In this episode of ChatEDU (Academic Earthquake: When AI Passes Peer Review), Matt and Liz open with a hilarious AI challenge: generate each other’s perfect romantic partner. The results are surprisingly poetic and strangely consistent, but the fun quickly turns to focus. They dive into three big stories shaping the future of work, education, and research. From job evolution to classroom AI to a paper written entirely by an agent, this episode tackles the jagged edge of AI's impact. A bright byte on flood prediction closes things out with real-world urgency.

Story 1: PwC on AI Jobs and the 66 Percent ShiftA new report from PwC analyzes one billion job ads and finds that AI is not wiping out jobs but rapidly transforming them. Roles in AI-exposed fields are evolving 66 percent faster and offering rising wage premiums. Matt and Liz talk about what this means for workforce development, education programs, and why being AI fluent is a serious advantage.

Story 2: Google Tools for Teachers and StudentsNotebookLM adds podcast overviews, link sharing, and new structured outputs. Deep Research can now generate full webpages, quizzes, and infographics. Google’s AI Studio introduces speech generation tools and visual inputs. Liz explains how teachers are already applying these updates to boost student learning and access. Matt imagines homework powered by narrated study guides.

Story 3: Peer Review Gets an AI EarthquakeAn AI system named Zochi just had a solo-authored paper accepted into ACL 2025. No humans wrote it or guided the process. It outscored most human submissions and passed multiple rounds of peer review. Matt and Liz break down how this happened and why it matters. They also highlight the irony of students being forced to prove they did not use AI while AI itself is publishing research.

Bright Byte: AI Predicts Floods and Saves LivesGoogle’s Flood Hub is now providing 7-day flood warnings to 460 million people across 80 countries. Using satellite imagery and river-level modeling, it delivers free, daily updates in regions where early warnings can save lives.

AnnouncementsThe Summer Micro-Credential is open now skills21.org/ai/micro

Links and References

PwC AI Jobs-

Barometerhttps://www.pwc.com/gx/en/issues/artificial-intelligence/job-barometer/2025/report.pdf?utm_source=www.theneurondaily.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=ai-skills-56-pay-bump

NotebookLM-

https://notebooklm.google/

Flood Hub-

https://sites.research.google/gr/floodforecasting/

Zochi’s Peer-Reviewed Paper-

https://www.intology.ai/blog/zochi-acl

Voiceitt: Speech Recognition for Non-Standard Speech

https://www.voiceitt.com

SponsorThis episode is supported by the National Center for Next Generation Manufacturing www.nextgenmfg.org

In this episode of ChatEDU (Nice Try, Tech Bro: Schools Aren’t Daycare and AI Isn’t in Charge), Matt and Liz dive into three stories shaping the future of learning and tech. They start with a prank, then cover an Axios AI survey, Google’s new Beam tech, and a hot debate over whether Duolingo’s CEO dissed teachers. It’s a fast ride across the AI-in-education frontier, ending with a bright byte that’s both mathematically sharp and eco-smart. Plus, a welcome to sponsor zSpace.

Story 1: Axios Survey and the New AI Literacy Framework

A new Axios Harris Poll shows 77% of Americans want AI development to slow down, even if it means delays. Matt and Liz contrast this with AI pushes by the UAE, Duke, and Miami-Dade. They explore a new AI literacy framework from TeachAI, Code.org, and the OECD, with four domains: engaging with AI, creating with it, managing AI actions, and designing solutions. It’s not just tech, it’s about shaping thoughtful, ethical, human-centered learners.

Story 2: Google Beam and the Shape of Remote Learning to Come

Google Beam, evolving from Project Starline, enables 3D, lifelike communication, no headset needed. It restores eye contact, conveys subtle cues, and offers real-time translation with tone and expression. Matt and Liz consider how Beam could reshape connection, collaboration, and presence in schools.

Beneath the Surface: Duolingo and the Limits of AI-First Thinking

Duolingo CEO Luis von Ahn recently claimed schools will mainly serve as daycare while AI handles learning. Matt and Liz respond with a clear “no thanks.” They discuss Duolingo’s contractor layoffs and a user who ended a 1,435-day streak in protest. Replacing teachers with AI, they argue, isn’t just flawed, it’s harmful. Drawing on examples from Cal Poly DXHub and rural innovators in Odisha, they show AI should empower. not replace, learners. The future is human-guided, AI-enhanced, and fueled by creativity.

Bright Byte: Alpha Evolve and the Math That Changes Everything

This week’s Bright Byte features Alpha Evolve, DeepMind’s latest leap. It combines Gemini language models with evolutionary algorithms to write code and solve problems. It reclaimed stranded compute power, cut AI training time, and broke a 56-year-old matrix multiplication record. Matt and Liz explain why it matters and how it could offset AI’s environmental toll with real-world efficiency.

