Edtech Insiders

Send us a textIn Part 2 of our year-end reflections, Alex speaks with educators, founders, investors, and platform leaders about what 2026 may bring for AI and learning at scale.

Send us a textNolan Bushnell is the founder of Atari and Chuck E. Cheese and is widely known as the father of the video game industry. Dr. Leah Hanes is the CEO of ExoDexa, co-author of the ExoDexa Manifesto, and leads the Two Bit Circus Foundation, where she has impacted over 460,000 students through game-based and project-based learning.

Send us a textJoin hosts Alex Sarlin, Ben Kornell, Michael Horn and Dhawal Shah as they break down major moves in online learning, AI, and higher education shaping the end of 2025.✨ Episode Highlights:[00:00:00] Coursera and Udemy announce a $2.5B all-stock merger forming a 175M-learner platform[00:00:30] Michael Horn on Coursera's growing leverage over university partners[00:02:08] Ben Kornell explores Coursera's potential to become a global university [00:05:40] Dhawal Shah explains the financial motivations behind the merger [00:09:54] Michael Horn compares the deal to the 2U–edX acquisition [00:11:54] The hosts discuss channel power and aggregation in edtech [00:16:49] Debate on Coursera's acquisition strategy and platform future [00:21:43] Dhawal Shah on why these businesses may perform better as private companies [00:22:33] Ben Kornell outlines Coursera's two paths: efficiency or AI-led reinvention [00:30:24] Gaps in online learning around mentorship and advanced skills [00:35:29] OpenAI's latest release and rising competition with Google Gemini [00:38:55] Why content and IP still matter in the AI era [00:48:36] Purdue introduces an AI competency requirement for graduatesPlus, special guests: [00:52:54] Isabelle Hau, Executive Director of the Stanford Accelerator for Learning, on human-centered and social AI in education 

Send us a text2025 was a defining year for AI in education. From rapid adoption to rising educator confidence and growing questions about what comes next.In Part 1 of our year-end reflections and predictions, Alex Sarlin and Ben Kornell revisit their 2025 reflections and look ahead to what 2026 may bring for EdTech, AI, and the future of learning.

Send us a textRene Kizilcec is an Associate Professor at Cornell University, where he directs the Cornell Future of Learning Lab and leads the National Tutoring Observatory. His research focuses on learning science, AI in education, and the behavioral and computational factors that shape student success. His work has appeared in Science, PNAS, and other top journals.

Send us a textJoin hosts Alex Sarlin, Ben Wallerstein, and Matt Tower for Week in Edtech, exploring OpenAI's teacher certifications, kids' online safety legislation, early literacy declines, college admissions pressures, and what remains irreplaceable in education as AI advances.✨ Episode Highlights[00:03:00] OpenAI launches teacher certifications, expanding into K–12 [00:05:00] Big Tech credentials raise control and gatekeeping concerns [00:07:55] Doubts emerge around certifying AI pedagogy [00:12:40] Google and OpenAI intensify competition for schools [00:14:15] Congress advances online safety bills affecting edtech [00:19:15] COPPA changes threaten AI personalization [00:24:05] Parent reading declines deepen literacy gaps [00:26:45] Early childhood remains underfunded despite high impact [00:31:15] College admissions lean further into yield management [00:33:10] AI reshapes admissions essay review [00:36:20] Trust in higher education continues to fall [00:40:40] Education systems face pressure to adapt Plus, special guests: [00:45:30] Maya Bialik, Founder of QuestionWell, and Peter Nilsson, Founder of Athena Lab, on their book Irreplaceable: How AI Changes Everything (and Nothing) in Teaching and Learning [01:11:16] Emily Gill, Co-Founder & COO of LEVRA, on AI simulations for human skills development

Send us a textThis special EdTech Insiders episode, recorded live at the World Schools Summit in Abu Dhabi, spotlights the Global EdTech Prize winners and finalists sharing how they're scaling impact across K–12 learning, teacher AI workflows, and digital skills worldwide.

