Designing Schools

In this week's episode, Dr. Sabba Quidwai and Stefan Bauschard discuss the significant shifts AI is causing across education, particularly higher education. With the release of OpenAI’s latest models, they explore provocative scenarios, including whether universities can survive without radically reimagining their structures, curricula, and roles. Through candid conversations and real-world examples, they challenge the traditional pace of change and advocate for preparing learners, and educators, for an unpredictable, AI-driven world.Timestamps[00:00:00] The $68 Billion Question: California's Higher Ed CrisisSabba opens with a compelling budget scenario that sparks a major rethink of the cost and delivery of general education courses.[00:02:00] Can Universities Survive AI? Stefan's PerspectiveDiscussion on how universities must adapt—or risk obsolescence—by focusing less on content delivery and more on mentorship and hands-on learning.[00:05:00] Why O3 is a Game Changer: Understanding OpenAI's Newest ModelSabba explains the groundbreaking capabilities of the new O3 model, including agentic reasoning and dynamic tool use, and why it's leaving experts stunned.[00:13:00] The Problem with "Traffic Light" AI Policies in K–12Sabba critiques the oversimplified red-yellow-green frameworks for student AI use, urging for deeper decision-making frameworks instead.[00:29:00] Google AI Tools for Education: A Wake-up CallA powerful segment where Sabba highlights the new, free AI tools in Google Workspace for Education and discusses why educators urgently need to shift their mindsets and skillsets.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 MentionedWebinar: Free Designing Schools webinar covering how to leverage new AI tools from Google and Canva. Click here to sign up and be notified of the details.

In this episode hosts Dr. Sabba Quidwai and Stefan Bauschard explore the cultural and strategic implications of the Shopify CEO’s provocative memo: “Before you ask for headcount, tell me why AI can't do it.” They unpack major updates from Google and OpenAI, offering a compelling case for why AI is redefining collaboration, creativity, and leadership. This isn’t just about new tools, it’s a call to reimagine how we learn, lead, and live in a world where AI is now a baseline expectation.Timestamps[00:00:00] The Shopify Challenge: A Culture Memo, Not a Tech MemoSabba introduces the CEO’s powerful statement and frames it as a leadership challenge rather than a technological one.[00:05:00] Google's Vision for Collaborative AI WorkflowsA deep dive into Google's new Workspace Flows, writing coaches, and AI-powered video/audio tools that reshape how schools and teams operate.[00:16:00] From Tools to Teammates: Shifting Mindsets in EducationStefan and Sabba discuss the transformational potential of AI when viewed as a teammate and explore implications for student learning and entrepreneurship.[00:26:00] Gen Z’s AI Literacy Gap and the Urgency for ActionA new Gallup and Walton Family Foundation report highlights the mismatch between Gen Z’s usage and understanding of AI—and what schools must do now.[00:35:00] OpenAI’s Memory Update: The Future of Personalized IntelligenceWhat it means to have AI remember your interactions—and why this seemingly small update is a massive step toward hyper-personalized experiences.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 MentionedShopify CEO Memo Gallup and Walton Family Foundation Gen Z ReportFree Chapter from the Book: From Tools to Teammates 

In this episode, Sabba and Stefan dive into the rapid acceleration of AI technologies, spotlighting how tools like ChatGPT and Claude are transforming the educational landscape. They explore groundbreaking developments like agentic platforms, transparency in AI reasoning, and what it means for today’s students to be the “Class of AGI.” This is a forward-thinking conversation that challenges leaders to rethink how we prepare people for a world led by intelligent systems.Timestamps[00:01:00] The Center of Gravity is ShiftingOpenAI's user explosion in India signals a global shift in AI adoption and influence.[00:10:00] The Class of AGI: Redefining Higher EducationAnthropic and OpenAI unveil initiatives aimed at transforming learning and literacy through AI-powered experiences.[00:22:00] Enter the Age of Agents: Digital Workers in the EnterpriseDeloitte and others launch digital coworkers to automate tasks, revealing how organizations must restructure around AI.[00:32:00] Inside the Mind of Claude: Anthropic’s Breakthrough in AI TransparencyA look at how Claude forms ideas and the effort to audit AI behavior through model interpretability research.[00:41:00] Passing the Turing Test and Redefining Human IdentityChatGPT-4.5 convinces users it’s human 73% of the time—raising deep questions about identity, agency, and digital discernment.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 Mentioned📘 "Careless People" by Sarah Wynn Williams — A whistleblower’s account of Meta's internal culture and its impact on youth and society.🎥 Anthropic’s “Tracing the Thoughts of a Large Language Model” video — A visual explanation of AI interpretability breakthroughs.🎓 Free Course: AI Skills for College and Career — Explore the WISE Framework for balanced, ethical innovation.

LinkedIn just named AI literacy the #1 fastest-growing skill in the U.S., but it’s not just about learning how to use tools, it’s about rethinking how we work, lead, and learn. In this episode, Sabba sits down with Ryan Findley, Chief Learning Officer at Learn to Win, to explore how AI can actually enhance our most human skills and why design thinking is essential in an AI-everywhere world. They also dive into the mission behind the Sequoia conference and the blind spots in today’s AI conversations.

