes a Super Leader?A breakdown of Kelly Jones' four leadership personas: The Technologist, The Empath, The Philosopher, and The Change Agent.[13:00] AI Teammates and Workflow RedesignInsights from Anthropic and OpenAI on training AI to work with humans, not replace them.[28:00] Safety, Skepticism, and the Human Cost of AIReflections on Senate hearings, Pew data, and how leaders can prepare their communities with empathy and literacy.Resources MentionedJoin the AI Power CircleThe AI Era Demands a New Kind of Leader  | CiscoHow Anthropic and OpenAI Are Developing AI Coworkers | The InformationCenter for Human Technology - Senate HearingHow Americans View AI and Its Impact on People and Society | Pew Research CenterGDP Val - Looking at AI CapabilitiesExplore More from Designing Schools🤝 Partner with Us: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Join the AI Power Circle⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and collaborate with forward-thinking educators building the future with AI.📘 Get the Book: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Designing Schools⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ — a practical blueprint to transform your campus with creativity, leadership, and innovation.🎓 Prepare Your Students for an AI Future: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Free Course – AI Skills for College and Career⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to equip your school community with future-ready skills.For questions, email: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠hello@designingschools.org⁠

In this episode, Dr. Sabba Quidwai and Stefan Bauschard explore groundbreaking findings from a study released by OpenAI and Anthropic on how people are really using AI tools like ChatGPT. From tutoring and personalized learning to writing assistance and decision-making, they break down what 700 million weekly users reveal about how AI is transforming everyday life. With special focus on education, agency, and future-ready skills, this conversation is a wake-up call for schools, institutions, and leaders to move from committees to action.Timestamps00:01:00 – Inside the Data: 700 Million Weekly Users and What They're Doing with AIA look at the NBER study's key insights, showing a dramatic rise in personal, non-work AI use.00:04:30 – Top 3 Use Cases: Tutoring, Information Seeking, and Writing SupportA breakdown of the three most common AI usage themes and their significance in education.00:13:00 – The Gender Gap Closes and the Myth of Coding-Centric AIExploration of shifting demographics and the broader applications of AI beyond STEM.00:20:00 – Why Agency is the New Literacy in the Age of AIConnecting data trends with the need for self-directed learning and decision-making skills.00:32:00 – Brandeis University’s Bold Move to Reinvent Higher Ed for an AI FutureA case study in institutional agility and what it means to act—not wait—in a rapidly evolving world.Resources MentionedHow Are People Using ChatGPTAnthropic Economic IndexBrandeis University: Reinventing the Liberal ArtsExplore More from Designing Schools🤝 Partner with Us: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Join the AI Power Circle⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and collaborate with forward-thinking educators building the future with AI.📘 Get the Book: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Designing Schools⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ — a practical blueprint to transform your campus with creativity, leadership, and innovation.🎓 Prepare Your Students for an AI Future: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Free Course – AI Skills for College and Career⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to equip your school community with future-ready skills.For questions, email: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠hello@designingschools.org⁠

This episode explores the evolving impact of AI on the job market, especially its disproportionate effects on younger workers and recent graduates. Dr. Sabba Quidwai and Stefan analyze the recent paper "Canaries in the Coal Mine", revealing how automation and augmentation are reshaping employment trends and urging educational leaders to rethink how students are being prepared for an AI-driven future.Timestamps[00:02:00] Rethinking the AI and Jobs DebateSabba challenges the binary narrative of “AI taking jobs” and advocates for a more nuanced view focused on redesigning existing roles and preparing for emerging ones.[00:05:00] Key Takeaways from ‘Canaries in the Coal Mine’Discussion of six major findings from the Stanford/Hi-Pact paper, highlighting declines in employment for young workers in AI-exposed jobs like coding and entry-level marketing.[00:10:00] Disconnect Between Education and Workforce NeedsReflection on how high schools and colleges must pivot from traditional learning models to design thinking and durable skills to help students remain relevant.[00:26:00] How to Be ‘AI Capable’ at WorkBreakdown of Zapier’s model distinguishing AI-capable, adaptive, and transformative roles—with implications for what employers now expect from applicants.[00:32:00] Notebook LM and Smarter Learning WorkflowsIntroduction to Google's Notebook LM as a transformative educational tool, enabling students to better engage with readings and improve learning outcomes using AI.Resources Mentioned📄 Paper: Canaries in the Coal Mine: Six Facts About Recent Employment Effects of AI by Erik Brynjolfsson and colleagues🗓️ Stanford Seminar (Sept 29): In-depth discussion of the Canaries in the Coal Mine findingsExplore More from Designing Schools🤝 Partner with Us: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Join the AI Power Circle⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and collaborate with forward-thinking educators building the future with AI.📘 Get the Book: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Designing Schools⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ — a practical blueprint to transform your campus with creativity, leadership, and innovation.🎓 Prepare Your Students for an AI Future: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Free Course – AI Skills for College and Career⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to equip your school community with future-ready skills.For questions, email: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠hello@designingschools.org⁠

