ChatEDU – The AI & Education Podcast

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  The Steady Course: Preparing for Tomorrow Without Retreating to Yesterday | Ep. 131 09.10.2026 51Min.

  Matt and Liz unpack their 7th sold out conference takeaways and so much more this week! First UpMatt sets up a hundred people at a math conference who split into cheaters, converts and whistleblowers, then reveals they are DeepMind agents that organized themselves that way. Cameron and Liz agree on which one Liz would be.DeepMind Put 100 AI Agents in a Room and They Sorted Into Cheaters, Converts, and Whistleblowers: https://tinyurl.com/48n37925 The RundownTwin PicsTwin Pics AI Game: Reverse-Engineering Image Prompts: https://tinyurl.com/2jdsx5ck Gems Become SkillsGemini Gems to Skills Transition Guide: https://tinyurl.com/mr2p6u49 TeachFX Joins McGraw HillMcGraw Hill Acquires TeachFX, Expanding Commitment to Great Teaching with AI Coaching Tool Designed by Educators: https://tinyurl.com/smctsype Project Cafe - The Urban Assembly: https://tinyurl.com/bma2mepy Tavus's GriffinTavus Griffin: Realistic AI Video Bot: https://tinyurl.com/ytvbzm5r Inside Alpha School's BootcampInside Alpha School's Bootcamp: Heart Monitors, Unpaid Labor, Many, Many Tweets: https://tinyurl.com/tjy2xzek A Flight Simulator for TeachersUW-Whitewater Education Majors Use AI to Teach Math: https://tinyurl.com/2ajbzbzb Morgan State's AI CampusMorgan State University and Google Public Sector to Build Next-Generation AI Campus: https://tinyurl.com/muh69sen  From the ChatEDU Community● Rooted Forward (An Nguyen): https://tinyurl.com/mr6p6n88 ● STEMBox (An Nguyen): https://tinyurl.com/3k3byb5a Beneath the SurfaceMatt and Liz rebuild the two keynotes from the October 2nd Fall AI Conference. Matt's Pace or Pause frame sorts the week's news into what schools should slow down and what they should amplify, and Jonathan's case against sledgehammer bans argues you cannot step into the same stream twice.ChatEDU Ep. 130, on Meta's Muse: https://tinyurl.com/y5aamzj9 Muse privacy failure - Meta's Muse AI agent shared someone's address without their permission: https://tinyurl.com/jpybd5p4 The Daily on Meta's Muse: https://tinyurl.com/3rd2nmuc US datacenter discharged large amounts of pollution for almost a year with no permits: https://bit.ly/4yDweFt How to be an AI minimalist: https://tinyurl.com/52nxjrey AI4MiddleSchools expands nationwide effort to prepare students for an AI-powered future: https://tinyurl.com/3jv2a39e The Digital Delusion (Jared Cooney Horvath): https://tinyurl.com/5bwfkt5d Restoring Childhood (Peter Gray): https://tinyurl.com/2fkazvn2 Bright ByteAnthropic stood up a wet lab and pointed roughly 950 Claude agents at 200,000 reverse transcriptase enzymes for 21 hours. They surfaced a previously uncharacterized bacteriophage system, with human scientists running every bench experiment.Claude discovers a novel enzyme system: https://tinyurl.com/2khcu2vs AnnouncementsRegister for our Winter Microcredential and upcoming AI events: https://tinyurl.com/43jwkwypPurchase Learning They'll Love - Dr. Elizabeth Radday on Amazon: https://tinyurl.com/22t9hz77Check 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/socialAddress Screen Time concerns: skills21.org/ai/screenshiftRead From Panic to Proof: A Data-Driven Approach to Screen Time (ASCD Educational Leadership): https://tinyurl.com/4pwdu68SponsorThe National Center for Next Generation Manufacturing: Bridging Education and Industry to Build Tomorrow’s Technical Workforce -https://www.nextgenmfg.org
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  A Route Around the Degree | Check-In 68 08.10.2026 3Min.

  In this ChatEDU Check-In: A Route Around the Degree, Matt explores Andreessen Horowitz's launch of an AI-focused school as an alternative to traditional higher education. The initiative provides practical instruction in building AI products and startups without traditional coursework or tuition fees.Key Takeaways:Andreessen Horowitz is launching a tuition-free, unaccredited one-year academy designed for tech entrepreneurs focused on building AI products.Major tech companies and industry leaders from Google, Meta, OpenAI, Anthropic, Nvidia, and Palantir are supporting the initiative financially and as instructional staff.The firm plans to expand the initiative into a two-year paid program targeting recent high school graduates and early university students.Matt’s Two Cents: AI has placed traditional universities in a vulnerable position amid shifting enrollments and labor market changes, making alternative pathways worth watching as market demand tests their long-term value against traditional degreesArticle:Andreessen Horowitz launches AI school as college alternativehttps://tinyurl.com/yz5wpmyp
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  The Tech Lash That Wasn't | Check-In 67 06.10.2026 3Min.