Send us a textCharlie Hopkins-Brinicombe is the co-founder of Trophy.so, a gamification infrastructure platform helping EdTech and wellness companies build engaging learning experiences in weeks, not months. With a background in product development and motivation design, Charlie focuses on creating scalable systems that boost retention, habit formation, and learner satisfaction.

Send us a textJoin hosts Alex Sarlin and Ben Kornell as they break down the biggest shifts in global edtech. From PhysicsWallah's major IPO to Google–OpenAI competition, higher-ed adoption of AI, and new benchmarks shaping the future of learning. ✨ Episode Highlights [00:07:00] PhysicsWallah's IPO reshapes Indian edtech and signals renewed global momentum [00:15:00] Google and OpenAI escalate the AI race with Gemini 3, Nano Banana Pro, and OpenAI's “garlic” model [00:31:00] Higher education shifts from AI resistance to AI integration across teaching and majors [00:39:00] Rural districts test new connected learning models backed by major tech partners [00:40:00] Learning Agency launches the first Education AI Leaderboard for model benchmarkingPlus, special guests: [00:45:30] Andrew Carlins, Co-Founder & CEO of Songscription on AI-powered music transcription and access[01:01:10] Eric Tao, Founder & CEO of MegaMinds, and Austin Levinson, Director of Learning at MegaMinds on immersive AI simulations for CTE and AI literacy

Send us a textFrank Wu is the Co-founder of Aibrary and a Harvard Kennedy School MPP graduate. He led 20+ edtech and AI investments at TAL, helped build Think Academy in the U.S., and previously taught 3M+ students.Susan Wang is the Chief Growth Officer at Aibrary and a Yale and Harvard Business School alum. She led creator and product operations at TikTok and worked in strategy at TAL, with deep experience scaling edtech products.

Send us a textDr. Sonia Tiwari is a Children's Media Researcher focused on how characters shape learning experiences. With a background spanning animation, game design, and a PhD in Learning Design & Technology, she advises edtech and media companies on ethical, developmentally aligned character design. Her work has been featured at Stanford, Harvard, MIT, UNICEF, and the National Geographic Society.

Send us a textDr. Sarah Johnson is the CEO and President of Teaching Lab and Relay Graduate School of Education, leading their AI-enabled product innovation and educator preparation initiatives. She is joined by Teaching Lab Studio fellows: Riz Malik, creator of Coteach, a curriculum-aligned AI assistant for math teachers; Gautam Thapar, CEO of Enlighten AI, a personalized AI grading and feedback platform; and Louisa Rosenheck, co-lead of NISA and the Tangle & Thrive research project, focused on AI-powered instructional coaching and student engagement.

Send us a textJoin hosts Alex Sarlin and Ben Kornell as they break down OpenAI's unexpected launch of ChatGPT for K–12, Google's accelerating AI momentum, and what these shifts mean for schools, teachers, and the edtech ecosystem.✨ Episode Highlights: [00:02:03] OpenAI unveils ChatGPT for K–12 educators—secure, curriculum-aware, and free through 2027 [00:03:02] The emerging AI Classroom Wars between OpenAI and Google across major U.S. districts [00:07:36] Google's big week: DeepMind tutoring gains and Gemini 3's multimodal upgrades [00:10:25] How district leaders will navigate growing community divides over AI adoption [00:14:04] What OpenAI's move means for MagicSchool, SchoolAI, Brisk, and other edtech playersPlus, special guests:[00:19:26] Janos Perczel, CEO of Polygence on scaling project-based learning with AI and why TeachLM trains models on authentic student–teacher interactions[00:41:36] Dr. Stephen Hodges, CEO of Efekta Education on AI-powered language learning for 4M students and early evidence of major test score gains

Send us a textThis special on-site episode of Edtech Insiders was recorded live at the Google AI for Learning Forum in London on November 14, 2024, where we sat down with leaders shaping Google's next generation of learning tools, including Shantanu Sinha, VP of Google for Education, Tal Oppenheimer, Product Management Director, Google Labs & Learning, Julia Wilkowski, Pedagogy & Learning Sciences Team Lead, Google, and Maureen Heymans, VP & GM, Learning, Google. Together, they share how Google is designing AI-powered tools grounded in learning science and built to scale across classrooms worldwide.