Referenced Articles and Resources

Axios AI Survey (77 Percent Want to Slow Down)

https://www.axios.com/2025/05/27/ai-harris-100-poll-move-slow?utm_term=emshare

OECD + TeachAI + Code.org Framework

https://www.teachai.org/ailiteracy

Google Beam Announcement

https://blog.google/technology/research/project-starline-google-beam-update/

NDTV: Duolingo CEO on the Future of School

https://www.ndtv.com/offbeat/will-schools-exist-in-ai-future-duolingo-ceo-makes-prediction-8446047

Cal Poly DXHub and Snopes Partnership

https://www.ksby.com/san-luis-obispo/cal-poly-students-using-ai-as-solutions-to-real-world-problems

Odisha Students at Global Summit

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bhubaneswar/odisha-rural-students-to-showcase-innovative-ideas-at-global-summit-in-usa/articleshow/121274943.cms#:~:text=Odisha%20rural%20students%20to%20showcase%20innovative%20ideas%20at%20global%20summit%20in%20USA,-Hemanta%20Pradhan%20%2F%20May&text=Bhubaneswar%3A%20Eight%20rural%20high%20school,at%20Texas%20State%20University%2C%20USA.

DeepMind Alpha Evolve

https://venturebeat.com/ai/meet-alphaevolve-the-google-ai-that-writes-its-own-code-and-just-saved-millions-in-computing-costs/

Announcements & Sponsor

Summer Micro-Credential Cohort is Open

Learn more and register at: skills21.org/ai/micro

This episode is sponsored by the National Center for Next Generation Manufacturing, supporting AI-powered innovation and workforce readiness.

https://www.nextgenmfg.org/

Also supported in part by zSpace, makers of immersive 3D education tools that don’t require headsets.

info.zspace.com/chatedu

In this episode of ChatEDU (What are we protecting? AI, learning, and the myth of the good old days), Matt and Jonathan return to the ChatEDU studio while Liz globe-trots her way to ASCD authorship, to tackle two big stories shaping the AI-in-education conversation. First, they dive into NASA’s spring guidance warning that generative AI is too unreliable for mission-critical applications, and unpack what that means for education, ethics, and expectations. Then, they go beneath the surface with a new article from Jonathan Costa exploring G.K. Chesterton’s “fence” and what it reveals about our assumptions around reading, writing, and what students really need to know. From dog impressions to deep epistemology, this episode covers serious ground.

Story 1: NASA’s Take on Generative AI

In a springtime memo to chief information officers, NASA came out strong: generative AI is not to be used for critical research or safety work. Why? Hallucinations, poor data quality, and instruction ignoring are still too common. Matt and Jonathan explore the implications of this position and why context matters; what’s a dealbreaker in rocket science might be a minor annoyance in dinner recipes. They also do a dramatic reading of a fictional “AI performance review” pulled from a CIO.com op-ed to highlight how strange our current AI tolerance levels really are.

Beneath the Surface: Chesterton’s Fence and the Myth of the Good Old Days

Jonathan shares his new piece on Chesterton’s Fence, a metaphor for not tearing down long-standing traditions unless you understand why they exist. He and Matt explore how this metaphor applies to the future of literacy, learning, and school design in an AI-powered world. Does reading still matter if you can generate a podcast from any text? Is decoding the same as thinking? They examine writing, world languages, engineering fluency, and post-literate futures, while offering practical insights for superintendents navigating change. It’s a smart, provocative conversation about learning in the age of acceleration.

Bright Byte: Stanford’s BRP Discovery

This week’s Bright Byte spotlights a health tech breakthrough from Stanford Medicine. Using a peptide-predicting AI model, researchers identified BRP, a naturally occurring amino acid that reduces appetite and body weight in animal studies with fewer side effects than Ozempic. The model analyzed 20,000 protein-coding genes to find active peptides, a task too complex for traditional lab methods. It’s another example of how AI can support high-impact research and deliver real-world benefits in health and medicine.

Announcements

Summer Micro-Credential Cohort is Open

Learn more and register at: skills21.org/ai/micro

Referenced Articles and Resources

Wendy Costa's awesome photography websitehttps://www.alternaterealityphotos.com/

NASA’s Generative AI Caution

https://www.computerworld.com/article/3951046/nasa-finds-generative-ai-cant-be-trusted.html#:~:text=The%20NASA%20report%20found%20that,systems%20that%20create%20unacceptable%20risk.