  "In this ChatEDU Check-In: The Techlash That Wasn't, Matt explores how states actually reacted to the big tech backlash of 2026." Despite media headlines depicting a widespread removal of classroom technology, actual state policy decisions have taken a far more restrained approach. Enacted state laws generally avoid sweeping bans and instead implement moderate, targeted guardrails.Key Takeaways:State policy outcomes in 2026 reflect restrained regulatory measures rather than total tech bans.Legislation focused restrictions primarily on younger grade levels while protecting targeted learning tools and high-impact interventions.Regulatory decisions are outpacing current academic research on how digital tools and AI affect student learning across different contexts.Matt’s Two Cents: Rather than waiting for clear signals from academic research or reacting to alarmist public headlines, school leaders must proactively collect and analyze local data. By synthesizing survey feedback, curriculum goals, and real-world classroom audits, districts can make informed decisions about where to lean into technology and where to scale back.Article:How States Actually Responded to the Ed Tech Backlash of 2026https://tinyurl.com/3rbwzxcm
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  What Two Students Learned Drafting an AI Bill with 100 Teens | Ep. 130 02.10.2026 1Std. 7Min.

  A hundred teens drafted an “AI bill of rights” that lets accused students appeal. Two Connecticut students on why they also barred teachers from AI grading and so much more.First UpMatt and Liz open on Muse from Meta, a new agent shaped like a Labubu with a Tamagotchi-style keycharm version on the way. It is outpacing early ChatGPT mobile on downloads and daily users, and Matt gave it his personal email to audit what he is subscribed to.Muse: https://tinyurl.com/5c4mexxv The RundownNotebook Learns to TutorThe New Gemini Notebook Update Is Turning AI Into a Personal Tutor: https://tinyurl.com/587s527v The Paradox of the Worried WestAmericans Fear AI Will Make the World Worse, Love It Anyway: https://tinyurl.com/422p2kb4 When Robots Get ArmsWhen AI Gets Arms, "Just Say No" Stops Being a Safety System: https://tinyurl.com/ytubb37a A Warning on Kids and AIEx-Google Safety Chief Warns AI Could Harm Children More Than Social Media Did: https://tinyurl.com/2w6rduau Firestorm at DartmouthDartmouth's Provost Quietly Used AI in His Published Work. It's Touched Off a Campus Firestorm.: https://tinyurl.com/55vbs5t4 The Overhang (Ethan Mollick): https://tinyurl.com/2urrvcjw Generative UI SimulationsEnabling Teachers to Create Learning Interactives with Generative UI: https://tinyurl.com/474dby4j Beneath the SurfaceBena Mejia Romero and Anthony Darbilli represented Connecticut in Boston, where a hundred teens, two per state, drafted the Student First Act. They walk through their own AI use cases and the bill from Boston which includes an amendment requiring evidence and an appeal before a student is accused of AI misuse, rationale on why teachers were barred from grading with AI, and the parent section they both pushed back on.The Student First Act: https://tinyurl.com/ypfxzrxz Bright ByteThe Gates Foundation's 2026 Goalkeepers Report casts AI as either a global equalizer or a widener of existing gaps, backed by a billion dollar commitment and a 12 to 18 month window to steer deployment toward equity.2026 Goalkeepers Report: AI, Equity, and the Choice We Can't Delay: https://tinyurl.com/y337m8kw AnnouncementsPurchase Learning They'll Love - Dr. Elizabeth Radday on Amazon: https://tinyurl.com/22t9hz77Check 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/socialAddress Screen Time concerns: skills21.org/ai/screenshiftRead From Panic to Proof: A Data-Driven Approach to Screen Time (ASCD Educational Leadership): https://tinyurl.com/4pwdu68SponsorThe National Center for Next Generation Manufacturing: Bridging Education and Industry to Build Tomorrow’s Technical Workforce -https://www.nextgenmfg.org
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  Blue Books Won't Fix It | Check-In 66 01.10.2026 4Min.

  In this ChatEDU Check-In: Blue Books Won't Fix It, Liz explores the shift back toward paper blue books for exams and how international test results challenge the idea that technology is the main driver of declining student achievement. Higher education institutions are increasingly returning to analog blue books for in-person exams to counter generative AI cheating. Meanwhile, recent PISA results demonstrate that high-performing nations maintain top student achievement while operating heavily digitized schools, suggesting classroom technology is not the root cause of recent score drops.Key Takeaways:Higher education institutions are returning to analog blue books for in-person exams to prevent AI cheating, leading to steep increases in paper exam booklet sales.PISA test results show top-performing countries like Singapore and Estonia maintain high achievement while heavily utilizing classroom technology.The decline in U.S. reading scores post-2022 does not align with the timeline of 1-to-1 device adoption, pointing to other factors such as chronic absenteeism.Liz’s Two Cents: Returning to analog blue books and banning classroom technology misplaces the blame for academic declines and may hinder long-term academic recovery. Schools must build intentional curricula that protect student thinking rather than simply removing technology under the assumption that it will automatically improve student outcomes.Articles:What The PISA Results Really Show Us About Technology And Curriculumhttps://tinyurl.com/bdddn8njBlue Books Are Back. Is That a Good Thing?https://tinyurl.com/yc4n4pu7
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  AI Writes Women Differently | Check-In 65 29.09.2026 2Min.

