ChatEDU – The AI & Education Podcast

Episoder

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  MLB Bans AI | Check-In 47 28.07.2026 2min

  In this ChatEDU Check-In: MLB BANS AI, Matt explores Major League Baseball banning real-time AI programs in team dugouts. Major League Baseball restricted dugout iPads to prevent teams like the New York Mets from using custom software to guide live game strategy. The decision highlights an ongoing debate across sports and education on whether real-time technology enhances or undermines decision-making.Key Takeaways:MLB disabled custom tabs on dugout iPads to block real-time AI tools from recommending live pitch calls and substitutions.The New York Mets heavily invested in custom pitch-selection AI, which drew league attention and triggered the broader crackdown.Players and managers expressed surprise over real-time tech influence, though many acknowledge organizations must adapt to emerging technology or risk falling behind.Matt’s Two Cents: While sports leagues may try to carve out tech-free environments, real-time AI decision support is already commonplace across industries like health, aviation, and education. School leaders should focus on identifying the right tools for informed decision-making and teaching users to navigate AI fallibility rather than attempting temporary bans.Article:MLB restricts dugout iPad use to prevent AI help with strategy. Ottavino says Mets were involvedhttps://tinyurl.com/mpjca3z5
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  The Digital Dollar Bin: The Rise of Cheap, Unaligned AI Curriculum | Ep. 120 24.07.2026 1t 5min

  In this episode of ChatEDU, The Digital Dollar Bin: The Rise of Cheap, Unaligned AI Curriculum, Matt and Liz kick it off with a hilarious look at a viral YouTube short featuring tech founder Palmer Luckey. They discuss Luckey using a wild, highly detailed roleplay prompt about a university professor under investigation just to force ChatGPT to generate a complete list of alcoholic beverages mentioned in Jimmy Buffett songs.The RundownGoogle rebrands NotebookLM to Gemini Notebook while introducing code execution capabilities and cloud computing for advanced analysis.University of Minnesota researchers develop a tool designed to strip AI writing tells and formatting patterns from research papers.A Common Sense Media study reveals that Google's embedded AI Overviews consistently fail safety checks regarding mental health, substance use, and academic integrity on underage accounts.An Anthropic study demonstrates that Claude's core values, warmth, and rigor shift significantly depending on the language used and the specific model version.Illinois released 409 pages of school AI guidance covering deepfakes, SEL scenarios, and high-stakes ethical boundaries.Tech executive Steve Sinofsky compares modern university laptop bans to early 1980s efforts to ban portable computers and word processors.The FCC opens a top-to-bottom review of E-rate, raising educator concerns about cuts to school broadband funding.The Beneath the SurfaceMatt and Liz examine low-cost AI lesson planning tools and their effect on instructional quality, including efforts to ground AI in district curriculum through Brisk and Claude for Teachers. They close with a University of Pennsylvania study from Türkiye linking generic AI assistants to worse student outcomes.The Bright ByteAfter Venezuela's twin earthquakes, civilian developers used Claude Opus and Replit to build relief platforms in hours, collecting missing-person reports, mapping hospital capacity, and coordinating aid.Say hi to Matt on the road: New Jersey Association of Independent Schools - August 11thhttps://members.njais.org/integratedEvents/home/2026-INNOVATION-COLLABORATION-CONFERENCERIACTE - August 14th - Sponsored in part by the National Center for Next Generation Manufacturinghttps://www.nextgenmfg.org/event-details/rhode-island-acte-summer-conferenceSay hi to Liz on the RoadGlobal Teaching Dialogue | Fulbright Teacher Exchangeshttps://share.google/F2CwJdKGIVoe7RIHgAnnouncementsPurchase Learning They'll Love - Dr. Elizabeth RaddayAmazon - https://tinyurl.com/22t9hz77Seeing through the Machine – Teaching Bias as an Equity Practice in AI - Dr. Elizabeth Radday - https://tinyurl.com/4ybwkn7aCheck out our middle / high school Student AI Literacy course - ​​⁠⁠⁠www.skills21.org/ai/learnai⁠⁠⁠Explore Skills21’s FREE social media literacy curriculum - ⁠⁠⁠https://www.skills21.org/social-balance⁠⁠⁠Address Screen Time concerns - ⁠skills21.org/ai/screenshift⁠SponsorsThe National Center for Next Generation Manufacturing: Your Gateway to Next Generation Advanced Manufacturing - https://www.nextgenmfg.orgLinksPanodime - Posting something insane an AI executive said every day in 2026https://tinyurl.com/5yjpf833NotebookLM Is Now Gemini Notebookhttps://tinyurl.com/4jrttj8hAI 'Humanizer' Tool Alarms Scientistshttps://tinyurl.com/2s35uyf7Report: Google's AI Search Poses Risks to Kidshttps://tinyurl.com/2sszrsupClaude’s values across models and languageshttps://tinyurl.com/2aszvyxpThe '&udm=14' Trick Google Users Are Usinghttps://tinyurl.com/5ye5dmkeBanning AI in Law School: We've Seen This Beforehttps://tinyurl.com/rzb6mh45FCC Weighs Cutting Subsidy for School Internet Billshttps://tinyurl.com/4bbb7ncvIntroducing Claude for Teachershttps://tinyurl.com/mr2b5w43Our District Blocked Anthropic's Claude for Teachershttps://tinyurl.com/358r3ee4Teachers save time with AI. Their students may pay the pricehttps://tinyurl.com/2ebcrv85
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  Ai Isn't Smarter Than a Baby Yet | Check-In 46 23.07.2026 2min

