Week in Edtech 1/28/26: SchoolAI in Classrooms, ChatGPT Blocked, OpenAI’s $30B Bet, Gemini vs Anthropic, China’s AI Literacy Push, Phone Bans Rise, Higher Ed Retention Challenges, and More! Feat. Jeremy Smith of pega6 & Stewart Brown of Code4Kids

Feb 6, 2026

Jeremy Smith, CEO and co-founder of pega6, builds one-year AI-first career accelerators as a college alternative. Conversation covers SchoolAI findings on teachers using AI for reasoning. Denver’s ChatGPT block and district shifts to Gemini. Massive SoftBank/OpenAI funding and the Gemini vs Anthropic race. China’s K–12 AI literacy push and rising phone bans in schools. Higher ed retention challenges and skills-first workforce pathways.

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ADVICE

Prioritize Mentorship To Improve Retention

Focus retention efforts on mentorship and mental-health supports tailored for young men.
Use technology thoughtfully to connect students to human scaffolds rather than only delivering content.

ANECDOTE

Genesis Of Pegasix Career Accelerators

Jeremy Smith traced his disillusionment with college back 20 years and shelved his idea for career accelerators until the market matured.
He revived Pegasix when employer demand and parental dissatisfaction created traction for one-year, job-focused programs.

ADVICE

Make Skill Programs One Year Full-Time

Use a one-year, full-time format for mastery when training recent high-school graduates.
Avoid short or part-time bootcamps for entry-level mastery because they lack the reps required for job readiness.

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Join hosts Ben Kornell and Alex Sarlin, joined by special co-host Mike Palmer, host of Trending in Ed, as they break down the biggest stories shaping AI, K–12 policy, higher education, and the global future of education.

✨ Episode Highlights:
[00:03:34] SchoolAI study shows teachers using AI for reasoning and inquiry
[00:09:58] Denver Public Schools blocks ChatGPT over safety and privacy concerns
[00:12:20] SoftBank invests another $30B in OpenAI as ads roll out
[00:13:24] Gemini and Anthropic lead the race for AI in education
[00:20:36] China launches nationwide AI literacy for K–12
[00:29:58] Most U.S. states still lack formal AI guidance for schools
[00:33:13] Phone bans spread rapidly across schools
[00:38:44] Higher ed enrollment rebounds but retention remains weak

Plus, special guests:
[00:46:19] Jeremy Smith, CEO and Co-founder of pega6, on one-year AI-first career accelerators
[01:11:29] Stewart Brown, K–12 Computer Science and AI Literacy Leader at Code4Kids, on CS as a core elementary subject

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