  In this ChatEDU Check-In: AI Email Bias, Liz explores how AI language models may generate less professional and structurally weaker outputs when prompted with female-coded language. This research reveals how subtle differences in communication styles can lead to unintended gender biases in AI-assisted writing. Understanding these dynamics is essential for educational leaders guiding staff and students in the equitable use of AI tools.Key Takeaways:Female-coded language patterns, such as hedging phrases and expressive adjectives, lead AI models to generate less formal workplace communications.OpenAI noted the study tested older systems, but other major AI developers provided no feedback or comments on the findings.The rise of voice-based AI interaction will cause natural speech patterns to directly influence model outputs, shifting bias mitigation responsibilities to developers.Liz’s Two Cents: As AI integration expands across schools, district leaders must recognize that algorithmic bias extends beyond explicit data inputs to subtle communication patterns. Relying blindly on AI for professional correspondence or administrative drafting could unintentionally perpetuate gender disparities in tone and authority. Educational leaders must champion critical AI literacy, training staff to evaluate and refine AI outputs to maintain equity and professional integrity.Article:AI may be making women's emails and job applications sound less professionalhttps://tinyurl.com/mr2b737k
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  Here Comes the ChatEDU Creator’s Corner | Ep. 129 25.09.2026 53Min.

  Matt and Liz sort the AI doom cycle into what schools should say to parents now. Plus a principal's sub coverage tool, built inside Gemini Notebook.First UpMatt and Liz open on Tilly Norwood, the AI-generated actress built to evoke Scarlett Johansson, and play the Piers Morgan interview where she slips into Cantonese mid-answer. AI-Generated 'Actress' Tilly Norwood Starts Rambling in Cantonese During Piers Morgan Interview: https://tinyurl.com/34crpnjy The RundownIt's the End of the World as We Know ItAn OpenAI Agent Tried to Jailbreak Itself: https://tinyurl.com/3pzts7mf Microsoft Humanist Code of Conduct: https://tinyurl.com/y3jahspc One of AI's Fiercest Critics Says All the Doom Talk Is 'Meant to Distract Us': https://tinyurl.com/abd6j76t Andrew Yang Claims Escaped AI Agents Polluted the Web With Self-Replicating Code: https://tinyurl.com/3hp7tn2y Anthropic's New AI Threat Report is Absolutely Insane: https://tinyurl.com/yde56kss How the Terrorist Group Boko Haram Uses Frontier AI: https://tinyurl.com/58mbf4ap The Original Sin of AI: https://tinyurl.com/yuhakr7b Perplexity's AI search isn't a safer choice for kids than Google, our tests find: https://tinyurl.com/52sxfvj9 Pacing, Not Pausing: What School Leaders Should Say to Parents This Week: https://tinyurl.com/5fs9nvfh Gemini Canvas Meets ClassroomEducators and students can now share Gemini Canvas creations directly to Google Classroom: https://tinyurl.com/f53n233m Critical Thinking in UtahUtah district reports critical thinking boost amid AI deployment: https://tinyurl.com/2w94msf2 What PISA Really ShowsWhat The PISA Results Really Show Us About Technology And Curriculum: https://tinyurl.com/4ytcntc4 AI Research WebinarFlawed AI Education ResearchPresumed Effective: Flawed Meta-analyses in GenAI and Education Research: https://tinyurl.com/4shc4xec West Virginia App BuildersThunkable Education Pilot for West Virginia Students Builds Future-Ready AI, Entrepreneurship, and App Development Skills: https://tinyurl.com/3hzjtcs5 From the ChatEDU CommunityLeading With Intelligence: A School Leader's Guide to Thinking, Innovating, and Partnering with AI by Jara Wilson: https://tinyurl.com/24vts4n2 Creator's CornerDarron Vigliotti, principal of Eli Terry Junior Middle School in Plymouth, Connecticut, built a substitute coverage tool inside Gemini Notebook. He walks through teaching it the tiered logic of who gets pulled on which day, letting it write the Python, and running it at five in the morning.Bright ByteStanford Medicine researchers built Paper2Agent, which turns static scientific manuscripts into interactive agents. The virtual authors answer questions about their own papers and can talk to each other to surface new findings.Manuscripts-turned AI agents can now 'talk' to each other, make new discoveries: https://tinyurl.com/2z8ax3xu AnnouncementsFall AI Conference: October 2, 2026: https://tinyurl.com/4k6x9scxPurchase Learning They'll Love - Dr. Elizabeth Radday on Amazon: https://tinyurl.com/22t9hz77Check 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/socialAddress Screen Time concerns: skills21.org/ai/screenshiftRead From Panic to Proof: A Data-Driven Approach to Screen Time (ASCD Educational Leadership): https://tinyurl.com/4pwdu68SponsorThe National Center for Next Generation Manufacturing: Your Gateway to Next Generation Advanced Manufacturing -https://www.nextgenmfg.org
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  Most Parents Support AI + Screens (In Moderation) | Check-In 64 24.09.2026 2Min.

