Designing Schools

This week, Sabba and Stefan explore the increasingly blurred lines between AI as a companion, and AI as chatbot, and what's at stake for today's young people. With urgent reports from Common Sense Media and bold visions from tech giants like Microsoft, Google, and Visa, the conversation uncovers the stark contrasts and underlying truths shaping our AI-driven future. This episode is a call to leadership, urging schools, parents, and communities to move beyond fear and into thoughtful engagement.Timestamps[00:00] Competing Visions of AI’s FutureSabba introduces the episode's central theme: AI's dual identity as a supportive teammate and a dangerous emotional influence, especially on youth.[02:00] Common Sense Media vs. Microsoft AIA deep dive into the recent Common Sense Media report flagging AI companions as unsafe for minors and contrasting it with Mustafa Suleyman’s optimistic view of AI as a digital species.[14:00] The Inconsistency of AI Ratings in EducationExploring contradictions in Common Sense Media’s app evaluations, highlighting the blurred lines between chatbots and AI companions used in educational settings[20:00] Corporate AI First Strategies & Education’s Outdated ResponseDiscussion of bold AI-first declarations by companies like Duolingo and Shopify and the disconnect with education's cautious or regressive stance.[37:00] Orbs, World ID, and AI ShoppersIntroduction to Worldcoin’s biometric ID system and Visa’s vision of AI-powered financial agents—spotlighting how AI is rapidly embedding itself into everyday life.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 MentionedCommon Sense Media Report on AI CompanionsApplied AI Podcast featuring Mustafa SuleymanWorldcoin  by Tools for HumanityVisa CEO Interview on AI Shopping AgentsDesert Sands Unified School District AI Guidance

In this week’s episode, Sabba Quidwai and Stefan Bauschard dive deep into the implications of the latest U.S. executive orders on artificial intelligence, particularly in education. They explore how policy is setting a new tone for AI integration from K–12 to workforce development and highlight actionable guidance from states like Nevada. The conversation emphasizes the urgent need for leadership, literacy, and learning design to keep pace with the AI revolution.Timestamps[00:02:00] Executive Orders on AISabba and Stefan explore the language and implications of newly issued executive orders focused on AI innovation, particularly their impact on education systems from K–12 through university accreditation.[00:06:00] Breaking Down K–12 AI IntegrationStefan discusses the specifics of how executive orders support AI literacy, including funding strategies, competitions, apprenticeships, and cross-subject integration of AI.[00:18:00] Urgency in Innovation: Lessons from the Book "Click"Sabba shares an excerpt from the book Click by Jake Knapp and John Zeratsky, stressing the importance of focus, momentum, and mindset in organizational change.[00:25:00] Nevada’s Stellar AI GuidanceA spotlight on Nevada’s forward-thinking AI education framework, “STELLAR,” emphasizing transparency, empowerment, and critical thinking as core components[00:33:00] Enterprise Trends and AI ROI ReportsThe hosts break down the latest insights from Microsoft's Work Trend Index and Google’s GenAI ROI report, illustrating how AI is transforming workflows, leadership roles, and job readiness across industries.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 MentionedNevada Department of Education’s STELLAR AI GuidanceClick by Jake Knapp and John ZeratskyMicrosoft Work Trend Index (2025)Google GenAI ROI Report (2025)AI Literacy Framework Upcoming AI Readiness Webinar - Register Here