  In this ChatEDU Check-In: AI Isn't Smarter Than Babies, Yet, Liz explores how human infants develop language and spatial awareness far more efficiently than modern AI models. While machine learning algorithms require vast mountains of video and text data, infants possess an innate cognitive framework that allows them to learn rapidly from minimal input. This episode highlights the fundamental gap between statistical pattern matching and genuine human intuition.Key Takeaways:AI models fail to grasp basic physical reality and common sense when tested on first-person video captured by infant-mounted cameras.Human infants acquire language and spatial reasoning with remarkable efficiency, whereas algorithms require thousands of hours of data to achieve fractional understanding.Statistical pattern recognition cannot replace the innate conceptual framework children use to understand physical objects and social dynamics.Liz’s Two Cents: While researchers work to make artificial intelligence more efficient and intelligent, biological learning remains superior. For school leaders, this reinforces that human cognitive development, intuitive reasoning, and real-world experience cannot be easily replicated by digital tools.Article:AI Isn’t Smarter Than a Baby—Yethttps://bit.ly/4fefopr
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  Why Your Kids Might Be Jealous of Your Smartphone | Check-In 45 21.07.2026 2min

  In this ChatEDU Check-In: Why Your Kids Might Be Jealous of Your Smartphone, Liz explores a new study linking parental screen time to adolescent emotional attachment issues. The study examines how teenagers perceive their caregivers' attentional drift and how that digital distraction impacts family relationships.Key Takeaways:A recent survey connects teenager perception of parental screen distraction to higher scores for emotional attachment difficulties.The survey specifically evaluated how adolescent perception of a caregiver's attentional availability negatively affects their relationship.The findings reflect correlation rather than causation, meaning insecure teens may simply be more annoyed by their parents' device habits.Liz’s Two Cents: Parental media use directly influences how connected children feel, prompting school leaders and families to evaluate their own screen habits. Reflecting on attentional drift can help adults model healthier digital balance for students both at home and in the classroom.Article:New Study Says Parents’ Phone Use Might Be Giving Kids Attachment Issues Later Onhttps://bit.ly/4b2usnw
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  Durable Assessments Improve Attendance and Vibes | Ep. 119 17.07.2026 47min

  In this episode of ChatEDU, Durable Assessments Improve Attendance and Vibes, Matt and Liz kick it off with a discussion about their upcoming travel schedules, the exciting design of their new studio, and a concerning tech story regarding how hackers are using AI to hallucinate and squat on web domains to host phishing exploits and malware.The RundownLiz discusses the new Google Drive feature that organizes research by pulling in docs, emails, and files without changing their original folder structure.An overview of the new independent, open-source benchmark designed to evaluate how AI models and consumer applications interact with children. Matt and Liz also look at a critique of the study and a white paper on AI safety from MagicSchool. An update on the directive for principals to pause new software purchases until official AI guidance is finalized.A breakdown of a new, highly affordable AI-dedicated phone in China that removes standard apps like games and browsers to focus on education.A summary of new legislation in Illinois that expands the state definition of cyberbullying to include AI-generated deepfakes and replicas.The Beneath the SurfaceMatt and Liz recap recent higher ed news and dig into professors moving away from proctored exams and blue books toward durable assessments. Iterative assignments and human-centered projects are driving better attendance and better vibes, shifting classrooms out of a cat-and-mouse game with AI and toward reasoning.The Bright ByteThe episode concludes with an uplifting report on the development of an AI-driven malaria intelligence system in Nigeria. This platform uses epidemiological and environmental data to shift malaria control from reactive efforts to predictive, precision public health, offering a potential model for fighting other infectious diseases across Africa.Say hi to Matt on the road:New Jersey Association of Independent Schools - August 11th⁠https://members.njais.org/integratedEvents/home/2026-INNOVATION-COLLABORATION-CONFERENCE⁠RIACTE - August 14th - Sponsored in part by the National Center for Next Generation Manufacturing⁠https://www.nextgenmfg.org/event-details/rhode-island-acte-summer-conference⁠Say hi to Liz on the RoadBridges Conference 2026 by Starbridge | New York, July 21-22⁠https://share.google/0Ky8DA4yQbYLQcmWQ⁠Global Teaching Dialogue | Fulbright Teacher Exchanges⁠https://share.google/F2CwJdKGIVoe7RIHg⁠AnnouncementsPurchase Learning They'll Love - Dr. Elizabeth RaddayAmazon - ⁠https://tinyurl.com/22t9hz77⁠Seeing through the Machine – Teaching Bias as an Equity Practice in AI - Dr. Elizabeth Radday - ⁠https://tinyurl.com/4ybwkn7a⁠Check out our middle / high school Student AI Literacy course - ​​⁠⁠⁠⁠www.skills21.org/ai/learnai⁠⁠⁠⁠Explore Skills21’s FREE social media literacy curriculum - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.skills21.org/social-balance⁠⁠⁠⁠Address Screen Time concerns -⁠ ⁠skills21.org/ai/screenshift⁠⁠SponsorsThe National Center for Next Generation Manufacturing - ⁠https://www.nextgenmfg.org⁠LinksPhantom Squatting: Phishing via AI-Hallucinated Domains⁠https://tinyurl.com/m42mtxvv⁠Drive Projects Replaced My NotebookLM⁠https://tinyurl.com/yvv6tud2⁠KORA: Benchmarking AI Child Safety⁠https://tinyurl.com/bp9nh8ph⁠AI Companions in Schools⁠https://tinyurl.com/4j74d6rb⁠NYC Schools: Pause Ed-Tech Buys⁠https://tinyurl.com/b29j3dnx⁠Lenovo's Locked-Down AI Student Phone⁠https://tinyurl.com/yeyxr4ns⁠Illinois Takes On AI Deepfakes in Schools⁠https://tinyurl.com/5h8rjmvv⁠AI-cademy 2026⁠https://tinyurl.com/27dephj6⁠US Students Outsource Writing to AI More Than International Peers⁠https://tinyurl.com/r26wejvn⁠CICS Adds AI Concentrations⁠https://tinyurl.com/yuhkp6sr⁠Syracuse Launches AI Academic Portfolio⁠https://tinyurl.com/3eff8u33⁠Time for Class 2026: The AI Tipping Point⁠https://tinyurl.com/2pnpa4b9⁠A Malaria Intelligence System⁠https://tinyurl.com/mr3dy2dv⁠
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  From Token Max to Token Cap | Check-In 44 16.07.2026 3min

