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A deeper conversation.
Leading minds focused on the education, AI and the future in candid, insightful conversations about artificial intelligence, education, policy, the future of work and more. Hosted by aiEDU CEO and co-founder Alex Kotran.
NEW!
Writing as a superpower
In this week's episode, we spoke with Peter Gault of Quill.org about the evolving relationship between AI and education. Peter shares how Quill transitioned from basic natural language processing (NLP) to sophisticated language models, making a strategic decision to rebuild their platform on generative AI despite having invested years developing their NLP models. The result? A more powerful tool that helps students develop critical writing and thinking skills when they need them most.
with Peter Gault & Alex Kotran
Real People. Real Talk.
Isabelle Hau: Relational intelligence in an AI-driven world
Our conversation with Isabelle explores how education systems need to evolve past measuring success through grades and test scores, and instead toward fostering the human connections that will matter more in an AI-powered world.
All Episodes
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Aired Jun 12, 2025
In this week's episode with Emmy-winning TV producer and @AIForHumansShow co-host Gavin Purcell, we explore how AI differs from previous tech trends like crypto, blockchain, and the metaverse. Drawing from his unique perspective in traditional Hollywood and cutting-edge tech, Gavin explains how reasoning models represent a quantum leap beyond simple prompt engineering toward truly intuitive human-machine interaction. The conversation turns particularly fascinating when exploring creative industries, where Gavin introduces the concept of "micro-studios" – small teams using AI to produce content that previously required hundreds of professionals. Through a live demonstrations with AI voice companion Maya and popular examples of AI-generated video, Gavin shows how close we already are to genuinely engaging artificial entities. And since we're aiEDU, we also had to dive into what this means for education, careers, and human connection. How do we prepare students for a world where traditional skills are augmented or potentially replaced by AI? What happens when digital companions become more consistent and accommodating than the humans in our lives? These questions don't have simple answers, but they demand our attention.
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Aired Jun 5, 2025
What happens when we invest in entrepreneurs who've been overlooked by traditional venture capital?
Shawna Young (CEO of @CamelbackVentures) has dedicated her career to answering that question by giving transformative support to founders from underrepresented communities.
In our wide-ranging conversation, Shawna chronicles her journey from AP science teacher in North Carolina to leader of an organization that has invested in 180+ founders across the country – not just in Silicon Valley. Her personal story illustrates Camelback Ventures' mission to identify brilliant entrepreneurs who are solving problems in their own overlooked communities.
Camelback's approach tackles a fundamental gap in the entrepreneurial ecosystem, where brilliant ideas often fizzle out not from lack of merit but from lack of access to networks and capital. Now in their tenth year of operation, Camelback continue to invest in founders from the education, fintech, and health tech spaces.
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Aired May 29, 2025
What makes AI different from previous waves of education technology?
Greg Toppo, education reporter at @The74, joins us to unpack how AI is reshaping education from the classroom to district leadership. Drawing from his extensive journalism career and time as a teacher, Greg brings a measured perspective to the AI revolution that's sweeping through schools right now.
The conversation dives into the landmark Massachusetts court case, where a student challenged academic cheating accusations after using ChatGPT on a history assignment. Rather than viewing this as simply a policy failure, Greg frames it as an example of how even well-prepared schools must navigate complex and uncharted ethical terrain: "When you're trying to design a bank that is impervious to being robbed, it really helps to consult with a bank robber."
For educators pondering the AI question, Greg recommends a balanced information diet – seeking perspectives from both enthusiastic advocates and thoughtful skeptics. The future of schooling depends not on blindly adopting technology, but rather on careful consideration of how it could enhance the fundamentally human endeavor of education while preserving meaningful learning experiences.
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Aired May 22, 2025
How can K-12 education adapt to AI?
In this thought-provoking conversation, we sit down with aiEDU's Director of Learning (and former high school teacher) Khushali Narechania to explore how AI can be leveraged to benefit students in the classroom.
Khushali shares how educators are navigating the tensions between embracing new technology and preserving authentic learning experiences.
"The age of the take-home essay is dead," but that doesn't diminish the importance of writing skills – instead, it shows how classroom time will become even more valuable as a space where students can be taught skills that AI can't replicate. Similarly to how calculators transformed math education decades ago, Khushali discusses how AI may similarly shift our focus toward higher-order thinking and interpersonal skills.
Whether you're a teacher wondering how to adapt your assignments or a parent concerned about your child's education, this conversation offers valuable insights into preparing students for an AI-powered future where human connection may be their greatest advantage.
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Aired May 15, 2025
What if we reimagined philanthropy not as a slow, bureaucratic process but as a dynamic engine for innovation?
Kumar Garg, founder of Renaissance Philanthropy and former White House advisor, offers a compelling vision for how philanthropic capital can flow more effectively toward solving the world's biggest challenges.
Drawing from eight years of experience in the Obama White House Office of Science & Technology Policy (OSTP) and his subsequent work with Eric Schmidt, Kumar says there's a fundamental disconnect in how philanthropy approaches edge-case science and technology.
Through fascinating stories – ranging from the early development of mRNA technology that later enabled COVID vaccines to the untapped potential of AI for scientific research – Kumar describes how the right funding structures can accelerate breakthroughs to benefit humanity.
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Aired May 14th, 2025
What do K-12 students need to thrive in a world increasingly shaped by AI?
Zarek Drozda, executive director of Data Science 4 Everyone (DS4E), believes data literacy must become as fundamental as reading literacy and he's building a movement to make it happen.
In our very first episode of aiEDU Studios, Zarek takes us behind the scenes of building his nonprofit coalition and shares honest insights about the challenges of education reform. Rather than competing with other educational initiatives or building curriculum themselves, DS4E have focused on being connectors – bringing together teachers, researchers, policymakers, and curriculum developers to create sustainable change.
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