Learning Curve

Last week the U.S. Senate Commerce Committee held a hearing about potential legislation banning kids under 13 from using social media. Australia has a new law keeping kids under 16 off the technology. What about new AI tools? Should regulations enforce age limits — and is that even possible given how embedded the tech is becoming?Senate Commerce Committee Hearing, "Plugged Out: Examining the Impact of Technology on America’s Youth."

In the past few months new AI tools known as “Agentic AI” have emerged. These new browsers let users deploy AI assistants that can surf the web on their behalf. While they were designed to do things like book airline tickets or schedule meetings, students can use the tools to have the bot log into learning management systems to take quizzes for them. Anna Mills, a longtime English instructor, has called on AI companies to add a simple guardrail to keep these tools from assisting in academic fraud, just as they refuse to help with hacking or other unethical acts. The situation raises questions about how AI companies are responding to calls by educators to add safeguards to protect learning.LinkedIn post by Anna Mills calling for AI companies to add guardrails to protect learning. “Statement on Educational Technologies and AI Agents” by the Modern Language Association.Video demo by Anna Mills showing an Agentic AI browser taking quizzes in the name of a student.“Tech companies don’t care that students use their AI agents to cheat,” in The Verge.Perplexity ad on social media."The Adoption and Usage of AI Agents: Early Evidence from Perplexity," in ArXiv.

Matt Boudinot’s AI explainer videos and his Auto Service Soft Skills Garage.A super-short version of this episode that ran on APM’s Marketplace."The Best of Car Talk: Some Noises Are Better Than Others,” on NPR.

"1 in 5 high schoolers has had a romantic AI relationship, or knows someone who has," NPR. “How many hours does it take to make a friend?,” research by this week’s guest Jeff Hall.“Chatbots Can Go Into a Delusional Spiral. Here’s How It Happens,” in The New York Times.Talk out the Thomas Jefferson chatbot discussed on this episode.“Programmed for Love,” an article I wrote for The Chronicle of Higher Education about Sherry Turkle’s work back in 2011.

Redmond Bernhold is a student opinion editor at Notre Dame, advocating for changes to protect core curriculum from AI shortcuts. Mark McCready, a chemical engineering professor, discusses the challenges of fully 'AI-proofing' courses while emphasizing practical responses. David Griffith, an English professor, shares insights on how syllabus decisions can encourage deep engagement despite AI's presence. They explore student frustrations over AI's academic impact and propose thoughtful integration of AI as a learning tool rather than outright bans.

In this insightful discussion, Bryan Alexander, a futurist and senior scholar on higher education trends, delves into the notion of 'Peak Higher Education.' He highlights the surge in dual enrollment and changing attitudes towards colleges. Bryan contrasts optimistic and cautious ideologies regarding AI's role in education. He addresses the complexities of AI adoption, faculty divisions, and the risks of personalization. Finally, he emphasizes the importance of critical AI literacy as a way forward for institutions navigating this evolving landscape.

In the Know, the podcast of the University of Minnesota's student newspaper, The Minnesota Daily."Everyone Is Cheating Their Way Through College," in New York magazine. 

Demo of Sara Cochran’s AI avatar, University of Virginia websiteSora and Vibes: AI Video Now Officially Going After Social Media, Platformer

“The Professors Are Using ChatGPT, and Some Students Aren’t Happy About It,” by Kashmir Hill in The New York Times.Northeastern University’s AI use policy.“Automated Essay Writing: An AIED Opinion,” by Mike Sharples in the International Journal of Artificial Intelligence in Education.

DukeGPT“Everyone Is Cheating Their Way Through College” in New York Magazine.