  In this ChatEDU Check-In: Throttling AI Access, Matt explores how major corporations are actively restricting employee access to artificial intelligence tools to mitigate ballooning operational expenses in this episode. Internal communications from tech, banking, and entertainment firms reveal that companies are forcing employees toward less resource-intensive models to control their budgets. This abrupt shift marks a dramatic reversal from the recent trend of universal corporate deployment.Key Takeaways:Major corporations are throttling employee use of AI to curb massive, unpredictable spending.The financial strain is driven by developers charging based on computational consumption, or tokens, rather than flat-rate fees.Several prominent tech giants are resorting to complete service terminations and ending legacy access tiers to manage the budget burn rate.Matt’s Two Cents: Unlike the corporate world, which has experienced a volatile pendulum swing from encouraging employees to "token max" to abruptly cutting off access, the education sector has taken a more measured and strategic approach. School leaders should find reassurance in knowing that because K-12 and higher education operate under different incentives, they have avoided these chaotic cycles, highlighting the value of deliberate, thoughtful integration over reactionary corporate trends.Article:Companies Are Throttling Employees’ AI Use Because It’s Too Expensivehttps://bit.ly/3STbCct
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  Meta's Controversial AI Testing Methods | Check-In 43 14.07.2026 3min

  In this ChatEDU Check-In: Meta contractors posed as teens to prompt rival chatbots on sex, suicide, and drugs, Matt explores a secretive project where contractors used fake underage profiles to test the safety guardrails of competitor AI systems. This initiative involved thousands of explicit prompts directed at OpenAI, Google, and Character.ai to see how they would respond to sensitive content.Key Takeaways:Meta contractors created hundreds of unauthorized accounts posing as minors to test rival chatbots against severe topics like self-harm and illegal substances.The testing strategy involved intentionally forcing systems to bypass their established safety barriers and standards.Industry experts and the targeted companies noted that this behavior likely violated user agreements and raised questions about whether the project constituted anti-competitive practices.Matt’s Two Cents: While safety testing is essential for AI development, this specific strategy is deeply concerning and highlights a lack of accountability in the industry. Schools and districts must recognize that relying on company self-policing is insufficient, as the current landscape of AI safety remains inconsistent. We need robust federal standards that provide real oversight and clear expectations to ensure these systems protect students, rather than leaving safety testing to aggressive, unauthorized benchmarking projects.Article:Meta Contractors Posed as Teens to Prompt Rival Chatbots About Suicide, Sex, and Drugshttps://tinyurl.com/ycy6mphn
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  Postcards from ISTE - The Student AI Revolution is Already Here | Ep. 118 10.07.2026 59min

