AI in Education Podcast

Эпизоды

• Why One Law School Just Banned AI 04.06.2026 41мин

  Why would a leading law school ban AI entirely while other countries are giving every citizen access to ChatGPT? In this news-focused episode, Ray and Dan unpack some of the biggest developments shaping AI and education around the world. They discuss China's new national AI education strategy, Malta's ambitious "AI for All" programme, Harvard's expansion of student AI access, and Anthropic's $200 million partnership with the Gates Foundation. The conversation explores a controversial decision by the University of California, Berkeley School of Law to prohibit AI use in assessed work, raising important questions about judgement, employability, and the future role of AI in professional education. They also examine new research on how people are actually using AI, why Australian students' digital literacy is falling despite increased screen time, and what educators can learn from a high-profile academic integrity case involving an AI-assisted newspaper article. Finally, they highlight Jason La Greca's excellent framework for testing and stress-testing educational chatbots before they are deployed to students. All the links: China launches AI empowering education action plan, includes AI into teacher qualification exams https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202604/1358611.shtml    The Amazon-Perplexity Ruling and Implications for "Agentic AI" in EdTech https://www.rumidocs.com/newsroom/the-amazon-perplexity-ruling-and-implications-for-agentic-ai-in-edtech    Malta gives every Maltese (at home and abroad!) ChatGPT free - with a catch https://openai.com/index/malta-chatgpt-plus-partnership/    Harvard students avoid uni-provided ChatGPT https://www.thecrimson.com/article/2026/4/28/fas-anthropic-claude/    Anthropic's forms $200M partnership with the Gates Foundation https://www.anthropic.com/news/gates-foundation-partnership    University of California Berkeley School of Law bans AI https://www.law.berkeley.edu/academics/registrar/academic-rules/artificial-intelligence-policy/    Australian students' digital literacy at an all time low https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-05-27/school-students-digital-literacy-at-new-low-test-shows/106724164    How people are really using AI https://hbr.org/2026/06/how-people-are-really-using-ai-in-2026    Walton Family Foundation Educator Research: closing the expectations gap https://www.gallup.com/analytics/659819/k-12-teacher-research.aspx    From the "You couldn't make this up" department  https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2026/jun/03/sydney-academic-used-ai-opinion-piece-urging-students-to-avoid-using-it-ntwnfb  https://www.smh.com.au/national/uni-academic-admits-she-used-ai-to-write-opinion-piece-in-defence-of-ai-20260602-p6038j.html    Can you spot AI writing? https://fakewriters.onrender.com/      How to break your chatbot - from Jason La Greca https://teachyourselfout.substack.com/p/the-ultimate-jailbreak-test-suite   
• Pasi Sahlberg on AI and Flourishing in education 28.05.2026 31мин

  What is the purpose of education in an AI-driven world? In this thought-provoking episode of the AI in Education Podcast, Ray and Dan sit down with Pasi Sahlberg to explore one of the biggest questions facing schools, universities, and society today. Drawing on global research, OECD trends, and decades of educational leadership, Pasi explains why traditional measures of success - achievement, credentials, and test performance - may no longer be enough in the age of AI. The conversation explores: Human capital vs human flourishing Why wellbeing and agency matter more than ever The future of assessment and PISA AI's impact on work, learning, and society Why "hope is not a strategy" What schools should prioritise over the next decade The episode also reflects on parenting, teacher accountability, screen time, and the human skills that may become most valuable as AI capabilities accelerate. Referenced in this episode:  OECD Education for Human Flourishing.  https://www.oecd.org/en/publications/education-for-human-flourishing_73d7cb96-en.html  An accidental guru: The making of an education warrior https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S073805932600060X  Sir Ken Robinson at TED - Do Schools Kill Creativity? https://www.ted.com/talks/sir_ken_robinson_do_schools_kill_creativity    .
• Flourish: The Human Role in AI and Education 21.05.2026 33мин