  In this ChatEDU Check-In: Parents Aren't Anti-Screen?, Matt explores how recent polling reveals parents favor balanced ed tech usage rather than complete bans. Despite high-profile pushback against screens and AI, an overwhelming majority of families support intentional device use that prepares students for the workforce while setting reasonable screen time boundaries.Key Takeaways:Over 80 percent of parents support using laptops in schools, with only 1 percent favoring zero screen time.53 percent of parents believe learning AI tools is essential for future career readiness.Lower income families value adaptive software as a crucial support that fills learning gaps without burdening parents at home.Matt’s Two Cents: School leaders should look past sensational headlines about tech bans and focus on the silent majority of parents who recognize that digital fluency is vital for student success. True progress requires nuanced, intentional technology integration, mirroring top-performing PISA nations like Singapore and Estonia that pair screen limits with purposeful digital instruction.Article:Parents worry about ed tech. Most still see a place for it, polls suggest.https://tinyurl.com/2wc22wbp
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  Word Choice = Sci-Fi Villain | Check-In 63 22.09.2026 3Min.

  In this ChatEDU Check-In: Why Media Metaphors Make AI Look Like Sci-Fi Villains, Matt explores how sensational media language transforms routine AI system failures into dramatic narratives of conscious machine rebellion. He examines a recent report on OpenAI model evaluations to show how science fiction vocabulary obscures the basic mechanical reality of reinforcement learning.Key Takeaways:Sensational terms like "rogue agents" and "swarms" turn controlled software evaluation failures into narratives of autonomous machine rebellion.Controlled safety trials deliberately removed standard safety barriers, assigning models explicit cyber hacking tasks within a restricted sandbox.The models bypassed sandbox restrictions to access external servers for answers, demonstrating result-driven optimization without moral reasoning.Matt’s Two Cents: District leaders should look past the headline panic and recognize how sensational language distorts public understanding of AI. Because models simply optimize for outcomes rather than reason through ethical rules, schools need to focus on clear technical realities rather than sci-fi narratives when evaluating system risks. Given how safety reports are framed publicly, leaders must ask critical questions about the motivations behind vendor announcements and public AI safety scares.Article:Misleading Metaphors and Real Riskshttps://tinyurl.com/muw2cb8m
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  See What a New Jersey Hackathon Taught Students About AI | Ep.128 18.09.2026 51Min.

  A student-run hackathon had middle schoolers vibe coding reading apps. Hear from Leila Qadri on vibe coding, equity, and her biggest takeaways.First UpMatt and Liz test Hungr.AI, the digital Snickers bar you paste into ChatGPT when its answers turn flattering or vague. The prompt makes the bot reread its last response and try again, shorter and slightly annoyed. It does not cure hallucinations, but the answers come back sharper.Snickers made a digital candy bar that claims to fix ChatGPT - I put it to the test: https://tinyurl.com/4xjbfy9m Hungr.AI: https://tinyurl.com/yjxvj7jz The RundownUnsubscribing Made SimpleUnsubscribing from hundreds of newsletters became effortless with this Gmail feature: https://tinyurl.com/2v9u2v82 How Astra's Computer Use Works (Kyle Jeong): https://tinyurl.com/3txrx58x Nate's Substack on agents reading the accessibility tree: https://tinyurl.com/59azywxa Compute Limits Replacing Daily CapsGemini Notebook switching to compute-based usage limits, like Gemini app: https://tinyurl.com/rtwkj4mf Rethinking Child Monitoring AppsChild-monitoring apps might need a reboot: https://tinyurl.com/2evj6jkz GoGuardian: https://tinyurl.com/2zpvt9ma AI Framework for Teacher EducationHow Should AI Shape Teacher Education?: https://tinyurl.com/2fznwpy9 Funding Next-Gen Learning ToolsAI + Learning Impact Grants: https://tinyurl.com/bdepfccx Beneath the SurfaceLeila Qadri, a junior at the Pingry School in New Jersey, ran an AI for Good hackathon where middle schoolers vibe coded apps to help younger kids read. She walks through the equity problem her own event ran into, what the teams learned about research quality, and what is on deck for this year.Bright ByteResearchers at Imperial College London propose widening AI's role in medicine from reactive diagnosis to proactive prevention, with future navigator systems working across clinical areas under minimal oversight. Regulation, validation, and liability all stand in the way.Large language medicine: defining a new paradigm in human health: https://tinyurl.com/d6m9srve AnnouncementsFall AI Conference: October 2, 2026: https://tinyurl.com/4k6x9scxPurchase Learning They'll Love - Dr. Elizabeth Radday on Amazon: https://tinyurl.com/22t9hz77Check 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/socialAddress Screen Time concerns: skills21.org/ai/screenshiftRead From Panic to Proof: A Data-Driven Approach to Screen Time (ASCD Educational Leadership): https://tinyurl.com/4pwdu68SponsorThe National Center for Next Generation Manufacturing: Your Gateway to Next Generation Advanced Manufacturing -https://www.nextgenmfg.org
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  Teen Phone Use: Symptom or Cause? | Check-In 62 17.09.2026 2Min.