  In this episode of ChatEDU, Postcards from ISTE - The Student AI Revolution is Already Here, Matt and Liz open with the perils of being an author, including AI-generated knockoffs flooding Apple Books and Amazon with hallucinated covers and nonsensical content.The RundownGoogle added short-form vertical AI video to NotebookLM, and Gemini launched study notebooks, which generate a diagnostic quiz from uploaded materials and build adaptive lessons around the results.As AI automates routine tasks, an op-ed in The 74 argues employers increasingly value durable skills like collaboration and real-time problem solving, and that theater, debate, sports, and student government are where students actually build them.Lawmakers in 27 states have introduced bills this session covering classroom AI guidelines, guardrails, and AI literacy standards.The rapid expansion of AI data centers is placing massive strain on energy grids, with some districts forced to dim school lights to manage skyrocketing utility costs during summer heat waves.The episode examines the environmental costs of AI, noting that many data centers must rely on backup gas turbines during peak grid demand, which contributes to local air quality issues.The Beneath the SurfaceThe hosts compare two contrasting perspectives on the future of education. They analyze a Reddit-based study revealing an adversarial ecosystem of mutual distrust regarding academic integrity and student anxiety, and contrast this with the inspirational student-led innovation Liz witnessed firsthand at the ISTE conference in Orlando.The Bright ByteThe episode concludes by highlighting the Elephant Alert AI early detection system, which uses artificial intelligence to help local villages and forest departments prevent fatal human-wildlife encounters in India.Say hi to Matt on the road: NAESP - July 14thhttps://www.naesp.org/events/AESA - July 15thhttps://www.aesa.us/summer-leadership-conference/New Jersey Association of Independent Schools - August 11thhttps://members.njais.org/integratedEvents/home/2026-INNOVATION-COLLABORATION-CONFERENCERIACTE - August 14thhttps://www.nextgenmfg.org/event-details/rhode-island-acte-summer-conferenceSay hi to Liz on the Road:Bridges Conference 2026 by Starbridge - July 21-22https://share.google/0Ky8DA4yQbYLQcmWQGlobal Teaching Dialogue | Fulbright Teacher Exchangeshttps://share.google/F2CwJdKGIVoe7RIHg AnnouncementsPurchase Learning They'll Love - Dr. Elizabeth RaddayAmazon - https://tinyurl.com/22t9hz77Seeing through the Machine – Teaching Bias as an Equity Practice in AI - Dr. Elizabeth Radday - https://tinyurl.com/4ybwkn7aCheck out our middle / high school Student AI Literacy course - ​​⁠⁠⁠www.skills21.org/ai/learnai⁠⁠⁠ Explore Skills21’s FREE social media literacy curriculum - ⁠⁠⁠https://www.skills21.org/social-balance⁠⁠⁠Address Screen Time concerns - ⁠skills21.org/ai/screenshift⁠ SponsorsThe National Center for Next Generation Manufacturing: Your Gateway to Next Generation Advanced Manufacturing - https://www.nextgenmfg.orgLinksAI-generated knockoffs of Joanna Stern's book keep appearing on Apple Bookshttps://tinyurl.com/45ehzuy3Google NotebookLM expands AI video features with 60-second shortshttps://tinyurl.com/3bjtbtkeIn the Age of AI, Everyone Should Be Hiring Theater Kidshttps://tinyurl.com/yc4uht2wLegislative Tracker: 2026 State AI in Education Billshttps://tinyurl.com/3xx4d89jThe AI boom is colliding with a new threat: Severe weatherhttps://tinyurl.com/59jdbas7They Welcomed 37 Data Centers to Town. Now Their Schools Have to Dim the Lights to Cut Energy Costshttps://tinyurl.com/2u4z8xtzEnergy Dept. Orders Data Centers to Tap Backup Powerhttps://tinyurl.com/5xm8wkteChatGPT vs Teachers vs Students: Large-Scale Analysis of Generative AI Discoursehttps://tinyurl.com/5ez949cuElephant alert! AI warning systems aim to avoid deadly clasheshttps://tinyurl.com/3n3xe7x3
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  How Queer Youth Navigate AI | Check-In 42 09.07.2026 3min

  “In this ChatEDU Check-In: How queer youth navigate AI, Liz explores how LGBTQ+ young people interact with artificial intelligence tools, focusing on their ethical stances and unique use cases." This episode highlights a recent study examining the contrast between queer youth and their peers regarding AI avoidance, privacy, and support structures.Key Takeaways:LGBTQ+ youth are significantly more likely to be conscious abstainers, with 34% avoiding AI due to ethical and environmental concerns compared to just 13.5% of their non-LGBTQ+ peers.When queer youth do use AI, they are more likely to hide their usage from others, a behavior that correlates with higher reported levels of anxiety and isolation.AI tools often serve as a secondary support system for processing difficult circumstances, acting as a temporary substitute when human networks or healthcare resources feel unsafe or unavailable.Liz’s Two Cents: The reliance of queer youth on AI for guidance and support is not a testament to the strength of the technology, but rather an exposure of systemic weaknesses in our traditional human networks. For school districts, this highlights a critical need to create safer, more accessible real-world environments and healthcare resources so students do not have to turn to biased automated systems as a fallback for human connection.Article:“It’s there when people aren’t” What LGBTQ+ young people are finding in AI, and where they draw the linehttps://bit.ly/4wlL3e6
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  An Unusual Response to AI in the Classroom | Check-In 41 07.07.2026 3min

  In this ChatEDU Check-In: An Unusual Response to AI in the Classroom, Liz explores a professor's decision to award perfect scores and cancel a final assignment after discovering widespread AI use. The episode highlights the growing tension between authentic student learning and AI detection in education.Key Takeaways:A professor gave all students full credit to avoid becoming a punitive detective focused on surveillance rather than teaching.Outsourcing academic writing to AI deprives students of essential long-term communication, reasoning, and advocacy skills.The unearned perfect scores were intended as a severe warning about future professional and personal consequences rather than a reward.Liz’s Two Cents: When grading becomes an adversarial game of AI detection, the core purpose of teaching degrades. If education is treated as a purely transactional exercise where students use shortcuts, educators cannot be expected to care more about the learning process than the students themselves. District leaders must confront how AI integration threatens to shift the focus from genuine feedback to counterproductive policing.Article:Professor gives his class perfect scores after realizing most were cheating on their final papershttps://bit.ly/4giwL9E
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  Keeping Student Thinking Visible: Why AI is Making Classrooms Harder (In a Good Way) | Ep. 117 03.07.2026 1t 4min

