In this episode of ChatEDU, Matt and Liz interview Charli Hughes, a recent high school graduate heading to the University of Connecticut in the fall. Charli discusses her summer internship at Medtronic (where she works on the Hugo Robot Assisted Surgery System), and her journey into computer science through robotics competitions.

Charli is one of the most thoughtful voices out there on AI, it just so happens that she is a recent high school graduate. Don’t miss her insights and opinions on what’s next for AI in K-12 education.

In this episode of ChatEDU (Bottom-Up AI: Where Proactive Educators Lead), Matt and Liz explore how educators at all levels can advance their work with AI, regardless of what state or federal policies are in place where they live.

In the News:

• AI as Moral Expert - Matt discusses a recent study comparing GPT-4's moral advice to that of professional ethicists, finding that the AI often outperforms humans in areas like moral soundness and thoughtfulness. Matt and Liz put AI to the test on a juicy moral dilemma. The Skills21 prompt library mentioned by Matt in this section can be found at www.skills21.org/prompts

• Social Media Warning Labels - Liz talks about the U.S. Surgeon General's call for warning labels on social media, similar to those on cigarettes, and Jonathan Haidt's book "The Anxious Generation" about the impact of phone-based childhoods on mental health. Liz goes on to explore a new study exploring the role of AI in child development.

Beneath the Surface:

Matt and Liz provide an update on AI state guidance, and the imperative/opportunity for educators to lead irrespective of guidance from “above” (fed, state, district, or building level)

• The hosts emphasize the importance of looking within to determine AI priorities rather than waiting for top-down guidance.

• They recommend resources like the Teach AI Toolkit, COSN Readiness Checklist, and Michigan Virtual's planning framework for schools implementing AI.

• Recent state level reports include - UT, AZ, NC, OH, and NJ.

Short Stack Chat Back

Claude (via ElevenLabs) provides a Ben Franklin-style response on the pros and cons of using large language models for ethical advice.

Have a question or comment? Please email Matt and Liz at chatedu@edadvance.org

In this episode of ChatEDU (Dear AI, Slow the Heck Down), Matt and Liz discuss the disruptive and problematic consequences of large tech companies moving too fast in the AI space. They unpack various incidents, and the implications of rapid AI advancements on education.

First in Our Intro

Matt and Liz discuss the emergence of non-human AI models, including meerkats, whales, dogs, and elephants. They humorously explore the idea of translating animal noises into “language” and the challenges it poses, particularly with Liz's silent dog, Aloe.

Then in the News:

Voice Mode Updates - Matt provides an update on the much-anticipated ChatGPT 4.0 voice mode. Together, Matt and Liz poke fun at the delay, but also explore how this advanced voice mode might be used in schools.

OpenAI's Library - Liz talks about Sam Altman's focus on creating an old-timey library at OpenAI's headquarters, blending high-tech AI work with a Victorian academic feel. Liz goes on to explore the relevance of libraries in modern education and AI development.

Beneath the Surface:

Matt and Liz discuss the consequences of the "move fast and break things" ethos in the tech industry. They review several AI-related incidents, including, but not limited to:

• ChatGPT's Gibberish Incident: A night of bizarre outputs from ChatGPT.
• Google's Gemini Image Issue: Controversial AI-generated images that sparked debates on diversity and historical accuracy.
• Scarlett Johansson Voice Scandal: The controversy around OpenAI's voice persona, Skye, and its unintended resemblance to Johansson's voice.
• Rock Eating and Glue on Pizza: Logical recommendations from Google’s AI search summaries.

Together, the hosts provide some guidance on how educators might navigate these disruptive AI episodes.

Short Stack Chat Back:

Shakespeare-Style - ChatGPT + ElevenLabs provide a three-sentence summary of the consequences of AI companies moving too fast (in the style of the Bard…the real Bard not the Bard turned Gemini).

Have a question or comment? Please email Matt and Liz at chatedu@edadvance.org