  This special live episode of the AI in Education Podcast was recorded at the CEnet Future:Forward Conference "Flourish 2026", where Dan and Ray explored one of the biggest questions facing education today: how do schools find the "happy middle" with AI? The conversation dives into the shifting narrative around AI and jobs, the growing role of human agency in education, and why wellbeing, flourishing and trust must remain central as AI adoption accelerates. Along the way, they unpack new research on AI bias, AI detectors, cognitive debt, student safety, and the widening gap between individual innovation and organisational readiness. The episode also reflects on keynote insights from Pasi Sahlberg and discussions around OECD flourishing metrics, parent engagement, and what schools can do now to bring entire communities along on the AI journey. This is a thoughtful, practical and deeply human conversation about balancing opportunity, risk and responsibility in education's AI future. Topics covered: AI and the future of work Human flourishing and wellbeing AI bias in education Safe AI use in schools Parent and community engagement AI detectors and academic integrity The "happy middle" approach to technology adoption Research Papers, and links to things we discussed The changing tune of the AI leaders: The Jobs Apocalypse no more...See these tweets for last year's story: Jensen Huang, Sam Altman, and Mustafa Suleyman And this year's story: Sam Altman, Mark Zuckerberg and Jensen Huang   Microsoft's Work Trend Index report 2026 https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/worklab/work-trend-index/agents-human-agency-and-the-opportunity-for-every-organization  Pasi Sahlberg His website: https://pasisahlberg.com/  OECD research he discussed: https://www.oecd.org/en/data/dashboards/pisa-education-and-skills/digital-leisure-outside-school.html (the chart was from Figure 2.4 here) Victoria Hedlund, the "AI Bias Girl' https://www.linkedin.com/in/victoriamhedlund/ and on Substack at https://victoriahedlund.substack.com/ Her LinkedIn post that kicked off the SquashMallow test: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/victoriamhedlund_biasgirl-biasaware-stem-activity-7454786540133584896-E64  The retracted Nature research paper on AI in Education: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41599-025-04787-y Think U Know: https://www.thinkuknow.org.au/ 
• Inside Sydney's AI Hub: Building University Automation That Works 16.05.2026 22мин

  Inside Sydney's AI Hub: Building University Automation That Works In this episode, Dan and Ray are joined by Dan Hart, now leading the Automation and Innovation Hub at the University of Sydney. Dan shares how the Hub has evolved from a robotic process automation team into a university-wide service using automation and AI to improve everyday work. With around 400 automated processes running across the university, the team helps staff remove repetitive, time-consuming tasks without taking away the human parts of their roles. The conversation explores practical examples, including AI-powered invoice processing, and how generative AI is changing the software development lifecycle. Dan explains how tools like Cursor and AI-assisted coding are speeding up development, while also raising important questions about security, code quality, workload intensity, and developer wellbeing. The episode also dives into vibe coding, what it means for enterprise systems, and why the future of software development may depend less on hand-writing code and more on communication, problem-solving, and understanding users.
• What we learned from teachers at Sydney's Day of AI 07.05.2026 33мин

  We kick off Series 17 with a multi-interview episode! Recorded live at the The Anglican Schools Corporation "Day of AI" in Western Sydney, this episode brings together three educators who are reshaping teaching, assessment and student learning in real classrooms with AI. You'll hear from Maria Mertzanakis at Oran Park Anglican College on how teachers are building shared "Brains" in NotebookLM to save time, improve differentiation and support pedagogy, while reducing workload by more than 50 hours a week across staff workflows. Nathan Jones from Marsden Park Anglican College shares how AI is opening new creative possibilities for students and teachers alike, and why schools needed to guide students toward using AI well rather than trying to ban it. And Patrick Ell from Roseville College explores what happens in a "post-product world", where assessment can no longer rely on trust in the final submission alone. His focus? Designing learning experiences that value process, thinking and cognitive craft. We had a lovely grounded, practical and optimistic conversation with these teachers, who are leading from the front as schools navigate the realities of AI in education. Really great to have been invited to attend and participate by Julian Ridden, the TASC Head of AI.
• The Castlereagh Moment: Education at a Turning Point with AI? 30.04.2026 38мин

