Designing Schools

This episode unpacks the viral claim, “AI won’t take your job, but someone who knows how to use it will,” exploring its deeper implications. Sabba and Stefan discuss how cultivating high-agency learners and leaders — who can adapt, make decisions, and build trust — is far more critical than simply learning AI tools. With practical strategies and thought-provoking insights, the conversation challenges educators, parents, and leaders to foster resilience and human connection in a world increasingly shaped by AI.Timestamps00:00 – The Viral Lie: “AI won’t take your job…”Sabba challenges the popular soundbite and introduces the real question: Who can lead and adapt when no one else comes to save them?03:00 – Greg Eisenberg’s Perspective on AI and JobsExploring Greg Eisenberg’s viral post and its implications for the workforce, entrepreneurship, and education.09:00 – Building High-Agency Learners vs. Teaching AI ToolsWhy persistence, curiosity, and decision-making matter more than ever — and why perfection and compliance no longer serve students or employees.27:00 – The Rise of AI Companions and the Loneliness CrisisDiscussing the concerning trend of kids (and adults) turning to AI for companionship, and what it says about human relationships.36:00 – Practical Strategies: Frameworks and Tools to Cultivate AgencyConcrete ways schools and organizations can foster high-agency environments, including examples from Desert Sands USD and Gemini AI.Explore More from Designing Schools🤝 Partner with Us: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Join the AI Power Circle⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and collaborate with forward-thinking educators building the future with AI.📘 Get the Book: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Designing Schools⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ — a practical blueprint to transform your campus with creativity, leadership, and innovation.🎓 Prepare Your Students for an AI Future: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Free Course – AI Skills for College and Career⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to equip your school community with future-ready skills.For questions, email: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠hello@designingschools.org⁠Resources MentionedGreg Eisenberg’s LinkedIn post - How Does AI Play OutAI Companions and Kids

In this episode of Designing Schools, Dr. Sabba Quidwai and Stefan Bauschard explore the transformative shift from individual AI use to organizational deployment. They discuss Google's LearnLM principles, Gemini's enterprise tools, and how AI agents are changing the skills and mindset needed for leadership and collaboration. Through reflections, real-world examples, and critical insights, they outline how to move beyond using AI as an assistant and start managing it as a teammate.⏱️ Timestamps[00:01:00] Resetting for Impact: Sabba reflects on the first half of the year and clarifies her focus on organizational AI deployment.[00:06:00] Students, Parents, and AI: Stefan shares insights from his AI & entrepreneurship class and reactions to AI tools.[00:07:00] Google's LearnLM & Gemini: Unpacking the five principles of LearnLM and their implications for education.[00:19:00] OECD AI Capability Review: What AI can and can’t do yet — and how it measures up on skills like creativity, metacognition, and problem-solving.[00:40:00] From AI Assistant to Teammate: Why managing AI agents is a leadership challenge and how to move from individual use to enterprise deployment.Explore More from Designing Schools🤝 Partner with Us: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Join the AI Power Circle⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and collaborate with forward-thinking educators building the future with AI.📘 Get the Book: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Designing Schools⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ — a practical blueprint to transform your campus with creativity, leadership, and innovation.🎓 Prepare Your Students for an AI Future: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Free Course – AI Skills for College and Career⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to equip your school community with future-ready skills.For questions, email: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠hello@designingschools.org⁠Resources MentionedGoogle Updates from ISTEGoldman Sachs CIO - We Must Prepare AI Native sand Being a People First OrganizationOECD AI Capability IndexGemini + Canva Course - Join our mini course and learn how to build your AI Dream Team

This episode explores how the evolving job market prioritizes AI fluency, adaptability, and mindset over traditional qualifications. Sabba and Stefan dissect recent research and reports, highlighting how education must adapt to prepare learners for a future where AI is a collaborator, not a cheat code. They also spotlight real-world education leaders and systems successfully navigating this transformation.Timestamps[00:01:00] The Résumé is Out, AI Fluency is InSabba unpacks a Fortune article on how companies now prioritize AI skills and mindset over experience or degrees.[00:04:00] Refusing AI Isn’t an OptionStefan raises concerns about higher ed’s disconnect, especially around ethical objections to using AI in learning environments.[00:10:00] Sandbox Interviews and Soft Skills ReimaginedDiscussion of new hiring practices including live AI collaborations and how soft skills like curiosity are redefined.[00:23:00] Stanford’s Human-AI Collaboration StudyDeep dive into new research from Stanford that maps out AI integration across roles, emphasizing shared human-AI agency.[00:36:00] Barbie Gets AI: The Future Starts in the ToyboxInsights on the Mattel–OpenAI partnership and how early AI exposure through toys will shape children’s perceptions and skills.Explore More from Designing Schools🤝 Partner with Us: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Join the AI Power Circle⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and collaborate with forward-thinking educators building the future with AI.📘 Get the Book: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Designing Schools⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ — a practical blueprint to transform your campus with creativity, leadership, and innovation.🎓 Prepare Your Students for an AI Future: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Free Course – AI Skills for College and Career⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to equip your school community with future-ready skills.For questions, email: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠hello@designingschools.org⁠Resources MentionedFortune Magazine article on AI hiring trendsStanford’s “Future of Work with AI Agents” studyDiary of a CEO interview with Geoffrey HintonMattel and OpenAI partnership announcementAI Power Circle program: Join the AI Power Circle