Send us a textBrandon Busteed is the CEO of Edconic and a nationally recognized leader in work-integrated learning. Formerly President of Kaplan University Partners and Head of Education & Workforce Development at Gallup, he has spent his career building bridges between higher education and industry through research, innovation, and large-scale partnerships.

Send us a textJoin hosts Alex Sarlin and Ben Kornell as they unpack the breakthroughs and backlash following the Google DeepMind AI for Learning Forum in London—and what it means for the future of edtech.✨ Episode Highlights:[00:03:30] Google DeepMind's AI for Learning Forum sets a new global tone for learning innovation[00:06:58] Google's “Learn Your Way” tool personalizes entire textbooks with AI[00:08:12] AI video tools like Google Flow redefine classroom content creation[00:13:40] Why this could be the moment for teachers to become AI media creators[00:18:36] Risks of AI-generated video: deepfakes, disinformation, and youth impact[00:22:19] Duolingo stock crashes over 40% amid investor fears of big tech competition[00:23:52] Screen time backlash accelerates: parents turn to screen-free edtech[00:26:14] Why physical math books and comic-style curricula are surging in demand[00:27:35] A wave of screen-free edtech: from LeapFrog alumni to audio-first toolsPlus, special guests:[00:28:51] Michelle Culver, Founder of The Rithm Project, and Erin Mote, CEO of InnovateEDU, on the psychological risks of AI companions, building trust in AI tools, and designing for pro-social relationships[00:51:48] Ben Caulfield, CEO of Eedi, shares groundbreaking findings from their Google DeepMind study: AI tutors now match—and sometimes outperform—humans in math instruction, and how Eedi powers the future of scalable, safe AI tutoring.

Send us a textThis special EdTech Insiders episode features the four Shark Tank winners from EdTech Week. Each founder shares how their breakthrough approach is transforming learning, teaching, and workforce development across K–12, higher education, and global training environments.

Send us a textRohan Mahimker is Co-Founder and Co-CEO of Prodigy Education, a global leader in digital game-based learning.Rohan launched Prodigy alongside his fellow Co-Founder and Co-CEO Alex Peters in 2011. Today, Prodigy's flagship math game is used by more than 20 million 1st-8th Grade students and is one of the most popular supplemental classroom tools in the United States.

Send us a textMireia Torello is the CEO and co-founder of Aikreate, an EdTech company revolutionizing AI Literacy for students and educators worldwide. With a PhD in Earth Sciences and an Executive MBA from IESE Business School, Mireia brings a unique mix of scientific and entrepreneurial experience. She has led Aikreate through partnerships with schools, universities, and governments and has been recognized at top innovation forums like SXSW EDU and ASU+GSV's Women in AI. Her mission: make AI accessible, ethical, and empowering for the next generation.

Send us a textAdam Mangana is the Co-Founder and CEO of Optima Ed, the first full-time VR homeschool backed by Meta. With over 15 years in edtech leadership, he's pioneering immersive, AI-driven learning experiences that expand access to quality education and reimagine how, where, and why students learn.