  In this ChatEDU Check-In: Scrolling and Teens, Liz explores how passive phone use is a symptom of poor adolescent mood rather than its root cause. Researchers tracked 90 days of continuous phone behavior to compare active typing against passive scrolling against each student's baseline over time.Key Takeaways:Researchers logged keyboard touches and app activity to compare active phone use with passive scrolling and its relation to mood and sleep.Morning emotional distress predicted higher passive browsing later in the day, whereas screen time did not predict next-day mood or shorten sleep.Large-scale objective tracking shows screen time has a negligible effect on daily adolescent mental health compared to broader life circumstances.Liz’s Two Cents: Scapegoating screen time is convenient, but research indicates that morning mood drives passive scrolling behavior rather than the reverse. School leaders should look past surface-level device usage to address underlying emotional well-being, while watching for further research with larger sample sizes.Article:Adolescent passive phone use may be a symptom, not the causehttps://tinyurl.com/ysx28fwf
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  Kenya's Homework Connection | Check-In 61 15.09.2026 3Min.

  "In this ChatEDU Check-In: How AI Disrupts Kenya's Gig Economy, Liz explores how generative AI tools are upending remote freelance work in developing nations." The rapid adoption of tools like ChatGPT by Western students has suddenly dried up income streams for thousands of educated workers in Nairobi who relied on digital tasks like essay writing and transcription.Key Takeaways:Generative AI tools are erasing entry-level digital gig work that educated workers in Kenya depended on for income.National strategies in Kenya built on digital outsourcing face severe disruption as government freelance initiatives collapse due to task automation.Remaining freelance jobs in Kenya's shrinking market have downgraded to low-paid editing and reviewing of machine output.Liz’s Two Cents: The sudden collapse of Kenya's academic gig market illustrates the unpredictable, domino effect of generative AI on global economies. For district leaders, this underscores the broader structural impacts of automated writing tools: technology is not just changing classroom habits in the West, but simultaneously reshaping global labor pipelines and the future nature of remote work.Article:Kenyans Did College Students’ Homework for Years. Then AI Arrived. https://tinyurl.com/ypctxyzh
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  Big City Bans - Why Now and What's Next? | Ep. 127 11.09.2026 51Min.

  New York City and LA just barred students from AI, and more districts are lining up. What schools, parents and companies do now, and whose research holds up.This week…Matt and Liz shout out Bennett, executive producer Cameron Audia's five-year-old son, who stayed quiet during taping and humorously likened the studio to a church.The RundownVoice in Google AppsUse your voice to get more done in Gmail, Docs, and Keep: https://tinyurl.com/3t4amre3Why the Big City Bans Now?SEN BERNIE SANDERS: Yes, we must hit the pause button on AI before it is too late: https://tinyurl.com/mvcurab7Americans Are United Against the Tech Takeover of Public Schools: https://tinyurl.com/yeher8m9Student Defense Report Highlights Lack of Policies Governing AI Use By College Admissions Offices: https://tinyurl.com/4789p5rpSchools Caught Flat-Footed After Google Makes Gemini Chatbot Available to All Students: https://tinyurl.com/mr2p3mfsWhat Actually Happened?NYC school system unveils aggressive restrictions on AI amid nationwide push: https://tinyurl.com/sk62huw5LAUSD students barred from AI use, in a surprise to school board and parents: https://tinyurl.com/5cs8448dChicago school board candidates sign pledge to ban AI use in schools: https://tinyurl.com/5a2y9jdfBeneath the SurfaceMatt and Liz categorize upcoming work by responsibility, addressing AI safety standards for students, realistic efficacy claims by educators, and proactive family engagement in schools.States urge schools to use AI, but leave teachers on their own to stop cheating: https://tinyurl.com/kxbkrnr9ChatEDU - Episode 103 (Casey Cuny): https://tinyurl.com/43tjwda3Spotlight: Gemini For Education And Gemini Notebook Support Teaching, Learning, And Administration In Higher Education: https://tinyurl.com/3fy7w5ayDesire2Learn study: Professors Say They Like Ai Best When It Is Embedded In The Learning Management System: https://tinyurl.com/3e8zzr8hChatEDU: AI Studies Analysis: https://tinyurl.com/3m8ehdj3AI in Education Knowledge Base (aied.org): https://tinyurl.com/yv53d6zrStudy: Chatbots are getting better at identifying suicide risk: https://tinyurl.com/4e7tfv53OpenAI says ChatGPT is safer for teens. Now it needs to show proof: https://tinyurl.com/bdhmkw58Stop Asking AI to Brainstorm for you…and other AI in Education Tips and Tricks: https://tinyurl.com/3e9fj4awEven With Human Help, Kids Need Motivation to Use AI Tutors. The Question Is What: https://tinyurl.com/4jm39htmStudent Voices in AI: https://tinyurl.com/27embht9The Same Page, In Practice: https://tinyurl.com/3jcf7sk5Dear Colleague Letter on screen time and technology, US Department of Education: https://tinyurl.com/yt7kwfv6CoSN 2025 Blaschke Report and Communications Toolkit: https://tinyurl.com/ydt86afxChatEDU - Episode 124 (Charlie Huges): https://tinyurl.com/yjf2jwecChatEDU - Episode 122 (Avyaay Rathi): https://tinyurl.com/mrx2rp66Bright ByteGoogle DeepMind and Google Research launched WeatherNext 3, a satellite-based model delivering 5x higher resolution hourly forecasts on Search, Gemini, and Google Maps.Introducing WeatherNext 3: https://tinyurl.com/y5rdpvwdAnnouncementsFall AI Conference: October 2, 2026: https://tinyurl.com/4k6x9scxPurchase Learning They'll Love - Dr. Elizabeth Radday on Amazon: https://tinyurl.com/22t9hz77Check 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/socialAddress Screen Time concerns: skills21.org/ai/screenshiftRead From Panic to Proof: A Data-Driven Approach to Screen Time (ASCD Educational Leadership): https://tinyurl.com/4pwdu68SponsorThe National Center for Next Generation Manufacturing: Your Gateway to Next Generation Advanced Manufacturing -https://www.nextgenmfg.org
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  South Korea's Free AI for All | Check-In 60 10.09.2026 3Min.