This episode explores how emerging signals from viral LinkedIn posts to global entrepreneurship trends are revealing cracks in traditional education. Dr. Sabba Quidwai and Stefan discuss the urgent need to move from robotic, standardized systems toward cultivating creativity, curiosity, and entrepreneurial thinking, especially as AI reshapes what it means to learn, lead, and connect. They share stories that inspire a mindset shift, from kids in Nepal launching businesses to how companies like Zapier are reimagining onboarding with AI.Timestamps[00:00:00] Redefining Human vs. RoboticKevin Scott’s insight: AI isn’t replacing people—it’s replacing people who act like machines.[00:02:00] A Parent’s Frustration Goes ViralMatt Pier’s viral LinkedIn post sparks a discussion about how current education is misaligned with future needs.[00:05:00] Building Future EntrepreneursStefan shares how AI-powered entrepreneurship camps can help kids generate revenue and creativity in weeks.[00:12:00] Are AI Friends Real Friends?Exploring how AI companions are affecting school life, emotional wellbeing, and our concept of relationships.[00:17:00] Kids Are Learning—Just Not in SchoolOpenAI’s finals week data shows students using ChatGPT for deep learning—not cheating.[00:25:00] From Tool to Teammate: Zapier’s Onboarding ShiftHow Zapier redesigned its onboarding to emphasize curiosity and AI-integrated workflows.[00:33:00] OpenAI and the NYT Lawsuit: What Educators Should KnowKey updates about data privacy, ChatGPT logs, and what’s excluded from court orders.Explore More from Designing Schools🤝 Partner with Us: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Join the AI Power Circle⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and collaborate with forward-thinking educators building the future with AI.📘 Get the Book: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Designing Schools⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ — a practical blueprint to transform your campus with creativity, leadership, and innovation.🎓 Prepare Your Students for an AI Future: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Free Course – AI Skills for College and Career⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to equip your school community with future-ready skills.For questions, email: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠hello@designingschools.org⁠

In this powerful and provocative episode, Dr. Sabba Quidwai and Stefan explore the urgent implications of AI on education, employment, and democracy. They dissect recent comments by Anthropic's CEO, reflect on generational shifts in perceptions of higher education, and challenge educators to embrace change, not resist it. This is a call to action for reimagining learning, relevance, and agency in an AI-driven world.Timestamps[00:01:00] The AI Wake-Up CallDiscussion of Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei’s prediction that AI could eliminate half of all entry-level white-collar jobs within five years and its implications for students and educators.[00:06:00] Rethinking Entry-Level WorkStefan unpacks how companies are prioritizing AI fluency over traditional hiring, and why entry-level positions may be disappearing.[00:14:00] College Regret and the ROI CrisisSabba cites a Fortune article on how over half of Gen Z feel college was a waste of money and explores how this sentiment is reshaping higher education.[00:26:00] Why Faculty Must Try, Not DefendA candid critique of higher ed’s resistance to AI innovation and a call for professors to collaborate with students in navigating an evolving academic and professional landscape.[00:32:00] Sinek, Struggle, and Staying HumanInsights from Simon Sinek on the importance of struggle in maintaining humanity and creativity amid AI’s rise.Explore More from Designing Schools🤝 Partner with Us: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Join the AI Power Circle⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and collaborate with forward-thinking educators building the future with AI.📘 Get the Book: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Designing Schools⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ — a practical blueprint to transform your campus with creativity, leadership, and innovation.🎓 Prepare Your Students for an AI Future: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Free Course – AI Skills for College and Career⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to equip your school community with future-ready skills.For questions, email: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠hello@designingschools.org⁠Resources MentionedCNN Interview with Dario AmodeiSimon Sinek on Diary of a CEO PodcastTurning AI Tools into Teammates Mini-Course: Course Link