Send us a textJoin hosts Alex Sarlin and Ben Kornell as they recap a post–New York EdTech Week full of highs and hard truths.✨ Episode Highlights: [00:00:00] Alpha School's backlash and what it reveals about AI-based education. [00:06:58] EdTech's new K–20 alliance with Microsoft and Google for responsible AI. [00:10:09] The risks and lessons from Alpha School's rapid rise and fall. [00:21:53] Chegg cuts 45% of staff amid AI disruption and market pressure. [00:26:01] Kaplan launches AI tools built on 85 years of learner data. [00:31:02] Mem0 raises $23M to build a universal AI memory layer. [00:38:10] Cal State's OpenAI deal sparks debate on Big Tech in higher ed. [00:44:18] The media's anti-AI narrative and its impact on innovation. Plus, special guests:[00:50:24] Rebecca Winthrop, Director of the Center for Universal Education at Brookings, and Jenny Anderson, award-winning journalist and co-author of The Disengaged Teen, on student agency, engagement, and the four learner modes. [01:11:14] Justin Reich, Director of the MIT Teaching Systems Lab, on AI in Schools: Perspectives for the Perplexed and how educators can experiment safely with emerging AI tools. 

Send us a textJoe Watt co-founded ECMC Group's Education Impact Fund to back bold ideas expanding equity and opportunity in education. Today, he leads the Fund as Managing Director, shaping how patient, mission-driven capital creates lasting change. He's joined by Atin Batra, a Director at the Fund, who leads investments across the learner journey, bringing a global venture lens and a deep focus on measurable outcomes that improve learner success.

Send us a textIn this special episode, we spotlight the GESAwards, often called the “United Nations of EdTech,” with founder Avi Warshavsky of MindCET and three inspiring finalists from around the world. They share how they're harnessing AI, rethinking prison education, and transforming music learning for millions of students.

Send us a textJoin hosts Alex Sarlin and Ben Kornell as they explore the latest developments in education technology leading into NY EDTECH WEEK, from AI adoption in classrooms to major acquisitions and emerging trends across global EdTech.✨ Episode Highlights:[00:03:39] 85% of teachers and 86% of students used AI this year, sparking concerns about disconnection.[00:05:21] Google's Notebook LM and OpenAI apps mark the next phase of AI-driven learning.[00:10:56] Campus acquires Sizzle AI to accelerate AI-powered associate degrees.[00:17:46] “Combine or Die”: AI startups merge with delivery platforms to stay competitive.[00:20:38] India's EdTech resurgence with new investment from Google, Anthropic, and SpeakX AI.[00:22:16] One in five teens report AI relationships, redefining digital social life.[00:23:40] Computer science shifts from major to essential literacy for all students.[00:28:15] AI's rise mirrors the early internet era as it becomes part of everyday life.Plus, special guests: [00:33:56] Joy Chen, Enterprise Account Manager at HeyGen on how AI avatars are reshaping instructional design and interactive learning. [00:59:55] Daniel Pollack-Pelzner, Author of Lin-Manuel Miranda: The Education of an Artist, on creativity, mentorship, and the role of technology in artistic education

Send us a textJoin hosts Alex Sarlin and Ben Kornell with guest Anna Edwards of Whiteboard Advisors as they unpack a packed week in education technology. From sweeping cell phone bans to AI reshaping classrooms and colleges, and celebrate a major milestone of 400 episodes of EdTech Insiders!✨ Episode Highlights:[00:00:00] States expand K–12 phone bans over mental health[00:04:29] Federal shutdown hits Title I, Head Start, ED[00:06:28] ICE detains superintendent, raising compliance fears[00:13:25] Why phone bans need digital-literacy support[00:19:25] Higher ed faces international enrollment and funding drops[00:28:41] Harvard grade inflation reignites rigor debate[00:32:32] States pilot graduate profiles and competency shifts[00:38:08] ChatGPT adds apps; Coursera leads edtech uses[00:46:20] Key state and district policy trendsPlus, special guests: [00:46:20] Jim Beasley, Co-founder & Technology Director and Maurie Beasley, Co-founder & Educator, AIEDPro, on AI PD and classroom pilots. [01:16:32] Stacey Brook, Founder & Chief Advisor, College Essay Advisors on College EssAI and ethical AI for essays. 

Send us a textDeborah Howes is the President of Howes Studio and a pioneer in digital museum education. With over three decades leading EdTech programs at top cultural institutions including the Metropolitan Museum of Art, MoMA, the Art Institute of Chicago, and MOCA Los Angeles. She now helps museums and nonprofits transform analog learning into dynamic digital experiences.