In this episode, Sabba and Stefan explore how artificial intelligence isn't abruptly replacing jobs, but instead quietly transforming them task by task. They dive into the capabilities of OpenAI’s new image and video generators, the blurred lines around creative ownership, and the power of AI-enhanced teams. The conversation emphasizes the need for AI literacy, design thinking, and a reimagining of roles in this rapidly evolving landscape.Timestamps[00:00:00] The Real Impact of AI on JobsSabba opens with a powerful reflection on how AI subtly transforms roles, prompting a deeper discussion on AI literacy and the future of work.[00:02:00] Image Generation & Studio Ghibli BacklashA deep dive into GPT-4o’s photorealistic image capabilities and the viral Studio Ghibli style trend, sparking ethical debates on copyright and creative replication.[00:10:00] Copyright, Personal Branding & Digital IntegrityA candid conversation about stolen ideas, credit in the creator economy, and how we define integrity in the age of AI.[00:28:00] Harvard-Wharton Study on AI-Enhanced TeamsReview of a recent study showing solo humans using AI outperform human teams, and how AI improves both performance and morale.[00:36:00] Sam Altman's Shocking Admission & Future-Proofing AdviceDiscussion on Sam Altman's comments about OpenAI’s unexpected shift and his advice for young people navigating a fast-changing world.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 Mentioned⁠OpenAI GPT-4o Image Generator⁠⁠Studio Ghibli⁠⁠ – Discussion on style replication and copyright⁠⁠Harvard, Wharton, P&G Study⁠⁠ – Report on AI-augmented individual and team performance⁠⁠Sam Altman Interview⁠⁠ – Stratechery with Ben Thompson⁠ (Text version available for free)⁠Free AI Skills Course⁠⁠ – AI Skills for College and Career⁠

In this episode, the hosts dive into a student’s quote about the transformative power of debate and use it as a launchpad to explore what instruction should look like in a world heading rapidly toward Artificial General Intelligence (AGI). They unpack insights from the recent Nvidia GTC keynote, discuss educational failures in preparing for AI, and spotlight Desert Sands Unified School District’s groundbreaking AI guidance, which includes human agency and AGI readiness.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 MentionedKevin Roose’s NYT Article – "Powerful AI is Coming"Jensen Huang’s GTC 2025 KeynoteDesert Sands Unified School District AI GuidanceHidden Brain Episode with Justin Berg on Creativity

AI isn’t waiting. Institutions are.For the past year, schools, governments, and businesses have been stuck in a waiting game, waiting for guidelines, waiting for tools, waiting for certainty.Meanwhile, AI researchers and tech companies aren’t waiting at all. They have total confidence in what their machines can do. They believe AI will reason, plan, and solve problems better than humans. And they’re building that future, while the rest of the world debates if AI even belongs in the classroom.designingschools.org/aiteamsArticle: Your AI Power Circle

What if students had a say in designing the future of education? In this episode, we hand them the mic. High schoolers from Gary Heidt's Innovation Lab are challenging outdated school systems, questioning AI bans, and rethinking what learning should look like. They’re not waiting for the future to happen to them, they’re building it.What’s Inside:🎤 What is a Protopian future? (And why students care)🤖 AI bans? Students share what schools get wrong about technology📚 Grades vs. agency—what actually motivates learning🚀 The moment they realized they have power over their own futureThese students aren’t just talking about change. They’re making it happen.🎧 Listen now and hear the future of education—straight from the next generation**.**Want to bring this conversation to your own classroom? Download the free course now and start rethinking the future of AI with your students! https://designingschools.thinkific.com/bundles/ai-skills-for-college-and-career

AI is advancing at a pace that is hard to keep up with - ChatGPT, Claude, and others keep releasing updates, and the pressure to “keep up” is overwhelming. But here’s the thing: most people don’t want to believe this is happening. Not because they don’t understand AI, but because they hope it’s not real.In this episode, we break down:Why AI isn’t just about tools—it’s about reimagining what’s possibleHow students and employees are already using AI—without guidanceThe biggest mistake leaders make when it comes to AI adoptionWhy prompting alone isn’t enough—and what you actually need to build a strategyHow education is having a mediocre AI conversation while the world moves forwardAnd if you’re wondering how to stop reacting to AI and start leading with it, that’s exactly what we dive into today.AI Bootcamp for Teams - A Hybrid Program for Leadership Teams to Design What's NextIf today’s episode felt like a wake-up call, AI Bootcamp for Teams is here to help you take action. This six-month hybrid program is designed for school leaders, educators, and teams who are ready to go beyond just experimenting with AI and start integrating it strategically. AI isn’t slowing down, and neither should you. With lifetime access to live sessions, updates, and expert-led strategy, you’ll always stay ahead.📍 Join now: https://designingschools.org/aiteamsResources & Mentions📌 Hard Fork Interview with Dario Amodei 📌 Report: The Disengagement Gap 🎙 Enjoying the podcast? Leave us a review and share this episode with someone who needs to hear it!📩 Got thoughts? DM me or send your questions to hello@designingschools.org

With AI models evolving at an overwhelming pace, how do you stay ahead without feeling constantly behind? This week, we break down the latest AI updates—including Claude, Grok, and the upcoming ChatGPT improvements—and share practical strategies for filtering the noise, staying informed, and making AI work for you.Topics Covered: Filtering the AI Overload: How to assess new models with benchmark prompts. The Importance of Trusted Sources: Why following the right people across industries matters. The AI Adoption Gap: Why students and employees are embracing AI faster than leaders. Super Agency & OpenAI Reports: Insights on how AI is shaping the workforce. AI in Leadership: Why organizations must shift from managing AI to leading with AI. AI’s Growing Role in Reasoning & Decision-Making: What this means for work, education, and daily life.Resources Shared: OpenAI Report: Building an AI-Ready Workforce McKinsey’s Super Agency report on AI in the workplace AI Bootcamp for Teams: Learn how to lead AI integration in your organization