A Beginner's Guide to AI Teaching, Startups, and AI Beards: Mike Todasco on the Beautiful Chaos of the Now
Sep 12, 2025
Join Mike Todasco, former Senior Director of Innovation at PayPal, as he explores the intersection of AI and education. Mike shares insights on how teachers can leverage AI to personalize learning for students dramatically. He discusses the often-overlooked skills that will remain valuable even as automation takes over mundane tasks. Listen as he dispels the myth of AI as a looming threat, highlighting instead its potential to enhance everyday life — from robot lawnmowers to helping kids learn German in the car.
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Episode notes
Jobs Will Change, Not Vanish Overnight
- AI will replace many tasks but will also create different kinds of jobs and accelerate transitions.
- Net employment likely persists but social turbulence during transitions is inevitable.
We Prefer Human Imperfection
- Humans value imperfect, emotional performance over flawless automation in many domains like sports and healthcare.
- Personal connection and human messiness remain important even if AI can outperform technically.
Keep Human Editors For Honest Feedback
- Use AI to draft, research, and fact-check writing but keep a human editor to critique and discard poor work.
- Ask AI for critical feedback explicitly to counter its tendency to flatter.