In this week’s special episode, Sabba and Stefan dive into the newly released AI literacy framework from the European Commission and OECD. Highlighting its student-centered vision, they explore how this document finally sets a compelling standard for empowering learners with durable skills, agency, and real-world decision-making tools for an AI-driven future.Timestamps[00:00:00] Introducing the OECD AI Literacy FrameworkSabba shares why this episode is different and introduces the newly released, game-changing AI literacy framework.[00:03:00] Why Students Learn More from Screens than SchoolsEye-opening statistics from the framework spark a conversation about reclaiming the educator's role in AI learning.[00:08:00] Personas and Real-World Scenarios for AI UseThe team explores how scenarios like Sophia’s story-writing journey with AI help model responsible use for students.[00:18:00] RISE vs. Traffic Lights: Rethinking AI Decision ModelsSabba and Stefan unveil the RISE framework as a more human-centered alternative to the often-used traffic light system.[00:27:00] A Look at Desert Sands’ Leading AI GuidanceCelebrating Desert Sands Unified School District's visionary leadership, the hosts showcase a real-world model of actionable and future-ready AI integration.Explore More from Designing Schools🤝 Partner with Us: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Join the AI Power Circle⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and collaborate with forward-thinking educators building the future with AI.📘 Get the Book: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Designing Schools⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ — a practical blueprint to transform your campus with creativity, leadership, and innovation.🎓 Prepare Your Students for an AI Future: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Free Course – AI Skills for College and Career⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to equip your school community with future-ready skills.For questions, email: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠hello@designingschools.org⁠Resources MentionedOECD AI Literacy Framework — “Empowering Learners for the Age of AI”AI Skills for College and Career (Free Course): Access hereDesert Sands AI Guidance 

In this episode, Dr. Sabba Quidwai and Stefan discuss the surprising fears at the top of organizations, CEOs worried about their lack of AI strategy and technical confidence. Drawing from the latest research from Day Taku, Microsoft, and the OECD, they unpack how leadership, education, and AI integration intersect, revealing why successful change depends more on mindset and management than on tools alone. From workplace strategies to the classroom crisis, they explore what’s needed to empower both leaders and learners in this AI-driven world.Timestamps[00:00:00] CEOs' Hidden Fears About AI LeadershipWhy 70% of global CEOs feel unprepared to lead AI transformation and the risks of lacking a strategy.[00:04:00] The AI Power Circle: A New Model for Executive LearningIntroducing a hybrid learning framework helping leaders align AI adoption with organizational change management.[00:12:00] Google's Alpha Evolve: AI’s Leap into Novel Problem-SolvingWhat Alpha Evolve means for coding, innovation, and why this shift demands a leadership mindset reboot.[00:19:00] Microsoft’s Four Lessons for AI Adoption in TeamsKey takeaways on why enablement beats access, the role of feedback loops, and why everyone is already an AI user.[00:28:00] The Broken Model of Education Exposed by AI CheatingReflecting on the viral "Everyone is Cheating Their Way Through College" article and the urgent call for instructional redesign.[00:41:00] OECD’s Warning on the Digital Well-Being of ChildrenWhy today's always-on digital world is failing young people and how educators can reclaim their role as mentors in the AI era.Explore More from Designing Schools🤝 Partner with Us: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Join the AI Power Circle⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and collaborate with forward-thinking educators building the future with AI.📘 Get the Book: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Designing Schools⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ — a practical blueprint to transform your campus with creativity, leadership, and innovation.🎓 Prepare Your Students for an AI Future: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Free Course – AI Skills for College and Career⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to equip your school community with future-ready skills.For questions, email: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠hello@designingschools.org⁠Resources MentionedDaitaku Global CEO ReportAI Power CircleA hybrid leadership learning experience. Join the AI Power CircleOECD Report: "How’s Life for Children in the Digital Age"

This episode unpacks the viral claims that AI leadership doesn't exist yet and challenges that view by highlighting the real issue our resistance to change management and leadership development. Sabba and Stefan discuss how organizations can unlock real transformation by focusing on people, teams, and culture rather than just tools, while raising urgent questions about AI’s expanding role in social and professional life.Timestamps[00:01:00] Rethinking AI LeadershipSabba and Stefan critique viral LinkedIn posts claiming AI leadership doesn’t exist, arguing that this is more about change management than technological gaps.[00:03:00] Defining What AI Leaders Actually DoThey break down what true AI leadership looks like—navigating ambiguity, redesigning workflows, and building learning cultures.[00:08:00] The Career Question Everyone Should Be AskingStefan introduces a provocative reflection: What can you do better without AI than with it? This sparks a conversation about job security, workplace dynamics, and productivity.[00:22:00] Microsoft’s Game-Changing People Skills ToolSabba highlights Microsoft's new AI-powered employee skills mapping, pushing organizations to prioritize collaboration, visibility, and culture.[00:34:00] AI Social Companions: The New Mental Health Crisis?The episode wraps by dissecting Mark Zuckerberg's push for AI companions, exploring the blurred lines between tech-driven connection and human relationships.Explore More from Designing Schools🤝 Partner with Us: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Join the AI Power Circle⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and collaborate with forward-thinking educators building the future with AI.📘 Get the Book: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Designing Schools⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ — a practical blueprint to transform your campus with creativity, leadership, and innovation.🎓 Prepare Your Students for an AI Future: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Free Course – AI Skills for College and Career⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to equip your school community with future-ready skills.For questions, email: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠hello@designingschools.org⁠Resources MentionedSparketype AssessmentCanva AI Webinar ReplayMicrosoft Work Trend IndexCommon Sense Media AI Companions ReportAmy Edmondson's Research on Psychological Safety