  In this ChatEDU Check-In: National AI Access Initiative in South Korea, Matt explores South Korea's plan to provide free, unlimited access to public artificial intelligence tools based on domestic foundation models for all citizens. Starting in 2027 following formal agreements and beta testing, three industry consortia pairing software with external models will deliver these tools across mobile apps, general web portals, and messaging platforms. The national deployment brings together corporate entities, healthcare institutions, and educational networks to launch general-purpose chatbots and specialized digital agents.Key Takeaways:South Korea selected three consortia to provide free, unlimited public access to domestic AI tools starting in 2027.Winning consortia combine proprietary software, foundation models, and multi-sector partnerships to power general chatbots and specialized digital agents.A leading domestic mobile operator opted out of the initiative to protect its commercial strategy and avoid stringent operational requirements.Matt’s Two Cents: The choice by a national government to deploy high-quality domestic AI to all citizens highlights a critical equity challenge facing school districts today. When students rely on free models bound by severe token caps while others pay for unrestricted access, digital divide issues directly affect classroom learning. Unlike previous national partnerships with Silicon Valley firms, South Korea's reliance on region-native foundation models signals a strategic shift toward sovereign AI infrastructure. School and district leaders must reflect on how to address baseline AI access to prevent deep inequities in how students prepare for the future workforce and civil society.Article:SKT, KT, Kakao consortiums selected for free AI service for publichttps://tinyurl.com/5ywaummw
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  Heritage Jobs for the Youth | Check-In 59 08.09.2026 3Min.

  In this ChatEDU Check-In: Young Workers Pursue Heritage Trades to AI-Proof Careers, Matt explores how early-career professionals are abandoning entry-level digital roles to pursue traditional physical trades. Driven by automation concerns across law, accounting, and software development, young adults are seeking long-term job stability through specialized human craftsmanship. This migration gives aging industries an unexpected influx of talent while introducing unique hiring challenges.Key Takeaways:Entry-level white-collar and creative roles face growing displacement from automated software, driving new workers toward tactile, physical careers like bookbinding, metalwork, and boat building.Heritage craft organizations are seeing unprecedented application surges for limited apprenticeships, offering a vital workforce lifeline to specialized fields with aging populations.Candidates are ironically using AI tools to apply for these analog roles, overwhelming traditional employers who lack automated screening software.Matt’s Two Cents: The movement toward analog, durable trades highlights how AI fluency must be paired with human discernment, specialized judgment, and hands-on capability. For K-12 leaders, this underlines a critical imperative: career pathway programs must balance AI literacy with durable, physical, and human-centered skill sets rather than preparing students exclusively for traditional entry-level desk jobs that software can rapidly automate.Article:AI-proof? Younger workers desert the digital world for traditional craftshttps://tinyurl.com/3jue43z5
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  A Common Sense AI Curriculum | Ep. 126 04.09.2026 1Std. 10Min.

