ChatEDU – The AI & Education Podcast

Dive into the fascinating world of AI in education! A recent survey shows Americans want to slow AI development, sparking discussions on teaching ethical AI use. Discover Google's Beam technology, revolutionizing remote communication with lifelike interactions. The debate around Duolingo's perspective on teachers raises eyebrows. The necessity for a human touch in education is emphasized as society grapples with AI's rapid advancement. Plus, insights into AI's environmental impact and innovative solutions complete this engaging exploration!

Jonathan Costa, Executive Director at Ed Advance, dives into the implications of AI in education and leadership. He discusses NASA's warnings against generative AI for critical tasks, highlighting issues like hallucinations and data quality. The conversation shifts to Chesterton's Fence, questioning which educational practices should be preserved or adapted. They explore the evolving role of AI in writing instruction and the necessity of deep knowledge in technical fields, while suggesting that AI's efficiency could allow students to focus on uniquely human skills.

Matt and Liz dive into the evolving role of AI in education, discussing how Gen Z utilizes ChatGPT in their daily lives. They debate a New York Times op-ed warning of AI's impact on critical thinking while offering classroom strategies to counteract this risk. The hosts also explore imaginative AI projects, like connecting urban trees to people, and highlight the need for open dialogue among educators about data privacy and ethical implications. Humor and emotional intelligence play a key role in their discussions around AI's integration into personal development.

Dan Noyes, a digital inclusion leader and former CEO of Tech Goes Home, joins to explore the crucial issue of who truly benefits from AI advancements. He discusses how top consulting firms navigate the AI landscape while creating unrealistic pressures on their teams. Dan emphasizes that digital equity goes beyond mere access to devices. He argues that as AI proliferates, it risks amplifying existing inequalities, highlighting the need for community involvement and a focus on equitable tech solutions.

The hosts dive into the tug-of-war between distraction and focused learning in today's AI-driven world. They discuss alarming safety concerns around social AI companions and the need for better regulations. The innovative use of AI avatars as personalized tutors sparks a debate on their effectiveness versus their potential to distract. A standout opinion piece questions whether AI is the cause of our attention issues or part of the solution. The conversation offers insights into how technology is reshaping educational experiences for students.

Matt and Liz tackle the challenges of AI in education, revealing how lesson plans often reinforce outdated practices. They discuss innovative AI tools, such as agentic AI that assists college admissions, questioning the readiness of institutions for such autonomy. A bold executive order is introduced, promoting nationwide AI literacy in K–12 schools. The conversation highlights the importance of intentional design in AI to enhance student engagement and outcomes, while also reflecting on the future of teaching and learning with these technologies.

In this episode of ChatEDU (Beyond the Bot – When a High Schooler Rewrites NASA’s Playbook), Matt and Liz explore AI’s growing role in schools, cities, and culture. From prompt politeness and energy costs to anime selfies and a Google AI giveaway, AI is everywhere. They wrap with a teen whose AI research is changing how we see space.Story 1 – Please, Thank You, and Power DrainMatt and Liz discuss whether courtesy helps or hurts, citing a Waseda study linking impolite prompts to more bias and less accuracy. They also spotlight SaveTheAI.ai, a satirical campaign urging energy conservation for AI as a funny but thoughtful nudge toward sustainability.Story 2 – Google’s Higher Ed Land GrabGoogle now gives U.S. students free access to Gemini Advanced (NotebookLM, Gemini Pro 1.5, and full Workspace tools_ through Spring 2026. Matt and Liz call it a strategic move to dominate student AI use. They ask: is this about access or dependency? With built-in study tools and AI analysis, schoolwork is shifting. As Matt says, it’s nonstop content but less reflection.Story 3 – AI Cosplay Goes ViralOpenAI’s growth came from anime, not upgrades. Ghibli-style selfies let users turn photos into Studio Ghibli characters via GPT-4. Matt and Liz explore what this says about creative AI use. They also touch on copyright law and how AI art is reshaping ideas of originality. Liz demos it live with fun results.Story 4 – Your AI Image Library Is HereChatGPT’s new image library lets users save, organize, and edit visuals. It improves how students and teachers use AI-generated media in class. Liz shares how she used it for Skills21’s College and Career Accelerator, making visuals about kindness. It hints at a more collaborative AI future.Story 5 – When Helpful Bots HallucinateCursor, an AI coding tool, drew backlash when its support bot “Sam” invented a device policy. It was a hallucination. The company refunded users and now labels AI responses. Matt and Liz ask: are bots ready for schools? When AI slips, the fallout can be serious.Beneath the Surface – A Teen’s AI Discovery Stuns NASATeen Mateo Paz used AI to find 1.5 million hidden space objects in NASA’s NEOWISE archive. With Caltech’s Davey Kirkpatrick, he built a model tracking brightness to classify stars and quasars. His solo paper in The Astronomical Journal shows the power of student-led science. This isn’t AI for homework, it’s discovery!Bright Byte – AI for the Visually ImpairedResearchers at Shanghai Jiao Tong University created a wearable for the blind using AI and haptics. It beats canes by detecting obstacles in real time. It’s a reminder that AI boosts mobility and not just productivity.Related LinksThe Carbon Cost of Being Polite to AIhttps://www.techradar.com/computing/artificial-intelligence/chatgpt-spends-tens-of-millions-of-dollars-on-people-playing-please-and-thank-you-but-sam-altman-says-its-worth-it Save the AI Satire Campaignhttps://savethe.ai/ Google Student Gemini Giveawayhttps://blog.google/products/gemini/google-one-ai-premium-students-free/ Studio Ghibli and AI Style Lawhttps://siliconangle.com/2025/04/13/openai-doubles-users-800m-1b-thanks-ghibli-style-image-generation/ Mateo Paz Researchhttps://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.3847/1538-3881/ad7fe6 OpenAI Image Library Overviewhttps://www.tomsguide.com/ai/openai-just-added-an-image-library-to-chatgpt-heres-why-its-a-game-changerAI for the Blind Navigation Systemhttps://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-025-01214-9Have a question or comment? Email Matt and Liz at chatedu@edadvance.orgLike what you hear? Help Us Grow! Rate and review ChatEDU on your favorite podcast platform. Share with a friend, colleague, or educator curious about the future of AI in learning. And don’t forget to follow us on TikTok: @ChatEDUPodcastThis episode of ChatEDU is sponsored by the National Center for Next Generation Manufacturing. Learn more at: https://www.nextgenmfg.org