Send us a textJoin hosts Alex Sarlin and Matt Tower as they break down the biggest headlines shaping the future of education technology. From OpenAI's new video model to major EdTech funding rounds and the rise of curriculum-informed AI.✨ Episode Highlights[00:03:56] EdTech Week 2025 preview at Columbia University featuring OpenAI's education keynote.[00:06:50] SETDA report: AI overtakes cybersecurity as top K–12 tech priority.[00:09:05] OpenAI's Sora 2 video model brings lifelike multimodal AI to education.[00:14:10] Rise of AI actors like “Tilly Norwood” underscores new media literacy concerns.[00:18:30] Code.org launches Hour of AI to expand AI literacy in schools.[00:24:40] Debate: Is “learn to code” still essential in the AI age?[00:29:30] Microsoft Copilot adds Study Mode with shareable learning tools.[00:32:00] Anthology (Blackboard) bankruptcy exposes failed 2021 PE merger.[00:38:10] Funding: LingoKids raises $120M; Outsmart (ex-Duolingo) raises $40M.[00:43:50] National test score slump fuels “End of Thinking” education debate.[00:46:10] Calls for clear new visions of learning in the AI era.Plus, special guests:[00:53:00] Sari Factor, Vice Chair & Chief Strategy Officer, and Jason Fournier, VP of Product Management for AI & Data at Imagine Learning, on curriculum-informed AI.[01:04:00] Caleb Hicks, CEO & Co-founder of SchoolAI, on AI tutors and personalized learning.

Send us a textVanessa Castañeda Gill, CEO and Co-Founder of Social Cipher and Lucy Stevens, Co-Founder and Creative Director of Social Cipher, lead a majority-neurodivergent team creating social-emotional learning video games that help neurodivergent youth build self-understanding and connections; inspired by Vanessa's experiences as an autistic/ADHD Latina, their games and curriculum are now used in 200+ schools and therapy centers across 8 countries, earning recognition from Forbes 30 Under 30, MIT Solve, and the LEGO Foundation.

Send us a textJanak Panchal and Rishan Dutia are cofounders of CoGuide, an AI classroom assistant that plans lessons and runs live discussions in 30+ languages. Janak, a former assistant guide with 250+ socratic discussions sessions within the Acton Academy Network, built the first MVP. Rishan leads engineering and builds the Vision OS for hand-raising and participation analytics.

Send us a textJoin hosts Alex Sarlin and Ben Kornell as they dive into the latest headlines shaping the future of education technology, from AI tutors and Gallup polls to new VR career pathways and the impact of phone bans in schools. ✨ Episode Highlights: [00:03:38] Mashable compares AI tutors from OpenAI, Google, and Anthropic[00:10:45] Gallup poll shows confidence in K-12 at all-time low [00:15:48] CZI launches Learning Commons open-source AI infrastructure [00:20:41] CZI + Anthropic partnership expands AI tools for edtech [00:23:31] Kahoot unveils new AI-powered study tools [00:26:26] Phone bans spread in U.S. schools with positive results [00:29:53] Higher ed faces declining international applications and demographic cliff Plus, special guests: [00:36:24] Nick Chen, Founder of PlayMath.org, on educational gaming and product lessons [01:00:40] Jamie Candee, CEO of Edmentum, on career pathways, durable skills, and VR workforce prep 

Send us a textIn this special episode, we spotlight the Global EdTech Prize 2025 with founder Vikas Pota of T4 Education and six inspiring finalists from around the world.

Send us a textJulie Stewart and Scott Stewart, award-winning creators behind global children's shows for Disney, Netflix, and Sesame Workshop, co-founded Nurture with serial entrepreneur Roger Egan, former CEO of RedMart, and learning expert Musa Roshdy, a Minerva University alum and advisor at Transcend Network, to build future-ready skills through immersive play.