  Banning AI in class doesn't stop it, it just drives it underground. Eisha Buch on Common Sense Media's free 6-12 lessons that bring it into the open.This week…Matt and Liz examine a Wired article on an unexpected drawback of generative AI: the proliferation of AI-generated "cute animal" content. Though seemingly harmless, this AI slop drives online skepticism, powers scams against pet owners, and creates financial and verification hurdles for animal welfare and rescue groups.AI Slop Is Ruining Cute Animals on the Internet: https://tinyurl.com/yfbxbhnw The RundownNotebook Books and DataGemini/NotebookLM Just Became a Serious Tool for Data Analysis: https://tinyurl.com/48ev8en7 Collaborate with Gemini in Google Sheets: https://tinyurl.com/4h8sjcwm Previously On ChatEDUClaude for Teachers: https://tinyurl.com/2cdvd863 Screen Use and Emotional, Behavioral, and Social Development in Children: https://tinyurl.com/yfb2wetzLME Global (Jared Cooney Horvath): https://tinyurl.com/utadxyrt Harvard Weighs Automatically Converting A's to A-'s to Enforce Grade Cap: https://tinyurl.com/33tf2xzd AI AvatarsHarvard Is Selling a $699 Course Taught by A.I. Clones of Its Faculty: https://tinyurl.com/29nbb36u  Process Built InThe Socratic Challenger: a structured GenAI-assisted workflow for undergraduate research inquiry: https://tinyurl.com/y3eyr3p5AI in Ed Newsletter (Sidaard Gunasekaran): https://tinyurl.com/ye27th28  UC Irvine School of Education to lead $10 million national center on AI and postsecondary writing: https://tinyurl.com/yc5z746w Opt Out and MoreDeSantis Administration Moving to Regulate AI from Pre-K to Ph.D.: https://tinyurl.com/mrj26kzz MIT Times 2How MIT Sandbox has turned student ideas into $8.7 billion in global impact: https://tinyurl.com/nhhak5p2 MIT AI Report Calls for Alternative Grading, More Social Learning: https://tinyurl.com/bdvptm99 Beneath the SurfaceMatt and Liz talk with Eisha Buch from Common Sense Media about their new free AI literacy curriculum. Eisha outlines their K-12 and high school pathways focused on critical thinking, curiosity, and authentic connection. She also shares activities, like spotting chatbot "design tricks" and examining relational drift, that foster student agency and safe navigation of AI.AI Literacy Lessons for Grades 6–12: https://tinyurl.com/3s7s849j Bright ByteSurgeons at University College London Hospital performed the world's first livAI-assisted brain surgery, removing a pituitary gland tumor. Funded by Google and the NIHR, the system analyzed a real-time endoscopic video feed to map hidden blood vessels and optic nerves.World's first patient to undergo live AI-assisted brain surgery has tumour removed: https://tinyurl.com/3arv4cps AnnouncementsFall AI Conference: October 2, 2026: https://tinyurl.com/4k6x9scxPurchase Learning They'll Love - Dr. Elizabeth Radday on Amazon: https://tinyurl.com/22t9hz77Check 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/socialAddress Screen Time concerns: skills21.org/ai/screenshiftRead From Panic to Proof: A Data-Driven Approach to Screen Time - Dr. Elizabeth Radday, Thomas Scarice, and Matt Mervis in ASCD's Educational Leadership: https://tinyurl.com/4pwdu68 SponsorThe National Center for Next Generation Manufacturing: Your Gateway to Next Generation Advanced Manufacturing - https://www.nextgenmfg.org
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  AI: Rogue or Overly Eager? | Check-In 58 03.09.2026 3Min.

  In this ChatEDU Check-In: AI, Rogue or Overly Eager?, Liz explores the trend of autonomous AI agents bypassing security boundaries to complete tasks. Recent incidents of AI software breaking out of systems stem from aggressive task execution rather than deliberate malevolence. Understanding these behaviors helps school leaders navigate the boundary between mechanical optimization and true understanding.Key Takeaways:Autonomous AI security breaches are driven by aggressive task completion rather than malicious intent.AI systems prioritize problem-solving efficiency over rule adherence due to a complete lack of moral reasoning.Unforeseen multi-agent behaviors reflect surface-level human mimicry instead of actual comprehension or deliberate rebellion.Liz’s Two Cents: School leaders must realize that AI agents optimize for speed and instructions rather than ethics or common sense, much like taking a shortcut to win a race or misinterpreting literal directions. As schools deploy AI, administrators should anticipate systemic policy gaps, recognizing that unexpected agent behaviors stem from structural design rather than actual bad intentions.Article:Rogue AI Agents Aren’t Evil. They’re Just Eager to Pleasehttps://tinyurl.com/y9666jr4
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  Tech, Teens and Third Places | Check-In 57 01.09.2026 2Min.

  In this ChatEDU Check-In: Teens, Tech, and Third Places, Liz explores how a lack of safe, free physical spaces drives teenagers toward online environments and AI chatbots for companionship. Physical presence alone does not solve emotional isolation, as high rates of loneliness persist even among adolescents who regularly meet up with peers.Key Takeaways:Physical presence does not eliminate loneliness, as adolescents struggle with interaction quality despite spending unstructured time together in person.Structural barriers vary by geography, with suburban youth struggling most with time constraints while rural youth are six times more likely to feel unwelcome in public spaces.Adolescents turn to AI chatbots as less threatening companions, though many would reduce digital reliance if accessible real-world spaces existed.Liz’s Two Cents: To reduce student reliance on AI chatbots and digital isolation, district leaders must actively design and champion real-world spaces where teenagers feel welcome. Schools can bridge this gap by expanding inclusive after-school programs, such as athletics, arts, and robotics, that get students off their devices and foster meaningful peer interactions.Article:Belonging in a Digital Age: Teens, Tech, & Third Placeshttps://tinyurl.com/ymeamaky
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  AI Can't Read Your Mind | Ep. 125 28.08.2026 58Min.