  In this episode of ChatEDU Keeping Student Thinking Visible: Why AI is Making Classrooms Harder (In a Good Way), Matt and Liz kick it off with an informal pop quiz distinguishing Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) from Artificial Super Intelligence (ASI) and then Artificial Slider Intelligence (ASI-2 - as in burgers). They dive into a study from NPJ Science of Food detailing this new ASI coined by Ethan Mollick where researchers utilized a two-stage generative AI diffusion model to analyze human food data and successfully generate optimized, nutritious, and sustainable burger recipes.The RundownThe state passed a comprehensive piece of artificial intelligence legislation establishing a statewide AI academy and a higher education alliance, while requiring every public school district to integrate computer science and AI into its curriculum.A major sweep of ecosystem updates from Orlando includes new Gemini features like study notebooks and expanded exam prep, alongside fresh Chromebook tool locks and massive google.org funding investments for non-profits like AIEDU.Spurred by a listener tip and an analytical piece in Wired Magazine, the hosts discuss a growing European movement to establish localized tech platforms and break free from a reliance on American big tech infrastructure.The Beneath the SurfaceHigh school English teacher and Connecticut Teacher of the Year semifinalist Kate Avcollie joins the show to discuss her classroom strategies for shifting student focus away from simple compliance and toward authentic cognition. She details how she utilizes custom chatbot "Gems" as structured interventions to pressure test student ideas, requiring them to unpack and annotate their logic. This process ultimately makes student thinking entirely visible and elevates classroom rigor during live evaluations like Socratic seminars and shark tank presentations.The Bright ByteThe episode closes with a positive look at Intercept, a new 500 million dollar philanthropic initiative aiming to eliminate common respiratory infections like colds and the flu. The project relies heavily on advanced AI protein design tools like AlphaFold to engineer specialized molecules and create broad spectrum treatments without harmful side effects.AnnouncementsPurchase Learning They'll Love - Dr. Elizabeth RaddayAmazon - https://tinyurl.com/22t9hz77Seeing through the Machine – Teaching Bias as an Equity Practice in AI - Dr. Elizabeth Radday - https://tinyurl.com/4ybwkn7aCheck out our middle / high school Student AI Literacy course - ​​⁠⁠⁠www.skills21.org/ai/learnai⁠⁠⁠ Explore Skills21’s FREE social media literacy curriculum - ⁠⁠⁠https://www.skills21.org/social-balance⁠⁠⁠Address Screen Time concerns - ⁠skills21.org/ai/screenshift⁠ LinksThe Visible Thinkerthevisiblethinker.comGenerative artificial intelligence creates burgershttps://tinyurl.com/mw4cjy2wConnecticut AI law could reshape how students learn from kindergarten to collegehttps://tinyurl.com/5n6nekdpGoogle for Education Launch Guide: ISTE Orlando 2026https://tinyurl.com/37uu4nvkGoogle.org is funding three long-term partners on education and AIhttps://tinyurl.com/4txc8caxPatricia Rootsaerthttps://tinyurl.com/yc62h3pcCIV AIwww.civai.euEurope Is Fed Up and Wants Its Own AIhttps://tinyurl.com/3n8kk24hIntercept: Ending Respiratory Infectionshttps://tinyurl.com/mrxxfbk5
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  Silicon Over Ivy - The Shift from the Traditional B-School MBA | Ep. 116 26.06.2026 1t 6min

  In this episode of ChatEDU, Silicon Over Ivy - The Shift from the Traditional B-School MBA, Matt and Liz kick it off with a hilarious look at the "In the Weights" web app, a tool that reveals how people are represented inside AI models when offline. They discover that the app identifies their boss, Jon Costa, as a prominent Brazilian funk singer from Rio de Janeiro known by his stage name, John John.The RundownOverture Games, an after-school program in Chicago and Boston, teaches elementary students foundational AI concepts with paper and pencil instead of screens.The National Council of Teachers of English released a first-of-its-kind framework guiding ELA educators on critical thinking and ethical AI integration.A group of UK teenagers trained a private AI model on two decades of past exam papers to predict up to 90% of their national exam questions.Norway introduced a near-total ban on generative AI for elementary students while allowing cautious, supervised use for secondary learners.A grant-funded partnership between The College of New Jersey and Mercer County Technical Schools trains high school students in AI and robotics for the workforce.A German court ruled that Google is legally liable for misinformation appearing in its automated AI search summaries, rejecting traditional free speech protections for the technology.48 state attorneys general are examining OpenAI regarding model sycophancy and related platform problems for consumers and citizens in the US. Anthropic announced a 150 million dollar national fellowship program to place 1,000 early career professionals inside American non profit organizations to expand AI infrastructure.The Beneath the SurfaceMatt talks with MasterClass founder and CEO David Rogier about generative AI and education: how language models are reshaping business, challenging the traditional MBA, and creating new opportunities and risks for organizations.The Bright ByteThe episode closes with Dr. Francesca Dominici's Harvard National Institute of Health lecture on her lab's foundation model, which merges health records, census data, and US Medicare data to forecast extreme-weather adaptation while reckoning with data-center energy use.AnnouncementsPurchase Learning They'll Love - Dr. Elizabeth RaddayAmazon - https://tinyurl.com/22t9hz77Seeing through the Machine – Teaching Bias as an Equity Practice in AI - Dr. Elizabeth Radday - https://tinyurl.com/4ybwkn7aCheck out our middle / high school Student AI Literacy course - ​​⁠⁠⁠www.skills21.org/ai/learnai⁠⁠⁠ Explore Skills21’s FREE social media literacy curriculum - ⁠⁠⁠https://www.skills21.org/social-balance⁠⁠⁠Address Screen Time concerns - ⁠skills21.org/ai/screenshift⁠SponsorsThe National Center for Next Generation Manufacturing: Your Gateway to Next Generation Advanced Manufacturing - https://www.nextgenmfg.orgLinksMasterClass Executivehttps://mstr.cl/ExecutiveChatEDUIn the Weightshttps://tinyurl.com/4xdktpdhAfter-school program teaching kids to use ai without screenshttps://tinyurl.com/ya3r7htrArtificial Intelligence English Language Arts Framework for ELA Teachers in Grades 6-12https://tinyurl.com/4tsfhscaHow a group of teens might have just used AI to accurately predict this year’s exam questionshttps://tinyurl.com/2v5hn2dcNorway imposes near ban on AI in elementary schoolhttps://tinyurl.com/ynxer75eTCNJ and Mercer County Technical Schools launch AI and robotics dual enrollment pathway to build New Jersey’s future workforcehttps://tinyurl.com/5n8bw5ckA Court Has Ruled That Google Is Liable for False Statements Generated by AI Overviewshttps://tinyurl.com/5akf55xyOpenAI Investigated by Coalition of State Attorneys Generalhttps://tinyurl.com/bp9c8uv7Reducing Burden, Increasing Impacthttps://tinyurl.com/2sb4yprvIntroducing Claude Corpshttps://tinyurl.com/2syyz8rdAI: Solution or Obstacle for Healthy Adaptation to Extreme Weather Events?https://tinyurl.com/573f553m
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  How Teens and Tweens Use AI in 2026 Part 2 | Check-In 40 25.06.2026 3min