This week, Dr. Sabba Quidwai and Stefan explore the rapidly blurring boundaries between humans and machines, from emotional bonds with AI companions to the systemic divide between individual and institutional AI use. With thought-provoking stories, emerging research, and bold perspectives, they uncover how our emotional, educational, and professional systems are unprepared for the new AI-infused reality and what we can do about it.Timestamps[00:00:00] When AI Becomes a Friend: Mustafa Suleyman's WarningSabba opens with reflections on AI's emotional mimicry and the psychological fallout when users felt they "lost a friend" with GPT model changes.[00:03:00] Companions or Crutches? Emotional Overload and Mental HealthStefan shares data on AI addiction, time spent on Character.AI, hospitalizations, and the societal implications of simulated friendships.[00:17:00] The GenAI Divide: Individual vs. Organizational AdoptionMIT's study reveals how individuals thrive using AI, while institutions lag behind—highlighting why experimentation alone isn't enough.[00:26:00] Microsoft’s 3 Phases of AI: Why Most Orgs Are Stuck in Phase 1Sabba introduces a powerful framework on AI integration—from assistants to teammates to agents—and why moving beyond Phase 1 is critical.[00:32:00] The Real Divide: Education vs. Workforce and How Youth Must AdaptAs college degrees lose value and entry-level jobs shrink, the hosts argue for design thinking and entrepreneurial mindsets in schools.Resources MentionedMustafa Suleyman's blog: Seemingly Conscious AISpiralBench: Benchmark testing AI models for delusional reinforcementNew York Times article: "What My Daughter Told ChatGPT Before She Took Her Life"MIT study: The GenAI Divide led by Professor Nitin NandaMicrosoft Work Trend Index: Three Phases of AI IntegrationExplore More from Designing Schools🤝 Partner with Us: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Join the AI Power Circle⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and collaborate with forward-thinking educators building the future with AI.📘 Get the Book: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Designing Schools⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ — a practical blueprint to transform your campus with creativity, leadership, and innovation.🎓 Prepare Your Students for an AI Future: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Free Course – AI Skills for College and Career⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to equip your school community with future-ready skills.For questions, email: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠hello@designingschools.org⁠

In this episode, Dr. Sabba Quidwai and Stefan explore the evolving relationships people, especially students are forming with AI tools like ChatGPT-5 and other AI tools. From the surprising emotional reactions to AI model updates to the rise of AI-powered toys for children, they dissect what these developments mean for education, ethics, and the future of learning. This conversation challenges educators to reconsider how we define thinking, agency, and integrity in an AI-integrated world.Timestamps[00:01:00] What AI Can Already Do – Sabba outlines the capabilities of the newest AI tools, setting the stage for a deeper conversation on mindset and systems change.[00:05:00] Emotional Attachments to ChatGPT – Stefan discusses the backlash to ChatGPT-5 and the unexpected grief users expressed over losing GPT-4.[00:13:00] Personalization, Vulnerability, and Ethics – The hosts explore how AI companies are leaning into emotional design and what this means for young people’s agency and decision-making.[00:20:00] AI-Powered Toys and the Future of Childhood – Sabba introduces the topic of AI toys like Curio and their implications for learning, imagination, and privacy.[00:31:00] Redefining Thinking in an AI World – A reflection on what it means to “think” today, featuring Des Hassabis’s definition and how educators can redesign learning for agency and depth.Resources Mentioned⁠ChatGPT-5 - updates + relationship⁠⁠Chatbots + Toys⁠Explore More from Designing Schools🤝 Partner with Us: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Join the AI Power Circle⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and collaborate with forward-thinking educators building the future with AI.📘 Get the Book: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Designing Schools⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ — a practical blueprint to transform your campus with creativity, leadership, and innovation.🎓 Prepare Your Students for an AI Future: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Free Course – AI Skills for College and Career⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to equip your school community with future-ready skills.For questions, email: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠hello@designingschools.org⁠