  This week's episode explores a defining moment for education in the age of AI. Fresh from a week of major events in Sydney, including the Microsoft AI Summit, Dan and Ray unpack the newly released Castlereagh Statement - a collaboration between 70+ education leaders calling for urgent change across schools, universities, and training systems. Their message is clear: education isn't ready for the speed and scale of AI disruption. But that's only part of the story. We're also seeing a growing pushback on technology in classrooms, with schools limiting screen time and universities questioning device use; while, at the same time, new AI-first models like AI-led tutoring and mastery-based learning are emerging rapidly. Add to that a widening gap between what employers expect and what graduates can actually do with AI, plus billions being invested in infrastructure and skills, and it's clear: something has to change. We also dive into the latest research on AI in teaching, from new peer learning models to rethinking assessment and feedback. This episode connects the dots across policy, practice, and innovation. Resources discussed this week Castlereagh Statement https://castlereagh.ai/ California schools introduce tech limits https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/apr/22/los-angeles-school-district-screen-time Yale considering banning all electronic devices https://www.timeshighereducation.com/news/device-free-classrooms-mooted-yale-plan-rebuild-public-trust Khan TED Institute announced https://blog.khanacademy.org/introducing-the-khan-ted-institute-a-new-approach-to-higher-education/  https://khanted.org/Home  LSI: The world's first AI-led university https://lsi.ac.uk/ Pearson/AWS survey of employers re students https://www.pearson.com/en-us/power-of-learning/ai-readiness.html The Pedagogical Promptbook https://edtechbooks.org/promptbook/ Microsoft's $25 billion AI in Australia announcement https://news.microsoft.com/source/asia/features/investing-in-australias-ai-future/ Harvard adds mandatory AI courses to English writing course https://www.thecrimson.com/article/2026/4/23/expository-writing-ai/ Research Papers Think–Pair–Chatbot–Share: AI-Facilitated Peer Learning in Chemistry https://pubs.acs.org/doi/full/10.1021/acs.jchemed.5c00438 Identifying what our students have learned: a framework for practical assessment validation https://doi.org/10.1080/02602938.2026.2620053 Using generative artificial intelligence to reimagine feedback in higher education: a collaborative autoethnography https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/02602938.2026.2653889#abstract     
• From Classroom to Impact: How Dawn Knight Uses AI to Help Students Thrive 23.04.2026 36мин

  In this episode, we're joined by Dawn Knight, a sustainability lead and specialist support educator working with deaf students in a UK secondary school (Epsom and Ewell High School). Dawn shares how she's using AI in simple, practical ways to make learning more accessible - not just for students with additional needs, but for everyone in the classroom. From generating transcripts and differentiated resources to using AI as a planning "checklist," Dawn explains how these tools are helping her save time and reinvest it where it matters most: supporting students directly. The conversation explores how technology originally designed for accessibility - like captions and transcription - is now benefiting all learners, and why inclusive approaches to AI can unlock better outcomes across the board. We also dive into the realities of AI adoption in schools: what works, what doesn't, and why starting small is often the best approach. Dawn offers a refreshingly grounded perspective, showing that you don't need to be a technical expert to make a real impact. If you're looking for practical ways to use AI to support students and improve classroom experiences, this episode is full of ideas you can start using today. This might also be the ideal episode to share with any colleagues who are at the beginning of their AI in teaching journey
• Australia's AI moment: Fast adoption, slow policy, big questions 16.04.2026 35мин

  In this episode, Dan and Ray explore how AI is rapidly reshaping education, workplaces, and policy - often faster than institutions can respond. They unpack new guidance from NSW's NESA on student AI use, highlighting the growing tension between rules, real-world behaviour, and the need for clearer, more consistent policies across education systems. The conversation expands globally with insights from the 2026 Stanford AI Index Report, revealing that while over 80% of students are already using AI, formal education and policy frameworks are struggling to keep pace. The distinction between 'AI in education', 'AI literacy', and 'AI education' becomes critical for understanding what schools and universities could actually be building. They also discuss emerging tools like Adobe Student Spaces, evolving AI workflows using tools like Claude and Copilot, and new data showing Australians are among the most advanced AI users globally. Finally, they revisit "real AI" use cases - specifically wildlife (crocs, turtles and quokkas) detection in Australia - as a reminder that AI's impact extends far beyond chatbots. News items discussed NSW NESA's "Use of Artificial Intelligence by students" rules https://www.nsw.gov.au/education-and-training/nesa/hsc/rules-and-procedures/artificial-intelligence    Adobe Student Spaces https://acrobat.adobe.com/studentspaces/home    The 2026 AI Index Report from Stanford University Human-Centred Artificial Intelligence (HAI) centre https://hai.stanford.edu/ai-index/2026-ai-index-report    Anthropic came Down Under https://www.anthropic.com/research/how-australia-uses-claude  https://www.anthropic.com/news/australia-MOU    AI crocodile detection trials begin in north Queensland https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-03-26/ai-crocodile-detection-trials-begin-in-the-wild/106492460 Related stories from the past: Scientists use drones, cloud, and AI to protect Australia's Quokkas https://news.microsoft.com/apac/features/preserving-diversity-with-ai/ Indigenous knowledge and AI help protect baby turtles from predators on Australia's remote Cape York https://news.microsoft.com/apac/features/indigenous-knowledge-and-ai-help-protect-baby-turtles-from-predators-on-australias-remote-cape-york/ Strengthen your research workflow with generative AI https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/blog/skills-hub-blog/strengthen-your-research-workflow-with-generative-ai/4501740 
• Jocelyn Brewer - How schools and parents rethink student wellbeing in the age of AI 09.04.2026 35мин