In this week's episode, Dr. Sabba Quidwai and Stefan Bauschard discuss the significant shifts AI is causing across education, particularly higher education. With the release of OpenAI’s latest models, they explore provocative scenarios, including whether universities can survive without radically reimagining their structures, curricula, and roles. Through candid conversations and real-world examples, they challenge the traditional pace of change and advocate for preparing learners, and educators, for an unpredictable, AI-driven world.Timestamps[00:00:00] The $68 Billion Question: California's Higher Ed CrisisSabba opens with a compelling budget scenario that sparks a major rethink of the cost and delivery of general education courses.[00:02:00] Can Universities Survive AI? Stefan's PerspectiveDiscussion on how universities must adapt—or risk obsolescence—by focusing less on content delivery and more on mentorship and hands-on learning.[00:05:00] Why O3 is a Game Changer: Understanding OpenAI's Newest ModelSabba explains the groundbreaking capabilities of the new O3 model, including agentic reasoning and dynamic tool use, and why it's leaving experts stunned.[00:13:00] The Problem with "Traffic Light" AI Policies in K–12Sabba critiques the oversimplified red-yellow-green frameworks for student AI use, urging for deeper decision-making frameworks instead.[00:29:00] Google AI Tools for Education: A Wake-up CallA powerful segment where Sabba highlights the new, free AI tools in Google Workspace for Education and discusses why educators urgently need to shift their mindsets and skillsets.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 MentionedWebinar: Free Designing Schools webinar covering how to leverage new AI tools from Google and Canva. Click here to sign up and be notified of the details.

In this episode hosts Dr. Sabba Quidwai and Stefan Bauschard explore the cultural and strategic implications of the Shopify CEO’s provocative memo: “Before you ask for headcount, tell me why AI can't do it.” They unpack major updates from Google and OpenAI, offering a compelling case for why AI is redefining collaboration, creativity, and leadership. This isn’t just about new tools, it’s a call to reimagine how we learn, lead, and live in a world where AI is now a baseline expectation.Timestamps[00:00:00] The Shopify Challenge: A Culture Memo, Not a Tech MemoSabba introduces the CEO’s powerful statement and frames it as a leadership challenge rather than a technological one.[00:05:00] Google's Vision for Collaborative AI WorkflowsA deep dive into Google's new Workspace Flows, writing coaches, and AI-powered video/audio tools that reshape how schools and teams operate.[00:16:00] From Tools to Teammates: Shifting Mindsets in EducationStefan and Sabba discuss the transformational potential of AI when viewed as a teammate and explore implications for student learning and entrepreneurship.[00:26:00] Gen Z’s AI Literacy Gap and the Urgency for ActionA new Gallup and Walton Family Foundation report highlights the mismatch between Gen Z’s usage and understanding of AI—and what schools must do now.[00:35:00] OpenAI’s Memory Update: The Future of Personalized IntelligenceWhat it means to have AI remember your interactions—and why this seemingly small update is a massive step toward hyper-personalized experiences.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 MentionedShopify CEO Memo Gallup and Walton Family Foundation Gen Z ReportFree Chapter from the Book: From Tools to Teammates 

In this episode, Sabba and Stefan dive into the rapid acceleration of AI technologies, spotlighting how tools like ChatGPT and Claude are transforming the educational landscape. They explore groundbreaking developments like agentic platforms, transparency in AI reasoning, and what it means for today’s students to be the “Class of AGI.” This is a forward-thinking conversation that challenges leaders to rethink how we prepare people for a world led by intelligent systems.Timestamps[00:01:00] The Center of Gravity is ShiftingOpenAI's user explosion in India signals a global shift in AI adoption and influence.[00:10:00] The Class of AGI: Redefining Higher EducationAnthropic and OpenAI unveil initiatives aimed at transforming learning and literacy through AI-powered experiences.[00:22:00] Enter the Age of Agents: Digital Workers in the EnterpriseDeloitte and others launch digital coworkers to automate tasks, revealing how organizations must restructure around AI.[00:32:00] Inside the Mind of Claude: Anthropic’s Breakthrough in AI TransparencyA look at how Claude forms ideas and the effort to audit AI behavior through model interpretability research.[00:41:00] Passing the Turing Test and Redefining Human IdentityChatGPT-4.5 convinces users it’s human 73% of the time—raising deep questions about identity, agency, and digital discernment.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 Mentioned📘 "Careless People" by Sarah Wynn Williams — A whistleblower’s account of Meta's internal culture and its impact on youth and society.🎥 Anthropic’s “Tracing the Thoughts of a Large Language Model” video — A visual explanation of AI interpretability breakthroughs.🎓 Free Course: AI Skills for College and Career — Explore the WISE Framework for balanced, ethical innovation.