Send us a textJean-Claude Brizard is President and CEO of Digital Promise, a global, nonpartisan, nonprofit organization focused on accelerating innovation in education. He is the former Chief Executive of Chicago Public Schools and Superintendent of Rochester, NY. Previously, he spent 21 years with the NYC Department of Education, serving as Regional Superintendent for 100+ schools and Executive Director for 400 secondary schools. He also served as Senior Advisor and Deputy Director at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, leading strategies to close racial and economic achievement gaps and supporting charter school growth.

Send us a textJoin hosts Alex Sarlin and Ben Kornell as they dive into the biggest stories shaping education technology this week:✨ Episode Highlights:[00:04:32] OpenAI study shows teaching and tutoring are ChatGPT's top global use cases [00:10:50] Parents testify in Congress about risks of unsafe AI chatbots for kids [00:19:38] Google announces “Learn Your Way” and AI video generation for YouTube [00:22:47] Shift from SEO to AEO as answer engines reshape discovery [00:26:39] UK secures $40B in AI investment and Indian edtech funding rebounds post-Byju's[00:29:23] Babbel launches AI voice trainer and McGraw Hill adds AI to ALEKS calculus [00:31:09] Superintendent turnover rises while principals gain influence in EdTech decisionsPlus, special guest: [00:34:29] Christine Cruzvergara, Chief Education Strategy Officer at Handshake, on redefining entry-level jobs in the AI era and launching the Handshake AI Fellowship 

Send us a textNaria Santa Lucia is the General Manager of Elevate at Microsoft, where she leads global education, workforce, and skilling programs that have already reached over 100 million learners. With 20+ years of experience across corporate, nonprofit, and international organizations, she has partnered with the UN, World Bank, and Ministries of Education worldwide to advance AI, cybersecurity, and sustainability skills.

Send us a textDave Messer is a Product Manager on Google's Learning & Education team, leads product for emerging learning initiatives, including Learning Labs and Gemini. A former teacher with masters degrees in software engineering and education, he works with experts and the education community to build products that target real-world challenges for educators and students.

Send us a textAndrew Grauer is the co-founder and CEO of Learneo Inc., a leading productivity and learning platform that includes QuillBot, Course Hero, CliffsNotes, LitCharts, Scribbr, LanguageTool, and Symbolab. He also serves as CEO of QuillBot, an AI-powered writing and communications tool. Andrew launched Course Hero in 2006 while at Cornell University and has since grown Learneo into a global platform recognized as one of Inc.'s Best Led Companies.

Send us a textJoin hosts Alex Sarlin and guest co-hosts  Matt Tower of Whiteboard Advisors,  & Kate Eberle Walker, CEO of Presence as they break down the latest headlines in education technology and from Big Tech's AI push to the evolving future of school models. ✨ Episode Highlights:[00:00:00] Kate Eberle Walker on parents' concerns about AI chatbots and student mental health [00:03:20] Apple integrates OpenAI and Gemini into Siri, reshaping the AI race [00:04:15] Global AI shake-up: Microsoft shifts to Anthropic, Baidu gains ground, Google antitrust update [00:14:45] Edtech funding slowdown and investor focus on regulated markets like special education [00:18:07] OpenAI launches certifications for frontline workers; Google gamifies AI literacy with Stanford [00:27:43] First NAEP results post-pandemic show continued learning loss and lack of political focus on academics [00:39:01] Accountability challenges in education: attendance, wellness, and equity in public vs. private models[00:43:46] Debate on Alpha Schools' “two hours of AI per day” model and its implications for learningPlus, special guest: [00:50:17] Chris Walsh, Chief Product and Technology Officer of PBLWorks on scaling project-based learning

Send us a textCT Turner is President of GED Testing Service and VP at Pearson's Enterprise Learning and Skills division. A recognized leader in workforce development, he champions equitable economic opportunities for underserved populations. CT supports adult education and workforce initiatives, holding degrees from Indiana University and Wichita State University.