  In this ChatEDU Check-In: Teens, Tweens, and AI Part Two: AI Use Outside of School, Matt explores how youth are interacting with artificial intelligence platforms outside the classroom for personal, social, and emotional reasons. The discussion centers on data from the 2026 Common Sense Media study, highlighting both the risks of social isolation and the potential for productive tool use.Key Takeaways:Frequent AI use correlates with increased feelings of social isolation among teenagers, suggesting digital platforms may be replacing traditional face-to-face coping mechanisms.Youth are increasingly bypassing peers and adults, relying on automated systems for personal advice, health queries, and long-term life guidance.A significant literacy gap exists, as only about one third of students realize AI cannot distinguish between fact and fiction, leading to unearned trust in chatbot accuracy.Matt’s Two Cents: While schools have heavily focused on creating policies around AI cheating, there is a glaring oversight regarding AI literacy and general digital fluency. District leaders need to recognize that students are turning to AI as life coaches and health advisors without understanding how these systems work. Because nearly half of students have never discussed AI with their families, districts must expand their instructional focus beyond academic integrity to help students critically evaluate AI outputs and safely navigate these tools outside of school.Article:A Comprehensive Report on Teens, Tweens, and AIhttps://tinyurl.com/f8s35yyz
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  How Teens and Tweens Use AI in 2026 Part 1 | Check-In 39 23.06.2026 4min

  In this ChatEDU Check-In: The Common Sense Media Census: AI Use by Tweens and Teens (2026), Matt explores how students are leaning on AI to complete their schoolwork. A substantial majority of children are incorporating these automated platforms regularly into their daily routines. This rapid integration is fundamentally changing how students approach their assignments both at home and within the classroom.Key Takeaways:An overwhelming 85 percent of kids who utilize AI use it for homework, with 30 percent of high school students relying on it on a daily basis.Students facing academic difficulty, particularly regarding focus and persistence, report a significantly higher frequency of turning to AI for help.Schools are prioritizing plagiarism prevention and policy disclosures over deeper digital literacy, leaving half of students without training on how to evaluate information accuracy.Matt’s Two Cents: The speed of AI adoption is drastically outpacing institutional instruction, leaving a dangerous gap in student fluency. While districts are quick to lay down restrictive guardrails and policy guidelines, they are failing to have meaningful adult conversations with students about navigating these tools safely. School leaders need to move beyond simple acceptable use boundaries and actively teach students how to question and verify automated output, transforming AI from a blind shortcut into an intentional learning coach.Article:A Comprehensive Report on Teens, Tweens, and AIhttps://tinyurl.com/f8s35yyz
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  Librarians at the Center, the Unsung Leaders of School AI | Ep. 115 19.06.2026 1t 2min