Stanford’s AI Discovery of BRP

https://med.stanford.edu/news/all-news/2025/03/ozempic-rival.html#:~:text=Naturally%20occurring%20molecule%20rivals%20Ozempic%20in%20weight%20loss%2C%20sidesteps%20side%20effects&text=The%2012%2Damino%2Dacid%20BRP,causing%20nausea%20or%20food%20aversion.

Sponsor

This episode is sponsored by the National Center for Next Generation Manufacturing, supporting AI-powered innovation and workforce readiness.

In this episode of ChatEDU (Screens, Hallucinations, and Steak Sauce), Matt and Liz return from a cross-country swing through Wyoming and Oregon to tackle two big stories shaping the AI-in-education conversation. First, they explore Sam Altman’s generational breakdown of how people use ChatGPT and what Gen Z’s habits reveal about the skills schools value. Then they go Beneath the Surface with a fiery New York Times op-ed from Jessica Grose that says AI is destroying critical thinking in K–12. With nuanced pushback, classroom strategies, and a little steak sauce on the side, this one is loaded.

Story 1: Altman’s Take on Gen Z and AI

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman says Gen Z isn’t just using AI, they’re building their lives around it. While older adults treat ChatGPT like a smarter search engine, students aged 18 to 24 are using it to manage decisions, schoolwork, and even relationships. Matt and Liz connect these patterns to Portrait of a Graduate (POG) skills like self-direction, communication, and lifelong learning. Instead of viewing AI as a shortcut, they argue, educators should see it as a tool students are using to build real-world competencies.

Beneath the Surface: Will AI Destroy Critical Thinking?

Jessica Grose’s recent New York Times opinion piece warns that AI is eroding student trust, literacy, and higher-order thinking. Matt and Liz agree with several points, including the risks of hallucinations and the need for transparency. But they push back on the article’s framing. Using examples like durable assessments, student voice, and classroom prompt audits, they argue that AI doesn’t have to replace thinking.

Bright Byte: OpenAI to Z Challenge

This week’s Bright Byte highlights OpenAI’s new A to Z Challenge, which blends archaeology and AI. Participants are invited to uncover lost Amazonian civilizations using GPT-4.1, satellite imagery, and indigenous records. Finalists will present their findings to experts, with a $250,000 prize and a chance to join real fieldwork. It’s a powerful example of how AI can support global exploration and learning.

Announcements

Summer Micro-Credential Cohort is Open

Learn more and register at: skills21.org/ai/micro

Links and Sponsorship

Referenced Articles and Resources

OpenAI usage by age group — Business Insider

https://www.businessinsider.com/sam-altman-people-use-chatgpt-differently-depending-age-2025-5

AI Will Destroy Critical Thinking in K–12 — Jessica Grose, New York Times

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/05/14/opinion/trump-ai-elementary.html

AI Hallucinations Are Getting Worse — New Scientist

https://www.newscientist.com/article/2479545-ai-hallucinations-are-getting-worse-and-theyre-here-to-stay/

AI Brown-Nosing Is Becoming a Huge Problem — Futurism

https://www.yahoo.com/news/ai-brown-nosing-becoming-huge-120041209.html

Citation bias in LLMs — arXiv

https://arxiv.org/abs/2504.02767

Anthropic court filing — Reuters

https://www.reuters.com/legal/litigation/anthropic-expert-accused-using-ai-fabricated-source-copyright-case-2025-05-13/

DeepMind’s Demis Hassabis at Cambridge — Business Insider

https://www.businessinsider.com/google-deepmind-ceo-advice-college-students-ai-change-2025-5

SAMR model and durable assessment prompts — skills21.org/prompts

Sponsor

This episode is sponsored by the National Center for Next Generation Manufacturing, supporting AI-powered innovation and workforce readiness. Learn more at: nextgenmfg.org

In this episode of ChatEDU (AI... But for Who?), Matt sits down with guest co-host and longtime friend Dan Noyes to examine the overlooked side of the AI boom: who it benefits, who it leaves behind, and what equity really means in the age of intelligent machines. With Liz traveling for work, Dan joins the pod to share his experience as a digital inclusion leader, bringing both humor and hard truths to the mic.

In the News: AI at McKinsey, Bain, and BCG

Matt and Dan unpack an April article from The Ken that reveals how the consulting giants are reshaping their business models around AI. While revenue is growing quickly, with AI-related work now accounting for up to 40 percent of McKinsey’s services and nearly 20 percent at BCG, the tools are also straining workplace dynamics. Younger consultants are pushed to deliver results at unrealistic speeds, while senior partners treat AI as a silver bullet. Dan reflects on how these tensions mirror broader challenges around AI expectations, labor, and the value of human insight.