  In this episode, Dan and Ray are joined by psychologist and cyber psychology expert Jocelyn Brewer, founder of Digital Nutrition, to unpack one of the biggest challenges facing education today: how schools and parents can support student wellbeing in an AI-driven world. Jocelyn introduces the concept of "digital nutrition" - a more balanced, intentional approach to technology use that moves beyond simplistic ideas like screen time limits. Together, they explore how young people are already using AI for everything from homework to navigating friendships, often in ways adults don't fully understand. The conversation dives into the risks and opportunities of AI as a companion, why banning technology rarely works, and how schools can shift from restriction to risk minimisation. Jocelyn also challenges educators and parents to engage more openly with young people, positioning them as experts in their own digital lives. This episode is a powerful reminder that there are no simple answers - but doing nothing isn't an option. We recommend you follow or connect with Jocelyn on LinkedIn to keep topping up with her fantastic advice!
• Inside the latest AI in education research: tutors, bias, and impact 02.04.2026 46мин

  This week's episode dives into a wave of new research shaping how AI is actually being used in education. We explore what works (and what doesn't) when it comes to AI-generated feedback, including why blended, "hybrid" feedback may be the most effective approach - and why more feedback doesn't always lead to better outcomes. The conversation then turns to one of the most important emerging issues: bias in AI systems. From subtle differences in tone to stereotyping based on student characteristics, the research highlights why educators need to be cautious about the data they provide AI tools. "If you use AI to write feedback, it does not treat every student the same way equally." We also talk about the growing evidence around AI tutors - where they outperform humans, where they fall short, and what actually drives meaningful learning gains. Along the way, we tackle major questions around detection, student use, teacher workload, and whether AI can ever replace human connection. The big takeaway? AI is powerful. And how we design, guide, and use it in education matters more than ever. Research Papers discussed this week AI for Feedback Directive, metacognitive, or a blend of both? A comparison of AI-generated feedback types on student engagement, confidence, and outcomes https://doi.org/10.1016/j.caeai.2026.100553  AI assistance in peer feedback provision: Pedagogically sound, but minimally adopted https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0360131526000291 Marked Pedagogies: Examining Linguistic Biases in Personalized Automated Writing Feedback https://arxiv.org/abs/2603.12471 AI and Bias The Life Cycle of Large Language Models: A Review of Biases in Education https://bera-journals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/bjet.13505  AI Tutors AI tutoring can safely and effectively support students: An exploratory RCT in UK classrooms https://arxiv.org/abs/2512.23633v1 LearnMate: Enhancing Online Education with LLM-Powered Personalized Learning Plans and Support https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/3706599.3719857 Effective Personalized AI Tutors via LLM-Guided Reinforcement Learning https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=6423358 Unifying AI Tutor Evaluation: An Evaluation Taxonomy for Pedagogical Ability Assessment of LLM-Powered AI Tutors https://arxiv.org/abs/2412.09416v1 AI Detection Trusting AI to detect AI? A systematic evaluation of the reliability and robustness of current AIGC detection tools for student academic work (paywalled) https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0360131526000540 Teacher Workload Shiksha Copilot: Teacher-AI Collaboration for Curating and Customizing Lesson Plans in Low-Resource School https://arxiv.org/pdf/2507.00456v3  Student use The Secret Life of Students project - WonkHE Feb/March 2026 https://wonkhe.com/wp-content/wonkhe-uploads/2026/03/Wonkhe_SLOS2026_Jim_slides.pdf Is a random human peer better than a highly supportive chatbot in reducing loneliness over time? https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0022103126000417?dgcid=rss_sd_all 
• UnBlooms: Tina Austin on thinking well with AI and rethinking Bloom's 26.03.2026 38мин