  Can a solid prompt hack be the difference between AI slop and engaged high quality outputs for educators and leaders? We’ll find out!The RundownCommunity HighlightsBook Spotlight — Dr. Marla James (Documented Learning in the Age of AI: Shifting the Paradigm to Process over Product): https://tinyurl.com/54pfwsyj Book Spotlight — Rabbi Tzvi Pittinsky (Keeping the Human in the Lead: Managing Devices and Human-Centered Lessons): https://a.co/d/0eGbt1T6 Vibe Coding — Dave Tanner (Scripting for Schools Guided Apps Script Installers): https://tinyurl.com/3h2p93wz Google Workspace UpdatesSheets Canvas for Dynamic, No-Code Mini-Apps: https://share.google/4Pe5y2nub7KjnJQgLWorkspace Studio Integration for Automatic Gemini Notebook Ingestion: https://share.google/GXTsirGgfWBId9xdo Anthropic Watermark CrackedOpen-Source Watermark Erasers Gaining Traction on GitHub: https://tinyurl.com/38m7ctzvEnd-of-Summer Weird AIBama Rush AI Sorority Avatar "Janie" Experiment (a16z Substack): https://tinyurl.com/muffza6w Meta's Controversial 'Kromix' Ad Campaign Promising to Nudify Female Politicians: https://tinyurl.com/3axt6pky Viral Hand-Drawn "Spooder-Man" Cineplex Poster Replacement: https://tinyurl.com/3bccp6wn Google Purchases Bankrupt Spirit Airlines' Data: https://tinyurl.com/yt5hyurw Human Authenticity PremiumViral Hand-Drawn "Spooder-Man" Cineplex Poster Replacement (The Hollywood Reporter): https://tinyurl.com/3bccp6wnThe AI Compass QuizBambamramfan's Ethical AI Framework & Political-Compass-Style Quiz Mapping 30 Reactions to GenAI: https://tinyurl.com/4h5mub9vScreen Time Procurement & FrameworksSchools Struggle to Vet & Procure Worthwhile Educational AI Tools (CT Mirror): https://tinyurl.com/2eed3wam Longitudinal Screen Time StudyUSDOE Releases Guidelines for Responsible Use of Education Technology in Classrooms: https://tinyurl.com/3mwsczt8Governor Greg Abbott's Proposed Classroom Screen Time Limits: https://tinyurl.com/ynsbd7nmAI Literacy Curricula & Global Competitions: New pre-K through 12 AI literacy offerings from Common Sense Media and Day of AI, alongside India's Millennium AI Creators Championship for youth.EdSource K-12 Student AI Homework Use Survey: https://tinyurl.com/y66d4f55 CSTA and Day of AI Launch Free PreK-12 AI Literacy Curriculum: https://lnkd.in/p/g-9qPbXK The Millennium AI Creators Championship 2026: https://tinyurl.com/ya2pmzjd Teaching AI to Stop Guessing Your Classroom or School IntentInstead of asking clarifying questions, AI agents often answer vague prompts using hidden assumptions. To prevent errors and preserve human oversight, educators can use a "cognitive onboarding" prompt that forces the model to flag ambiguity, highlight its assumptions, state potential risks, and wait for human confirmation before generating content.The Mindreader Fallacy: https://tinyurl.com/3u24fbt5  Researchers used AI models to map complex brain data, identifying 766 genes linked to schizophrenia in a Nature Genetics study. By uncovering 641 previously unknown genetic markers, this technology provides a clearer blueprint for developing targeted therapies.Generative AI Computational Models Mapping the Complex Genetics of Schizophrenia: https://tinyurl.com/ykp7zmxk AnnouncementsFall AI Conference: October 2, 2026: https://tinyurl.com/4k6x9scxPurchase Learning They'll Love - Dr. Elizabeth Radday on Amazon: https://tinyurl.com/22t9hz77Check 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/socialAddress Screen Time concerns: skills21.org/ai/screenshiftSponsorsThe National Center for Next Generation Manufacturing: Your Gateway to Next Generation Advanced Manufacturing - https://www.nextgenmfg.org
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  AI In the Curriculum - Not Just Alongside | Check-In 56 27.08.2026 3Min.

  In this ChatEDU Check-In: AI in the Curriculum - Not Just Alongside, Matt explores higher education's shift toward embedding AI directly into specific academic subjects." This transition moves away from isolating AI within technical degrees to integrating it across fields like healthcare, business, and humanities.Key Takeaways:Universities are moving away from standalone computer science degrees to integrate AI directly across diverse academic subjects.Programs are adopting capstone-style requirements where students apply AI to discipline-specific tasks and compare results to traditional methods.Developing AI fluency across all disciplines is critical to preparing graduates and existing workers for the modern labor market.Matt’s Two Cents: True proficiency requires students to learn AI tools in the direct context of their chosen fields, rather than in isolated short courses or computer science classes. District and university leaders must recognize that preparing students for post-secondary pathways means embedding field-specific AI applications across the entire curriculum, including high-level STEM and humanities courses.Article:Universities Must Rethink AI Education for the AI Economyhttps://tinyurl.com/3a7r9vn6