Send us a textIvan Crewkov is the CEO and Co-Founder of Buddy.ai, the leading AI tutor for kids under 12, reaching over 20 million students annually from all over the world. Buddy is not just a chatbot. It's an AI-powered talking animated character in a mobile app teaching English as a foreign language to students all over the world.  Buddy is unique because it operates in a highly regulated environment where most off-the-shelf AIs like Chat GPT can't be used.

Send us a textJoin hosts Alex Sarlin and Ben Kornell as they break down the latest shifts in education technology, from Google's aggressive AI push to early childhood challenges and new federal initiatives.✨ Episode Highlights:[00:04:48] Google's AI surge disrupts Duolingo with gamified language learning in Google Translate[00:12:14] Google's edge in practical AI tools versus the AGI race[00:17:28] Competitive landscape across OpenAI, Google, Anthropic, and predictions for Chinese challengers[00:22:14] Presidential AI Challenge invites students to showcase projects nationwide[00:24:01] 70% of parents oppose student data going into AI tools, raising regulatory concerns[00:33:29] AI shifting from “what it is” to “how it enables” daily tasks and learning[00:36:53] Uptake struggles in early childhood education despite universal pre-K expansion[00:38:52] Oak National Academy opens curriculum API and University of Phoenix prepares for IPO[00:40:53] Michael Horn highlights optimism for innovation inside and outside school systemsPlus, special guest:[00:41:15] Karim Meghji, Chief Product Officer of Code.org on the Hour of AI, AI-powered teacher tools, and CS education for all students

Send us a textIn this special episode, we speak with Daphne Li, CEO of Common Sense Privacy, alongside leaders from Prodigy Education, AI for Equity, MagicSchool AI, and ClassDojo—recipients of the Privacy Seal. Together, we explore how the edtech sector is tackling one of its biggest challenges: earning trust through responsible AI and data privacy practices.

Send us a textAbhay Gupta is the Co-Founder and CEO of Frizzle. He was Previously a Product Manager at Coinbase, where he drove $50M of incremental revenue, as well as Tesla, and Meta and helped scale an online e-learning platform to millions in revenue. He holds a Bachelor's in Computer Science and Economics from Vanderbilt University.

Send us a textChong-Hao Fu is the CEO of Leading Educators, a national nonprofit specializing in comprehensive instructional improvement. Over the past 14 years, he's worked to scale exceptional teaching and leadership in some of the country's fastest-improving districts while exploring how emergent technology like AI can bring new possibilities to instruction.

Send us a textJoin hosts Alex Sarlin and Ben Kornell as they navigate a week of heavy headlines in education technology—from AI risks and teen safety to global expansion moves by OpenAI and new research from Anthropic.✨ Episode Highlights:[00:02:20] AI panic in the headlines with concerns about teen mental health, suicide, and youth dependency[00:06:33] AI's impact on job opportunities for new college graduates[00:08:00] Comparing AI anxieties with past moral panics about video games, music, and social platforms[00:14:14] Why AI guardrails in school tools may be the edtech industry's biggest value-add[00:18:54] Bill Ackman's New York Alpha School fuels debate over AI-driven education models[00:22:20] The risk of Alpha School becoming the “face” of AI schooling for better or worse[00:25:28] OpenAI expands globally with a new Head of Education in India and a potential UK-wide ChatGPT deal[00:27:26] Anthropic's higher ed report shows educators using AI more to augment than automate 

Send us a textWhile you spent thousands of hours studying math in high school, odds are you never use any of it. There is math that really matters – it's just not covered in school. Just as Freakonomics made us rethink economics, Aftermath does the same for math. Today's guest, Ted Dintersmith, is a bestselling author, education advocate, and former venture capitalist who believes math has been weaponized—and it's time to set things right. If you're curious about the math you missed, and how it can empower you, you won't want to miss this conversation.