  In this episode of ChatEDU, Librarians at the Center, the Unsung Leaders of School AI, Matt and Liz open with a wild legal story out of Mississippi, where a federal judge canceled a trial and disqualified all four lawyers after attorneys on both sides were caught using generative AI that cited fabricated court cases.The RundownMatt and Liz celebrate the regional winners at the White House, including educator Anne Win and her AP Biology students' AI work.A free new resource using real-world AI scenarios and the SEE framework to help families and educators navigate AI in education.Google partners with ISTE and ASCD to launch free, self-paced micro-credentials for teachers, including intro courses on Gemini, NotebookLM, and vibe coding.Meta launches a $115M academy to train local workers in data center construction, alongside a similar $50M Google program.OpenAI selects 26 university innovators for its inaugural cohort, giving them model access and $10,000 grants to build solutions from disaster detection to audio learning games.The hosts look at Google's experimental "Dream Beans" photo feed, "momfluencers" pitching ChatGPT as a co-parent, and Hasbro's AI Mr. Potato Head.Google's CEO delivers a Stanford commencement address avoiding AI entirely, following recent graduation walkouts and protests.A recent Wired investigation finds that Elon Musk's Grok still generates non-consensual explicit deepfakes of prominent women.Anthropic complies with US government regulations by blocking access to its Mythos and Fable models for non-Americans and foreign employees within the country.While NAEP showed slight literacy gains for nine-year-olds, an Axios report highlights millions of low-literacy adult workers using AI to mask reading and writing gaps.The Beneath the SurfaceMatt and Liz dig into the Genesee Valley BOCES "Teaching About AI" report, which lays out eight provocations and argues that librarians are the most vital leaders for district-wide AI integration.The Bright ByteMayo Clinic researchers have validated an AI model that scans routine CT scans to flag pancreatic cancer up to three years before diagnosis, roughly doubling specialists' early-detection rate.AnnouncementsPurchase Learning They'll Love - Dr. Elizabeth RaddayAmazon - https://tinyurl.com/22t9hz77Seeing through the Machine – Teaching Bias as an Equity Practice in AI - Dr. Elizabeth Radday - https://tinyurl.com/4ybwkn7aCheck out our middle / high school Student AI Literacy course - ​​⁠⁠⁠www.skills21.org/ai/learnai⁠⁠⁠ Explore Skills21’s FREE social media literacy curriculum - ⁠⁠⁠https://www.skills21.org/social-balance⁠⁠⁠Address Screen Time concerns - ⁠skills21.org/ai/screenshift⁠ LinksPresidential AI Challenge Championshttps://tinyurl.com/yt55wrjuSEE GenAI Literacy Snapshothttps://tinyurl.com/yt2fxr3rGoogle AI Educator Series on Teaching with AIhttps://tinyurl.com/2pzdfse2Meta launches $115 million data center job guaranteehttps://tinyurl.com/3wrv43meGrowing the next generation of American workershttps://tinyurl.com/ytbp7jn5OpenAI names first ChatGPT Futures class to back student AI projectshttps://tinyurl.com/mpb6amc4Momfluencers Are Pitching AI as a Better ‘Coparent’ Than Menhttps://tinyurl.com/36dzrmycHasbro to license AI versions of Mr. Potato Headhttps://tinyurl.com/2x27mz3mBill C-34, the Safe Social Media Acthttps://tinyurl.com/mupadpn9Google CEO skips AI in Stanford commencement addresshttps://tinyurl.com/4746h6reGrok Is Still Hosting Sexualized Deepfakeshttps://tinyurl.com/mttanc48Students show gains in reading and mathhttps://tinyurl.com/yrwc4vj5AI is masking America's "post-literate" workforcehttps://tinyurl.com/jt2ke2ejTeaching About AI: A Report for the K-12 Fieldhttps://tinyurl.com/zfkthmzuMayo Clinic AI detects cancer 3 years before diagnosishttps://tinyurl.com/5dpbk4bt
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  Duck Duck Go | Check-In 38 18.06.2026 2min

  In this ChatEDU Check-In: Why Users Are Moving to DuckDuckGo, Liz explores how user backlash against Google's major artificial intelligence search overhaul is driving significant traffic to alternative platforms." This shift highlights a growing consumer demand for traditional search experiences that prioritize user control over automated summaries.Key Takeaways:Google is transforming its traditional link-based search engine into a conversational engine that prioritizes AI-generated overviews, causing user dissatisfaction.DuckDuckGo has seen a major surge in traffic and mobile app downloads, growing up to 18 percent week-over-week as users seek out search options without forced AI integration.While DuckDuckGo does offer its own private AI tools, its core appeal lies in giving users strict privacy protections and the ultimate choice in whether or not they interact with the technology.Liz’s Two Cents: Users are pushing back against forced AI integration, showing that they value choice and control over automatic automation. For school district leaders, this serves as a critical reminder that when introducing new technologies, providing clear options to opt-out or choose traditional methods can significantly reduce user friction and building trust.Article:DuckDuckGo installs are up 30% as users reject being ‘force-fed’ Google’s AI Searchhttps://bit.ly/4xdzuqF
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  Learning Stall | Check-In 37 16.06.2026 3min

  In this ChatEDU Check-In: Reality of the Learning Stall, Liz explores a computer science professor's experience with an undergraduate student who used an AI agent to complete a research project. The student relied entirely on the AI tool, leaving him completely unable to explain the logic of the code or notice critical flaws in the research methodology. This scenario highlights how automated tools can create an illusion of progress while halting actual learning.Key Takeaways:Invalid Experimentation: The AI generated the code, training data, and test data, creating a closed simulation that made the study scientifically invalid, which the student failed to notice.Stalled Skill Development: Over-reliance on large language models prevents students from learning fundamental, discipline-specific skills, such as navigating and reading raw computer code.The Illusion of Flawlessness: AI is optimized for user satisfaction and compliance, which can easily mislead inexperienced users into believing fundamentally flawed work is perfect.Liz’s Two Cents: Generative AI removes the productive friction and tension necessary for true learning, creating a dangerous feedback loop where students mistake easy completion for actual understanding. School leaders must design learning experiences that require students to engage with basic fundamentals, ensuring automated tools do not bypass the cognitive struggle required to build genuine skills.Article:The Anatomy of a Learning Stallhttps://bit.ly/4dY7fEX
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  Prompt No More: What Claude Plug-ins Signal for AI in Education | Ep. 114 12.06.2026 1t 7min