This episode unpacks the viral claim, “AI won’t take your job, but someone who knows how to use it will,” exploring its deeper implications. Sabba and Stefan discuss how cultivating high-agency learners and leaders — who can adapt, make decisions, and build trust — is far more critical than simply learning AI tools. With practical strategies and thought-provoking insights, the conversation challenges educators, parents, and leaders to foster resilience and human connection in a world increasingly shaped by AI.Timestamps00:00 – The Viral Lie: “AI won’t take your job…”Sabba challenges the popular soundbite and introduces the real question: Who can lead and adapt when no one else comes to save them?03:00 – Greg Eisenberg’s Perspective on AI and JobsExploring Greg Eisenberg’s viral post and its implications for the workforce, entrepreneurship, and education.09:00 – Building High-Agency Learners vs. Teaching AI ToolsWhy persistence, curiosity, and decision-making matter more than ever — and why perfection and compliance no longer serve students or employees.27:00 – The Rise of AI Companions and the Loneliness CrisisDiscussing the concerning trend of kids (and adults) turning to AI for companionship, and what it says about human relationships.36:00 – Practical Strategies: Frameworks and Tools to Cultivate AgencyConcrete ways schools and organizations can foster high-agency environments, including examples from Desert Sands USD and Gemini AI.Explore More from Designing Schools🤝 Partner with Us: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Join the AI Power Circle⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and collaborate with forward-thinking educators building the future with AI.📘 Get the Book: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Designing Schools⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ — a practical blueprint to transform your campus with creativity, leadership, and innovation.🎓 Prepare Your Students for an AI Future: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Free Course – AI Skills for College and Career⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to equip your school community with future-ready skills.For questions, email: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠hello@designingschools.org⁠Resources MentionedGreg Eisenberg’s LinkedIn post - How Does AI Play OutAI Companions and Kids

In this episode of Designing Schools, Dr. Sabba Quidwai and Stefan Bauschard explore the transformative shift from individual AI use to organizational deployment. They discuss Google's LearnLM principles, Gemini's enterprise tools, and how AI agents are changing the skills and mindset needed for leadership and collaboration. Through reflections, real-world examples, and critical insights, they outline how to move beyond using AI as an assistant and start managing it as a teammate.⏱️ Timestamps[00:01:00] Resetting for Impact: Sabba reflects on the first half of the year and clarifies her focus on organizational AI deployment.[00:06:00] Students, Parents, and AI: Stefan shares insights from his AI & entrepreneurship class and reactions to AI tools.[00:07:00] Google's LearnLM & Gemini: Unpacking the five principles of LearnLM and their implications for education.[00:19:00] OECD AI Capability Review: What AI can and can’t do yet — and how it measures up on skills like creativity, metacognition, and problem-solving.[00:40:00] From AI Assistant to Teammate: Why managing AI agents is a leadership challenge and how to move from individual use to enterprise deployment.Explore More from Designing Schools🤝 Partner with Us: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Join the AI Power Circle⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and collaborate with forward-thinking educators building the future with AI.📘 Get the Book: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Designing Schools⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ — a practical blueprint to transform your campus with creativity, leadership, and innovation.🎓 Prepare Your Students for an AI Future: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Free Course – AI Skills for College and Career⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to equip your school community with future-ready skills.For questions, email: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠hello@designingschools.org⁠Resources MentionedGoogle Updates from ISTEGoldman Sachs CIO - We Must Prepare AI Native sand Being a People First OrganizationOECD AI Capability IndexGemini + Canva Course - Join our mini course and learn how to build your AI Dream Team

This episode explores how the evolving job market prioritizes AI fluency, adaptability, and mindset over traditional qualifications. Sabba and Stefan dissect recent research and reports, highlighting how education must adapt to prepare learners for a future where AI is a collaborator, not a cheat code. They also spotlight real-world education leaders and systems successfully navigating this transformation.Timestamps[00:01:00] The Résumé is Out, AI Fluency is InSabba unpacks a Fortune article on how companies now prioritize AI skills and mindset over experience or degrees.[00:04:00] Refusing AI Isn’t an OptionStefan raises concerns about higher ed’s disconnect, especially around ethical objections to using AI in learning environments.[00:10:00] Sandbox Interviews and Soft Skills ReimaginedDiscussion of new hiring practices including live AI collaborations and how soft skills like curiosity are redefined.[00:23:00] Stanford’s Human-AI Collaboration StudyDeep dive into new research from Stanford that maps out AI integration across roles, emphasizing shared human-AI agency.[00:36:00] Barbie Gets AI: The Future Starts in the ToyboxInsights on the Mattel–OpenAI partnership and how early AI exposure through toys will shape children’s perceptions and skills.Explore More from Designing Schools🤝 Partner with Us: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Join the AI Power Circle⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and collaborate with forward-thinking educators building the future with AI.📘 Get the Book: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Designing Schools⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ — a practical blueprint to transform your campus with creativity, leadership, and innovation.🎓 Prepare Your Students for an AI Future: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Free Course – AI Skills for College and Career⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to equip your school community with future-ready skills.For questions, email: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠hello@designingschools.org⁠Resources MentionedFortune Magazine article on AI hiring trendsStanford’s “Future of Work with AI Agents” studyDiary of a CEO interview with Geoffrey HintonMattel and OpenAI partnership announcementAI Power Circle program: Join the AI Power Circle