Send us a textJoin hosts Alex Sarlin and Ben Kornell as they dive into the biggest headlines shaping the future of education technology, from AI breakthroughs to new models of learning challenges.✨ Episode Highlights: [00:03:23] GPT-5 fallout and Altman's vision for GPT-6[00:08:14] AI risks: AGI fears, scams, misinformation [00:14:37] Post-COVID learning gaps and inequities [00:18:33] Students solving problems with AI [00:21:42] AI updates from Google, Meta, Microsoft, Grammarly [00:25:29] Higher ed: Minerva's rise, enrollment, dropouts [00:27:45] Micro-innovations from Stanford and student startups [00:29:14] Funding shifts: early-stage gains, PE stress, Nintendo schools [00:33:19] Cutting through AI hype cycles [00:39:20] Schools banning phones for student wellness [00:43:04] Big tech vs. local edtech visibility [00:45:07] Blackstone exits $6B Cognita deal [00:46:33] Pearson launches AI Study Prep Plus, special guests: [00:47:43] Brittany Miller, CIO and Executive Director at the Center for Outcomes-Based Contracting, on edtech-school partnerships[01:10:31] Jahque Bryan-Gooden, Founder of My CRE Buddy on culturally responsive teaching with AI[01:20:00] Jim Marggraff, CEO and Founder  of Kibeam Learning on screen-free AI reading and learning tools

Send us a textArun Saigal is the Co-Founder and CEO of Thunkable, the no-code platform where anyone — from students to startups to enterprise teams — can build powerful, native mobile apps. With an intuitive drag-and-drop interface and integrated Gen AI tools, Thunkable empowers creators to go from idea to real, publishable app without writing a single line of code. Arun has an S.B. and M.Eng. in Computer Science and Electrical Engineering from MIT and has held various leading roles at technology companies, including Quizlet, Khan Academy, Aspiring Minds, and Google.

Send us a textJoin hosts Alex Sarlin, Ben Kornell, and guest co-host Matt Tower from Whiteboard Advisors for a back-to-school edition of Week in EdTech, covering market shifts, Big Tech's push into education, the GPT-5 rollout, and the rising challenge of deepfake abuse in schools.✨ Episode Highlights:[00:03:40] Back-to-school funding uncertainty and “back-to-basics” mentality[00:06:40] B2C vs. B2B: consumer learning grows while institutions tighten[00:09:31] Big Tech moves from infrastructure to competing in applications[00:13:40] GPT-5 rollout backlash and prioritization of B2C users[00:17:34] Rethinking schools' role: raising the floor vs. raising the ceiling[00:19:52] School choice and flexible student pathways through ESAs[00:20:58] Proposal for an AI user Bill of Rights[00:27:36] Media panic: critiques of AI in education from major outlets[00:34:19] SoftBank executive buys stake in UK university[00:38:10] Workforce training gap: Google and Microsoft invest billions[00:39:12] Google's Gemini leads in image and video generation Plus, special guests:[00:49:18] Evan Harris, President of Pathos Consulting Group, on deepfake abuse in schools and crisis response[00:56:02] Becky Keene, author of AI Optimism, on AI literacy for teachers and classroom integration[01:03:47] Max Spero, Co-Founder and CEO of Pangram Labs, on building future-ready schools with emerging tech

Send us a textDrew Bent leads Education as part of Anthropic's Beneficial Deployments. He also co-founded the tutoring non-profit Schoolhouse.world with Sal Khan. Prior to that, he wrote code at Khan Academy, taught high school math, and has been tutoring students for over a decade. Drew has degrees in physics & CS from MIT, and an education master's from Stanford.

Send us a textJulia Stiglitz is the CEO and Co-Founder of Uplimit, an AI learning platform helping companies equip their talent with the skills of tomorrow. She previously was a Partner at GSV Ventures, where she invested and partnered with some of the most innovative entrepreneurs in edtech. Prior to GSV, Julia was one of the first hires at Coursera and led many groundbreaking initiatives, mostly notably as Vice President of Enterprise, where she founded and led Coursera's enterprise business, growing it from concept to over 1400 organizations across the globe.