ChatEDU – The AI & Education Podcast

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. T...

In this episode of ChatEDU (Teens on Gen AI: A New Study from Common Sense Media) , Matt and Liz dive into a new report from Common Sense Media that explores how teens are using and perceiving generative AI. The episode provides a comprehensive overview of the latest research on this topic, shedding light on both the excitement and concerns surrounding AI among young people. First in Our Intro Mat...

In this episode of ChatEDU (AI Surrender - Professors Throw in the Towel on Writing?) Matt and Liz discuss the controversial notion of AI taking over writing tasks. The episode deep dive is informed by the work of two professors from Carnegie Mellon University who are saying the quiet part out loud, with an AI tool aimed at assisting students with the writing process. Fist in the news:  Mechanisti...

In this first “Short Stack” episode of ChatEDU (AI Hope or Hype - A K-12 Reality Check) Liz and Matt unpack an important New York Times opinion piece titled " Press Pause on the Silicon Valley Hype Machine ” by Julia Angwin. They explore key assertions in the article including:  Overstated Achievements: AI's claimed capabilities versus real performance. Unreliable Performance: The effort...

In this episode of ChatEDU (That’s a Wrap - Exploring the Fate of Custom AI Teacher Tools), hosts Matt Mervis and Liz Radday think through the implications of the ChatGPT 4o release, and what it may mean for custom AI teacher tools and the broader landscape AI + education landscape.  First, In the News:  Microsoft Work Trends Report Matt unpacks a new report from Microsoft highlighting the need fo...

In this milestone 10th episode of ChatEDU (AI for Good: The Literacy Component We Might Be Missing) hosts Matt Mervis and Liz Radday explore how US attitudes towards AI impacts our perspective and potentially narrows how we define AI literacy for students.  First in the news:  Segment 1: AI's Role in Reading Matt discusses the less highlighted role of AI in reading compared to writing, featuri...

This episode of ChatEDU (Yes the Jobs - But First the Class of 2025) unpacks the significant impact of AI on the job market, emphasizing how to meet the immediate needs of next year’s seniors. But first in the news, hosts Matt Mervis and Liz Radday explore various facets of AI in education, including persistent biases in AI models, student preferences for AI-generated versus teacher feedback on wr...

In this episode of ChatEDU (Micro Update Major Menace: Advertising in AI Requires K-12 Attention), Matt Mervis and Liz Radday kick off by covering the latest news including research on AI content detectors with some help from Abbott Elementary, as well as an AI-powered exhibit featuring WWII veterans. Liz reviews a major AI assessment announcement from PISA, while Matt explores new developments in...

In this episode of ChatEDU, titled "AI Guilt Trip: Why Educators Sometimes Feel Guilty and What to Do About It," we'll introduce new AI tools for music creation, and highlight a student-centered AI initiative in one school district. Matt and Liz will cover AI applications in two large city school districts. We'll examine why universities are creating custom AI bots and the lesson...

In this episode of ChatEDU, titled "Riding the AI Wave: Adapting to Change with Curiosity & Confidence," Matt and Liz discuss the introduction of Devin, a coding agent from Cognition AI, share insights from Pulitzer Prize winners, and highlight AI stories from the South By Southwest festival. The episode also covers educators' reservations about generative AI and the importance o...

In this episode of ChatEDU, titled "You’ve Gotta See This: The Potential of AI Vision in Education," Matt and Liz delve into the significant update from Inflection AI, the creators of HeyPi. We'll discuss AI-driven dating assistants and their cognitive skill enhancement. We'll also present how Google's DeepMind and Genie, are offering real-time immersive environments for educ...

In this episode of ChatEDU, titled "Total Recall - Why AI Memory is Key," Matt and Liz explore the significance of AI memory advancements for education. We'll discuss how improved memory capabilities will be crucial for AI to become an effective personalized tutor. Additionally, we'll cover the latest news and developments related to AI in education. We'll wrap the episode wi...

In this episode of ChatEDU, titled "Every Learner, Every Possibility," we'll delve into the ways AI can cater to the unique needs, interests, and learning journeys of every learner. Matt will discuss the impact of watermarking on education in the news segment, while Liz explores how AI could perceive the world from a child's perspective. Additionally, Matt will provide updates on...

In this episode of ChatEDU, we delve into Hidden Gems: Innovative AI Uses in Schools, shedding light on various student-facing AI pilots. We take a deep dive into Google's Bard catching up with ChatGPT. We'll also highlight a study featuring CS50 Duck, an intriguing AI chatbot from Harvard's popular CS50 open online course. We'll also unpack innovative AI use cases among students a...

Welcome to the debut episode of our podcast, titled "Navigating Now and Next"! In this inaugural installment, we take a deep dive into the past calendar year, reflecting on the whirlwind that ensued with the launch of ChatGPT. Join us as we assess the current state of practice and eagerly explore what lies ahead. Our focus will be on the transformative impact of a new generation of gener...