  Tina Austin joins Ray and Dan for a wide-ranging conversation about what AI adoption really looks like in US education beyond the hype, the headlines and the endless frameworks. Tina is an educator, consultant, policy adviser and the founder of GAInable. She works with schools, colleges and faculty teams on responsible AI adoption. In this episode, she shares how her work evolved from teaching bioethics and AI ethics into supporting educators across the US as they grapple with policy, privacy, assessment, tools, and changing classroom practice. The conversation explores the fragmented reality of AI in education, why many teachers are feeling "frameworked out", and why Tina believes the best place to start is not with the tool, but with the problem you are trying to solve. We also dig into Tina's "UnBlooms" framework - a challenge to linear interpretations of Bloom's Taxonomy in the age of generative AI - and discuss critical thinking, student reflection, equity, privacy, and why educators should stay sceptical of easy answers. A thoughtful episode on using AI well, asking better questions, and meeting learners where they are. Here's all the links you need: Tina's new venture, Gainable AI Gainable.ai  The UnBlooms™ model: A Problem-Centered Framework for Learning Design in the AI Era https://zenodo.org/records/17298679  The UnBlooms™ Workbook: How to Design, Teach, and Assess Human Reasoning in the AI Era Tina's Custom GPT for UnBloom: Unbloom-it You can contact Tina on email at tina@tinaaustin.com  
• AI News: the future of work we're not ready for 19.03.2026 38мин

  In this AI News episode, Dan and Ray explore the fast-moving reality of AI in the workplace - and why many of us might not be as prepared as we think. They unpack a striking story of a KPMG partner fined for using AI to cheat on an AI ethics course, raising questions about assessment, responsibility, and what "cheating" even means in an AI-enabled world. The conversation then shifts to a growing trend: organisations and universities rolling out AI tools like Copilot at scale, and what this means for equity, productivity, and expectations in the workplace. Dan and Ray also dive into new research from Anthropic on the future of work, highlighting which roles are most exposed to AI disruption - and why knowledge work may change more than hands-on professions. They explore the idea that the real shift isn't job loss, but job transformation. Finally, they tackle bold claims from industry leaders that office roles could be automated within 12–18 months, debating what's hype versus reality. This episode challenges a simple narrative: AI isn't just replacing work - it's redefining what valuable work looks like. Links to discussions in the podcast: KPMG partner fined for using artificial intelligence to cheat in AI training test https://www.theguardian.com/business/2026/feb/16/kpmg-partner-fined-artificial-intelligence-ai-training-test Aston University is first Midlands University to provide all staff with Microsoft 365 Copilot and Copilot Chat for Students https://www.aston.ac.uk/latest-news/aston-university-first-midlands-university-provide-all-staff-microsoft-365-copilot-and NY Times: Who's a Better Writer: A.I. or Humans? Take Our Quiz. https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2026/03/09/business/ai-writing-quiz.html  Anthropic and US Government https://www.anthropic.com/news/statement-department-of-war Anthropic future of labour report https://www.anthropic.com/research/labor-market-impacts AI Exposure of the Australian & US Job Market AUS: https://0xtreme.github.io/aus-jobs/  US: https://joshkale.github.io/jobs/   Anthropic Education Report - AI Fluency index https://www.anthropic.com/research/AI-fluency-index The end of office workers as we know it? https://www.msn.com/en-gb/money/other/microsoft-ai-ceo-mustafa-suleyman-issues-18-month-warning-for-office-workers/ar-AA1WvXMi?ocid=entnewsntp&pc=U531&cvid=69957afbd4c747f08d77afaead77499c&ei=56 
• Stephen Heppell on Building Smarter Schools in the Age of AI 12.03.2026 55мин