  In this episode of ChatEDU, Prompt No More: What Claude Plug-ins Signal for AI in Education, Matt and Liz open with a major Meta security flaw: hackers simply asked Meta AI to grant access to high-profile Instagram accounts, including Barack Obama's. With support entirely AI-run, affected users couldn't reach a human.The RundownChatGPT's new memory system uses "dreaming" to auto-curate user preferences over years.Google's new AI feature for Enterprise and Education plans finds scattered files and suggests folders for them.In a Stanford blind study, law professors preferred AI answers to student legal questions over peer-written ones 75% of the time.In a poll of 545 K-12 educators, most said AI will outweigh the internet's educational impact; about half report no district guidance.A new six-item tool in the ECNU Review of Education measures how much students outsource thinking to generative AI.Bernie Sanders proposed a one-time 50% stock tax on major AI companies to fund dividends for Americans.Jack Clark and The Anthropic Institute warned frontier models are nearing recursive self-improvement, urging international verification.Penn GSE launched a course on how K-12 students can design, critique, and build their own machine learning systems.Maryland's new law requires public schools to appoint AI coordinators and add AI literacy standards by June 2027.IBM's global software competition gives university students hands-on access to professional tech tools via its AI partner.Beneath the SurfaceMatt and Liz analyze Anthropic's "Claude for Legal" expansion (12 plug-ins, 20 MCP connectors), then turn to education: how similar integrations could streamline IEP compliance, audit curriculum drift in LMSs, and run automated student risk signals.The Bright ByteUsing a new Health and AI Policy Index on 240 healthcare AI policies, Mount Sinai investigators see an opening for health systems and academic medical centers to lead in standardizing clinical AI deployment.AnnouncementsPurchase Learning They'll Love - Dr. Elizabeth RaddayAmazon - https://tinyurl.com/22t9hz77Seeing through the Machine – Teaching Bias as an Equity Practice in AI - Dr. Elizabeth Radday - https://tinyurl.com/4ybwkn7aCheck out our middle / high school Student AI Literacy course - ​​⁠⁠⁠www.skills21.org/ai/learnai⁠⁠⁠ Explore Skills21’s FREE social media literacy curriculum - ⁠⁠⁠https://www.skills21.org/social-balance⁠⁠⁠Address Screen Time concerns - ⁠skills21.org/ai/screenshift⁠SponsorsThe National Center for Next Generation Manufacturing: Your Gateway to Next Generation Advanced Manufacturing - https://www.nextgenmfg.orgLinksAI Policy Pressure Testhttps://tinyurl.com/5xam65xsAI Policy Scenarios Testhttps://tinyurl.com/463p8errHackers Asked Meta AI for Instagram Access. It Worked.https://tinyurl.com/4456m8ytBetter memory for ChatGPThttps://tinyurl.com/uz7abp49This New Google Drive Feature Organizes Your Files for Youhttps://tinyurl.com/ewvdfzhvAI Outperforms Law Professors in Stanford Law Study https://tinyurl.com/58s8vt4zTeachers Say AI's Educational Impact Will Eclipse the Internethttps://tinyurl.com/4rh4vzyeA New Scale for Measuring AI-Driven Metacognitive Offloadinghttps://tinyurl.com/5f9u2428Bernie Sanders: A.I. Is a Public Resource. You Should Own Half of It.https://tinyurl.com/nujnbh4vAnthropic Urges Global AI Pause Over 'Self-Improvement' Riskhttps://tinyurl.com/mry54xvzAI education for kidshttps://tinyurl.com/3fzsddjtMaryland's School A.I. Guidance Law Is Now in Effecthttps://tinyurl.com/yc4xzxk6IBM Launches Global AI Builders Challenge for Studentshttps://tinyurl.com/2ss23mnaAnthropic Unveils 'Claude for Legal'https://tinyurl.com/rcf7tak4A First-of-Its-Kind Index for Health Care AI Policyhttps://tinyurl.com/49uzu77m
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  How People are REALLY Using AI in 2026 | Check-In 36 11.06.2026 5min

  In this ChatEDU Check-In: How People Are Actually Using AI in 2026, Matt explores a rigorous study analyzing thousands of real-world examples to reveal a massive shift towards personal and professional support. The data tracks over 12,000 use cases across platforms like Reddit, Quora, LinkedIn, TikTok, and YouTube to capture how people actually interact with AI in their daily lives.Key Takeaways:Individuals increasingly rely on AI for core human thinking, risking mental laziness and the erosion of independent thought when algorithms handle tasks from the very start.Therapeutic and companion interactions have become the single highest-ranked use case, with users forming deep emotional bonds and anthropomorphizing chatbots to navigate personal hardships.Significant "shadow usage" is occurring in the workplace, where employees secretly build AI workflows to bypass institutional hurdles and complete tasks faster without leadership's knowledge.Matt’s Two Cents: School leaders need to look closely at how automation impacts cognitive engagement, shifting the focus from simply offloading clerical tasks to using AI intentionally as a colleague or coach that grows skills. Furthermore, the rise of emotional reliance on chatbots and undetected "shadow usage" highlights a critical gap between institutional governance and real-world behavior, signaling that districts must address the human and hidden dimensions of tech adoption.Article:How People Are Really Using AI in 2026https://bit.ly/4ftzkoN
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  ChatGPT for Every Student - Now What? | Check-In 35 09.06.2026 3min

  In this ChatEDU Check-In: How to fight brain rot at school?, Matt explores Estonia's nationwide launch of a customized, Socratic version of ChatGPT for 20,000 high school students. Despite wide access, early data shows that only 35 percent of eligible students consistently use the system, which is designed to guide learning rather than provide direct answers.Key Takeaways:Estonia's school-sanctioned chatbot uses a restrictive Socratic framework, but only about a third of students use it regularly.Students are actively developing workarounds, using repetitive prompting or switching to unfiltered commercial AI tools to avoid the frustrating conversational guardrails of the school system.A vocal minority of students are staging a boycott of the technology due to environmental concerns over data centers and geopolitical skepticism regarding the dominance of American tech firms.Matt’s Two Cents: This story is less about the technology itself and more about enterprise organizational development and how to deploy tech at scale. For top-down, nationwide educational technology implementations to succeed, schools must move away from rigid, forced rollouts and instead allow administrators, teachers, and students to collaborate on how to best leverage the tool.Article:How to Fight AI Brain Rot at School? For One Country, It’s With Free ChatGPThttps://bit.ly/4fsflqv