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