In this episode of ChatEDU (Dear AI – Why We’re All Talking to Robots in 2025), Matt reunites with Liz after her trip to Ireland to unpack a shift happening in real time— (em dash on purpose) AI is moving beyond utility and entering emotional, educational, and existential territory. From new research tools that rethink how we teach synthesis, to universities baking AI into their business programs, to Reddit users turning to bots for therapy—(2nd em dash) this episode dives into how and why we’re not just using AI, we’re talking to it. And be sure to check out the intro about Hyodols and the MUCH used em dash.Story 1 – Deep Research, ReimaginedGoogle’s new Deep Research feature in Gemini transforms the AI from summarizer to synthesizer. Matt and Liz discuss how this impacts student learning, dissertation writing, and the future of teaching research in K–12 and higher ed. They also look at how equity comes into play when AI can scaffold complex thinking for every learner.Story 2 – AI in the Wild at American UniversityAmerican University’s School of Business launches an Institute for Applied AI, shifting from AI-avoidance to AI fluency. Students are using AI to design marketing campaigns, assess risk, and model financial statements— (em dash) no coding required. Their tool of choice? Perplexity Pro, now being piloted in higher ed as a full-stack platform.Beneath the Surface – The Emotional Side of AIA new Harvard Business Review analysis of Reddit and Quora threads shows that 2025’s top AI use cases aren’t just about speed—(em dash) they’re about support. Users are turning to AI for therapy, motivation, and life planning. Matt and Liz explore what this means for education, memory, privacy, and how we guide students through emotionally intelligent AI use.Bright Byte – AI and the ClimateAI’s energy use is real—(em dash) but so is its potential to help. This week’s Bright Byte features insights from The Economist on how AI is reducing emissions, optimizing grids, forecasting renewable power, and identifying methane leaks. Thoughtful deployment could turn AI into an ally in climate resilience.Related LinksGemini Deep Researchhttps://www.tomsguide.com/ai/google-just-gave-gemini-a-major-research-upgrade-and-its-already-beating-the-competitionHarvard Business Review: "How People Are Really Using Gen AI in 2025"- https://hbr.org/2025/04/how-people-are-really-using-gen-ai-in-2025OpenAI’s Memory Update (ARS Technica)-https://arstechnica.com/ai/2025/04/chatgpt-can-now-remember-and-reference-all-your-previous-chats/Axios: American University’s AI Business Institute-https://www.axios.com/2025/04/03/generative-ai-business-school-studentsHyodol: AI Care Companion for Seniors-https://en.hyodol.com/Skills21 AI Micro-Credential- https://www.skills21.org/pip-platformThe tasks college students are using Claude AI for most, according to Anthropic- https://www.zdnet.com/article/the-tasks-college-students-are-using-claude-ai-for-most-according-to-anthropic/The Economist: How AI could help the climate-https://www.economist.com/leaders/2025/04/10/how-ai-could-help-the-climateHave a question or comment?Email Matt and Liz at chatedu@edadvance.orgDon’t forget to rate, review, and subscribe to ChatEDU on your favorite podcast platform.This episode of ChatEDU is sponsored by the National Center for Next Generation Manufacturing. Learn more at: https://www.nextgenmfg.org

Joanne Mumley, a dedicated teacher and department head from Connecticut, offers insights into her innovative use of AI in high school English classrooms. She discusses the rising trend of teenagers using Character.AI and the emotional dependencies it creates. Joanne also shares her hands-on student projects, including college policy sleuthing and literary RPGs, fostering student engagement. The conversation highlights the balance between AI's benefits and risks, emphasizing critical thinking and ethical considerations in education.

Discover the intersection of AI and education as hosts explore three perspectives on AI intelligence and hilarious AI-generated memes. Exciting highlights from the Samsung Solve for Tomorrow competition showcase students using AI for real-world STEM solutions, from oral cancer screenings to smart bandages. Delve into the challenges faced by the flipped classroom model and learn how AI tools can enhance personalized learning experiences. Plus, check out a new AI weather tool making forecasting more accessible for everyday users.