  Professor Stephen Heppell joins Dan and Ray for a wide-ranging conversation about the future of schools, assessment, and learning in the age of AI. Stephen reflects on more than four decades of innovation in education technology — from early experiments with AI and HyperCard through to today's generative AI systems. Drawing on work around the world, he shares stories from radical learning environments including beach schools, post-hurricane classrooms in the Cayman Islands, and experimental learning spaces designed with students themselves. A central theme of the episode is the growing gap between how schools currently operate and the skills the modern world demands. Stephen argues that as AI makes knowledge abundant, the most valuable human capabilities will be creativity, ingenuity, collaboration, and ethical judgement - qualities that traditional assessment systems rarely measure well. The discussion also explores how AI can support teachers rather than replace them, helping with differentiated learning activities, analysis of student understanding, and freeing teachers to focus on the human side of education. Finally, Stephen challenges educators and policymakers to rethink learning spaces, assessment, and student agency - and to build education systems that prepare learners for a rapidly changing world. If you want to read about more of Stephen's work, there's plenty more detail on Lindfield Learning Village and lots more on https://www.heppell.net/ 
• From Classrooms to Careers: The New AI Skills Race 05.03.2026 35мин

  In this news-packed episode, hosts Ray and Dan explore Purdue University's bold new requirement for all graduates to demonstrate AI competency; and the strategic partnerships between Harvey.ai (the specialised system for the legal profession) and universities in Sydney, Oxford and Chicago. The conversation turns to the "first in the world" move by the University of Manchester to provide Microsoft 365 Copilot to 65,000 students and staff - paying homage to the legacy of Alan Turing. A highlight of the episode is the deep dive into "vibe coding"— the phenomenon of non-programmers using AI to build applications through iterative prompting rather than manual syntax. They also tackle the "AI bubble," the rise of "work slop," and the surprising research showing that Boomers often have a more accurate understanding of how AI works than Millennials. Links & Resources: Purdue University adds 'AI working competency' graduation requirement https://www.purdue.edu/newsroom/2025/Q4/purdue-unveils-comprehensive-ai-strategy-trustees-approve-ai-working-competency-graduation-requirement/  University Law Schools introduce AI partnerships https://www.afr.com/companies/professional-services/sydney-and-uts-law-schools-bow-to-ai-wave-partner-with-harvey-20260119-p5nv49  University of Manchester announces 'world first' AI rollout with Microsoft https://www.manchester.ac.uk/about/news/world-first-ai-partnership-between-the-university-of-manchester-and-microsoft-announced/  "What we are doing about AI at UWA" https://www.uwa.edu.au/news/article/2026/february/what-we-are-doing-about-ai-at-uwa  High school students forced to fight false allegations of AI cheating https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-12-22/ai-detectors-incorrectly-brand-high-school-students-ai-cheats/106138394  New Future of Work Report from Microsoft https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/research/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/New-Future-Of-Work-Report-2025.pdf  The Impact of AI on Work in Higher Education https://www.educause.edu/research/2026/the-impact-of-ai-on-work-in-higher-education  Americans Have Mixed Views of AI – and an Appetite for Regulation https://www.searchlightinstitute.org/research/americans-have-mixed-views-of-ai-and-an-appetite-for-regulation/  And finally.... From the "Do you ever read T&C's" dept https://www.linkedin.com/posts/matthewwemyss_i-logged-into-ai-studio-yesterday-and-i-ran-activity-7411400400177729536-hgPL 
• AI in Universities: Why Connection, Not Content, is Now King 27.02.2026 35мин

  AI in Universities: Why Connection, Not Content, is Now King This was an exciting episode, because we recorded it on campus at the world's newest university - Adelaide University. It officially started on-campus delivery this week, as it finally opened the doors after merging the University of Adelaide and the University of South Australia. Amid the buzz of students arriving for week 1, Eddie Major and I found some time to sit down and talk about how AI is impacting universities. Eddie is the university's AI Learning and Teaching Coordinator and you may not be surprised to learn that we discussed the AI myths of higher education and what being an "AI-first university" means.  Eddie debunks the "AI brain rot" myth, explaining that while the technology is disruptive, it is not the end of the university. Instead, we are moving from an era where "Content is King" to one where "Connection is King." We explore: Upstream AI Use: How students are using tools like NotebookLM to synthesise information before they even start an assignment. The Soft Skills Surge: Why communication and critical thinking are now more valuable than hard technical skills. The AI-First University: What it truly means to embed AI literacy across a global curriculum. References: We discussed the research from Hiromu Yakura at the Max Planck Institute about the way that ChatGPT was influencing speech. The paper, called "Empirical evidence of Large Language Model's influence on human spoken communication" is available at this link: https://arxiv.org/abs/2409.01754 
• AI Research Update: 8 papers you need to know for 2026 19.02.2026 27мин