This week, Sabba and Stefan explore the increasingly blurred lines between AI as a companion, and AI as chatbot, and what's at stake for today's young people. With urgent reports from Common Sense Media and bold visions from tech giants like Microsoft, Google, and Visa, the conversation uncovers the stark contrasts and underlying truths shaping our AI-driven future. This episode is a call to leadership, urging schools, parents, and communities to move beyond fear and into thoughtful engagement.Timestamps[00:00] Competing Visions of AI’s FutureSabba introduces the episode's central theme: AI's dual identity as a supportive teammate and a dangerous emotional influence, especially on youth.[02:00] Common Sense Media vs. Microsoft AIA deep dive into the recent Common Sense Media report flagging AI companions as unsafe for minors and contrasting it with Mustafa Suleyman’s optimistic view of AI as a digital species.[14:00] The Inconsistency of AI Ratings in EducationExploring contradictions in Common Sense Media’s app evaluations, highlighting the blurred lines between chatbots and AI companions used in educational settings[20:00] Corporate AI First Strategies & Education’s Outdated ResponseDiscussion of bold AI-first declarations by companies like Duolingo and Shopify and the disconnect with education's cautious or regressive stance.[37:00] Orbs, World ID, and AI ShoppersIntroduction to Worldcoin’s biometric ID system and Visa’s vision of AI-powered financial agents—spotlighting how AI is rapidly embedding itself into everyday life.Explore More from Designing Schools🤝 Partner with Us: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Join the AI Power Circle⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and collaborate with forward-thinking educators building the future with AI.📘 Get the Book: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Designing Schools⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ — a practical blueprint to transform your campus with creativity, leadership, and innovation.🎓 Prepare Your Students for an AI Future: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Free Course – AI Skills for College and Career⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to equip your school community with future-ready skills.For questions, email: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠hello@designingschools.orgResources MentionedCommon Sense Media Report on AI CompanionsApplied AI Podcast featuring Mustafa SuleymanWorldcoin  by Tools for HumanityVisa CEO Interview on AI Shopping AgentsDesert Sands Unified School District AI Guidance

In this week’s episode, Sabba Quidwai and Stefan Bauschard dive deep into the implications of the latest U.S. executive orders on artificial intelligence, particularly in education. They explore how policy is setting a new tone for AI integration from K–12 to workforce development and highlight actionable guidance from states like Nevada. The conversation emphasizes the urgent need for leadership, literacy, and learning design to keep pace with the AI revolution.Timestamps[00:02:00] Executive Orders on AISabba and Stefan explore the language and implications of newly issued executive orders focused on AI innovation, particularly their impact on education systems from K–12 through university accreditation.[00:06:00] Breaking Down K–12 AI IntegrationStefan discusses the specifics of how executive orders support AI literacy, including funding strategies, competitions, apprenticeships, and cross-subject integration of AI.[00:18:00] Urgency in Innovation: Lessons from the Book "Click"Sabba shares an excerpt from the book Click by Jake Knapp and John Zeratsky, stressing the importance of focus, momentum, and mindset in organizational change.[00:25:00] Nevada’s Stellar AI GuidanceA spotlight on Nevada’s forward-thinking AI education framework, “STELLAR,” emphasizing transparency, empowerment, and critical thinking as core components[00:33:00] Enterprise Trends and AI ROI ReportsThe hosts break down the latest insights from Microsoft's Work Trend Index and Google’s GenAI ROI report, illustrating how AI is transforming workflows, leadership roles, and job readiness across industries.Explore More from Designing Schools🤝 Partner with Us: ⁠⁠⁠⁠Join the AI Power Circle⁠⁠⁠⁠ and collaborate with forward-thinking educators building the future with AI.📘 Get the Book: ⁠⁠⁠⁠Designing Schools⁠⁠⁠⁠ — a practical blueprint to transform your campus with creativity, leadership, and innovation.🎓 Prepare Your Students for an AI Future: ⁠⁠⁠⁠Free Course – AI Skills for College and Career⁠⁠⁠⁠ to equip your school community with future-ready skills.For questions, email: ⁠⁠⁠⁠hello@designingschools.orgResources MentionedNevada Department of Education’s STELLAR AI GuidanceClick by Jake Knapp and John ZeratskyMicrosoft Work Trend Index (2025)Google GenAI ROI Report (2025)AI Literacy Framework Upcoming AI Readiness Webinar - Register Here