Beneath the Surface: Digital Equity in a New Tech Era

Dan walks listeners through his decades long journey at the intersection of education, technology, and access. From his early work at Boston’s Lilla Frederick School to leading Tech Goes Home, he explores how digital equity involves more than just hardware. It's about broadband, skills, and sustained advocacy. With AI adoption accelerating, Dan argues that existing inequities are deepening. He calls for AI informed by local voices, designed with empathy, and distributed with intention.

Bright Byte: AI Gives Voice to the Voiceless

Matt and Dan highlight a breakthrough from UC Berkeley and UCSF, where researchers developed a brain-to-speech neuroprosthesis that restores real-time communication for people with paralysis. The system significantly reduces lag time and can reproduce a user's voice, offering a compelling example of AI’s potential to support human connection and autonomy.

Related Links:

The Ken – “How AI is Creating a Rift at McKinsey, Bain and BCG”

https://the-ken.com/story/bcg-and-mckinsey-sell-speed-as-ai-shakes-up-consulting-so-why-arent-consultants-buying-it/

Coded Bias – Documentary by Joy

Buolamwinihttps://www.pbs.org/independentlens/documentaries/coded-bias/

Tech Goes Homehttps:

//www.techgoeshome.orgAI and K-12

Micro-Credentialhttps:

//www.skills21.org/ai/micro

Nature Neuroscience Article (Brain-to-Speech)

https://engineering.berkeley.edu/news/2025/03/brain-to-voice-neuroprosthesis-restores-naturalistic-speech/#:~:text=Marking%20a%20 breakthrough%20in%20the,for%20people%20with%20severe%20paralysis.

Have a question or comment?

Email Matt and Liz at chatedu@edadvance.org

Don’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

As educators convene for the EdAdvance Spring AI Conference, this episode is sponsored by Kiddom, the AI-powered curriculum platform helping teachers save time and improve outcomes with high-quality instructional materials and human in the loop tools.

In this episode of ChatEDU (AI for All: A National Plan to Teach America’s Youth), Matt and Liz open with a deep dive into lesson design bias, unpack a new wave of AI agents in higher ed, and explore the implications of a bold new executive order on AI literacy in U.S. schools.

Story 1 – Bias in the Bot: Lesson Plans That Miss the Mark A recent study finds that AI-generated lesson plans often reinforce outdated, teacher-centered models, relying heavily on worksheets with little room for student agency or collaboration. Matt and Liz look at why this happens and how better prompts (like those from Skills21’s own libraries) can help educators reclaim the power of these tools.

Story 2 – Agents in Admissions: AI Goes to CollegeAt ASU+GSV, Element451 demoed “agentic AI,” a tool designed to guide prospective students through visits, applications, and financial aid. But is higher ed ready for autonomous AI helpers? A recent test at Carnegie Mellon, where bots failed to run a simulated business, suggests we still have a long way to go.

Beneath the Surface – A Presidential Push for AI LiteracyOn April 23, the Trump administration signed an executive order promoting nationwide AI literacy across K–12. From dual enrollment pathways to a new White House task force, the plan is ambitious. Matt and Liz explore what it could mean for schools and how Skills21’s new student-facing literacy initiative fits right in.

Bright Byte – AI vs. Wildlife TraffickingThe EcoSolve initiative is using AI to monitor and flag illegal animal trade across six countries. It’s working and showing how generative AI can serve global environmental goals when used with purpose and precision.

Related Links

Study: Pedagogical Bias in AI-Powered Educational Tools

https://socialinnovationsjournal.com/index.php/sij/article/view/10004/8134

Element451 Agentic AI Demo

https://element451.com/

Carnegie Mellon Agent Simulation – Business Insider

https://www.businessinsider.com/ai-agents-study-company-run-by-ai-disaster-replace-jobs-2025-4

Executive Order on AI Literacy – EdSurge

https://www.edsurge.com/news/2025-04-24-trump-executive-order-calls-for-artificial-intelligence-to-be-taught-in-schools

Skills21 AI Prompt Library

https://www.skills21.org/prompts

TeachAI – National AI Literacy

Frameworkhttps://www.teachai.org/ailiteracy

EcoSolve Wildlife Monitoring – Global

Initiativehttps://www.acamstoday.org/eco-solve-using-ai-to-disrupt-global-wildlife-trafficking/

Sponsors

This episode is sponsored by Kiddom, helping educators bring powerful curriculum and responsible AI into the classroom. Download their AI & Assessment white paper at: https://go.kiddom.co/chatEDU

Ongoing support for ChatEDU is provided by the National Center for Next Generation Manufacturing. Learn more at: https://www.nextgenmfg.org

Have a question or comment?

Email Matt and Liz at: chatedu@edadvance.orgAnd don’t forget to rate, review, and subscribe to ChatEDU on your favorite podcast platform.