  Research Update: 8 papers on AI in Education you need to know for 2026   In this episode, Ray and Dan provide a rapid-fire rundown of the most significant research papers hitting the AI in Education space so far in 2026. After a series of news-heavy episodes, the hosts catch up on the data behind synthetic avatars, grading accuracy, and the psychological biases we hold against AI.   Key highlights include:   Synthetic Lecturers: Exploring stakeholder perspectives on digital twins and the emotional reaction to the term Deepfake in academia.   The Grading Gap: Why ChatGPT tends to be more sycophantic and generous with weak work compared to human instructors.   The Disclosure Penalty: New findings from 16 experiments showing why humans devalue creative writing the moment they know AI is involved.   Prompting Hacks: The "Groundhog Day" method 😂 Why simply repeating your prompt twice can boost accuracy across 70 different AI systems.   Tools for Researchers: Insights into Jasper Roe's research checklist and the "Paper Banana" tool for automating scientific diagrams.   Links to all the research papers discussed  Can synthetic avatars replace lecturers? An exploratory international study of higher education stakeholder perceptions| https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s41239-025-00568-4  Who grades best? Comparing ChatGPT, peer, and instructor evaluations across varying levels of student project quality https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/02602938.2025.2588682?src=  The Artificial Intelligence Disclosure Penalty: Humans Persistently Devalue AI-Generated Creative Writing https://doi.org/10.1037/xge0001889  The older "Transparency Dilemma" paper referenced too: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0749597825000172  Asking generative artificial intelligence the right questions improves writing performance https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666920X25000141?via%3Dihub  When AI only asks: how question-driven dialogue shapes prewriting in the classroom https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/education/articles/10.3389/feduc.2026.1740044/full  Prompt Repetition Improves Non-Reasoning LLMs https://arxiv.org/html/2512.14982v1  How to Use Generative AI in Educational Research https://www.cambridge.org/core/elements/how-to-use-generative-ai-in-educational-research/916142E735B678F86A59240BFE651F5C   PaperBanana: Automating Academic Illustration for AI Scientists https://dwzhu-pku.github.io/PaperBanana/ https://arxiv.org/abs/2601.23265 
• Metacognitive Laziness and Sycophancy? AI's Education Wake-Up Call 12.02.2026 35мин

  Is AI an "efficiency engine" or a "cognitive crutch"? In this episode, Dan and Ray explore the OECD's latest warnings regarding "metacognitive laziness" - the risk of students offloading the thinking process entirely to generative tools. As the OECD Digital Education Outlook 2026 suggests, without pedagogical guardrails, we may be sacrificing long-term learning for short-term performance.   The discussion shifts to the UK's aggressive new response: the Department of Education's Safety Standards. These rules explicitly ban "sycophantic" or flattering AI designs, stripping away avatars and "personhood" to ensure AI remains a tool rather than a digital companion. We discuss a NY Times article about AI in schools too, and the global experiments. We also dive into Deakin University's multidisciplinary inquiry, which provides six essential curriculum recommendations for a world of ubiquitous AI. Finally, we highlight the release of Leon Furze's Teaching AI Ethics, a vital new (and free) resource for teachers navigating these complex waters. Key References: OECD: Digital Education Outlook 2026 UK DfE: Generative AI Product Safety Standards for Education (Jan 2026) UK DfE: Commitment to AI Tutoring for disadvantaged children NY Times: As Schools Embrace A.I. Tools, Sceptics Raise Concerns Deakin University's FutureFocus GenAI program Free E-Book: Teaching AI Ethics by Leon Furze (teachingaiethics.com)
• Ray & Dan: What We've Learned From 6 Years of AI in Education 05.02.2026 34мин