LinkedIn just named AI literacy the #1 fastest-growing skill in the U.S., but it’s not just about learning how to use tools, it’s about rethinking how we work, lead, and learn. In this episode, Sabba sits down with Ryan Findley, Chief Learning Officer at Learn to Win, to explore how AI can actually enhance our most human skills and why design thinking is essential in an AI-everywhere world. They also dive into the mission behind the Sequoia conference and the blind spots in today’s AI conversations.

In this episode, Sabba and Stefan explore how artificial intelligence isn't abruptly replacing jobs, but instead quietly transforming them task by task. They dive into the capabilities of OpenAI’s new image and video generators, the blurred lines around creative ownership, and the power of AI-enhanced teams. The conversation emphasizes the need for AI literacy, design thinking, and a reimagining of roles in this rapidly evolving landscape.Timestamps[00:00:00] The Real Impact of AI on JobsSabba opens with a powerful reflection on how AI subtly transforms roles, prompting a deeper discussion on AI literacy and the future of work.[00:02:00] Image Generation & Studio Ghibli BacklashA deep dive into GPT-4o’s photorealistic image capabilities and the viral Studio Ghibli style trend, sparking ethical debates on copyright and creative replication.[00:10:00] Copyright, Personal Branding & Digital IntegrityA candid conversation about stolen ideas, credit in the creator economy, and how we define integrity in the age of AI.[00:28:00] Harvard-Wharton Study on AI-Enhanced TeamsReview of a recent study showing solo humans using AI outperform human teams, and how AI improves both performance and morale.[00:36:00] Sam Altman's Shocking Admission & Future-Proofing AdviceDiscussion on Sam Altman's comments about OpenAI’s unexpected shift and his advice for young people navigating a fast-changing world.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 Mentioned⁠OpenAI GPT-4o Image Generator⁠⁠Studio Ghibli⁠⁠ – Discussion on style replication and copyright⁠⁠Harvard, Wharton, P&G Study⁠⁠ – Report on AI-augmented individual and team performance⁠⁠Sam Altman Interview⁠⁠ – Stratechery with Ben Thompson⁠ (Text version available for free)⁠Free AI Skills Course⁠⁠ – AI Skills for College and Career⁠

In this episode, the hosts dive into a student’s quote about the transformative power of debate and use it as a launchpad to explore what instruction should look like in a world heading rapidly toward Artificial General Intelligence (AGI). They unpack insights from the recent Nvidia GTC keynote, discuss educational failures in preparing for AI, and spotlight Desert Sands Unified School District’s groundbreaking AI guidance, which includes human agency and AGI readiness.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 MentionedKevin Roose’s NYT Article – "Powerful AI is Coming"Jensen Huang’s GTC 2025 KeynoteDesert Sands Unified School District AI GuidanceHidden Brain Episode with Justin Berg on Creativity

AI isn’t waiting. Institutions are.For the past year, schools, governments, and businesses have been stuck in a waiting game, waiting for guidelines, waiting for tools, waiting for certainty.Meanwhile, AI researchers and tech companies aren’t waiting at all. They have total confidence in what their machines can do. They believe AI will reason, plan, and solve problems better than humans. And they’re building that future, while the rest of the world debates if AI even belongs in the classroom.designingschools.org/aiteamsArticle: Your AI Power Circle

What if students had a say in designing the future of education? In this episode, we hand them the mic. High schoolers from Gary Heidt's Innovation Lab are challenging outdated school systems, questioning AI bans, and rethinking what learning should look like. They’re not waiting for the future to happen to them, they’re building it.What’s Inside:🎤 What is a Protopian future? (And why students care)🤖 AI bans? Students share what schools get wrong about technology📚 Grades vs. agency—what actually motivates learning🚀 The moment they realized they have power over their own futureThese students aren’t just talking about change. They’re making it happen.🎧 Listen now and hear the future of education—straight from the next generation**.**Want to bring this conversation to your own classroom? Download the free course now and start rethinking the future of AI with your students! https://designingschools.thinkific.com/bundles/ai-skills-for-college-and-career