  In this special "flipped" episode, the tables are turned on your usual hosts, Dan Bowen and Ray Fleming. Interviewed by Dr. Michael Hallissy from (and for) the teachnet Ireland podcast, Dan and Ray step into the guest seats to share the "AI in Education" podcast origin story - from its 2019 "skunkworks" beginnings at Microsoft to its current status as an independent voice in the global edtech conversation. The trio dives deep into how the podcast evolved through the 2022 Generative AI explosion, moving from technical "hoodie" discussions about algorithms to essential human skills like empathy and questioning. They reflect on impactful moments, including the complexities of indigenous data rights and why "AI detectors" are a failing tool for schools. Beyond the backstory, Dan and Ray discuss the widening AI equity gap and their vision for 2026: a focus on "the doers"—the teachers implementing AI in the classroom today. Whether you're a long-time listener or new to the show, this episode offers a rare, personal look at the mission behind the mics. We think this episode might be especially interesting to all the new listeners who have joined us over the last 6 months, who might have some questions about where and when the podcast started, and Ray and Dan's background! We want to especially thank Michael for asking us great questions, and Pat Brennan for being the technical & scheduling mastermind to make it happen. Links & References TeachNet Ireland Podcast: https://teachnet.ie/category/podcasts/ Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/teachnet-podcasts/id1650615051  Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4hiz0yCcT7D5qs8J85Fl5K  Research Paper discussed: "Heads I Win, Tails You Lose"     
• Stop accusing students: The "Silver Nail" in the AI detector coffin 29.01.2026 40мин

  Welcome to our first episode of 2026. In this heavy-hitting season opener, hosts Dan and Ray are joined by Dr. Mark Bassett, Academic Lead for AI at Charles Sturt University and a "superhero" of AI activism. Mark's an ally in our long standing mantra on the podcast, as we know you've got tired of hearing just Dan and Ray say "AI detectors don't work". Dr. Bassett breaks down his landmark paper, "Heads We Win, Tails You Lose: AI Detectors in Education" which we describe (hopefully) as the final 'silver nail in the coffin' for detection software. We move past the surface-level "they don't work" argument and dive into the legal, ethical, and systemic risks universities face by relying on "black box" algorithms. Mark compares current AI detection to using a deck of tarot cards to determine a student's future - arguing that these tools have no place in a fair academic integrity process. We also explore the S.E.C.U.R.E. framework, a tool-agnostic approach to integrating AI into education safely. If you're an educator, student, or leader wondering how to move from suspicion to capability-building, this is the blueprint you've been waiting for. Links  The Research Paper: Heads We Win, Tails You Lose: AI Detectors in Education The Framework: The SECURE Framework for AI Integration Find Mark Bassett online via his website and LinkedIn Referenced Study: University of Reading's "Turing Test" paper on AI in Exams
• AI in Education's Christmas Special: Hallucinations, Headbands, and Bad Ideas 18.12.2025 36мин

  AI in Education's Christmas Special: Hallucinations, Headbands, and Bad Ideas In this end-of-year Christmas special, Ray and Dan squeeze in one final episode to reflect on a whirlwind year in AI and education - with a healthy dose of festive chaos. They unpack the latest AI news, including Australia's National AI Plan, OpenAI's Australian data centre and teacher certification course, major university rollouts of ChatGPT, and global experiments like nationwide AI tools in schools and targeted funding for AI-assisted teaching. But this episode quickly moves beyond policy and platforms into something more fun - and more unsettling! Ray challenges Dan with a "Real or Hallucinated?" quiz featuring AI products that may (or may not) exist, from focus-monitoring headbands and robot teachers to pet translators and laugh-track smart speakers. Along the way, they explore what these products reveal about current AI practice, the risks of anthropomorphising technology, and why education must keep humans firmly at the centre of learning - even as experimentation accelerates. It's a light-hearted but thoughtful way to wrap up 2025, and a reminder that just because AI can do something, doesn't always mean it should.   News Items in the episode   Tech companies advised to label and 'watermark' AI-generated content https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-12-01/ai-guidance-label-watermark-ai-content/106083786    El Salvador announces national AI program with Grok for Education https://x.ai/news/el-salvador-partnership    Hong Kong schools to get HK$500,000 (about AU$100K/ US$65K) each under AI education plan https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3336600/hong-kong-schools-get-hk500000-each-under-hk500-million-ai-education-plan    OpenAI to open Australian hosted service https://www.afr.com/technology/openai-becomes-major-tenant-in-7b-data-centre-deal-20251204-p5nkr4    OpenAI ChatGPT for Teachers foundations course https://www.linkedin.com/posts/chatgpt-for-education_new-for-k-12-educators-chatgpt-foundations-activity-7404242317718487042-He9H    La Trobe chooses ChatGPT Education https://www.latrobe.edu.au/news/articles/2025/release/openai-collaboration-drives-inclusion,-innovation    Australia's Nation AI Plan https://www.industry.gov.au/publications/national-ai-plan