aiEDU Studios

What if AI didn’t kill coding but made learning it more meaningful? 

We sat down with Pat Yongpradit (former Chief Academic Officer at Code.org) to unpack why computer science still matters, how AI is reshaping classroom practices, and what real AI literacy looks like for students and teachers. 

We also zoomed out to note that coding is only one piece of computer science, which also spans data science, cybersecurity, and th...

Imagine a classroom where 5th graders present their research to younger students, take questions, and proudly defend their findings — and where AI is a quiet helper, not the centerpiece. 

That’s Celeste Riley’s dual-language classroom in Memphis! It's a space built on trust, cultural relevance, and clear expectations that make learning feel urgent, relevant, and real. 

On this week's episode of aiEDU Studios, we s...

Ready for honest career guidance instead of stage-ready talking points? 

We sit down with CareerVillage.org founder Jared Chung to unpack how AI is reshaping career prep, why human advice still matters, and what parents, teachers, and students can do to navigate uncertainty with confidence. 

We dig into the questions that families often whisper after conferences: Which jobs are safe? Should my kid study law, computer scienc...

Imagine telling a chatbot to “onboard this vendor,” and it finishes the job across multiple systems in under a minute. 

On this episode, we sit down with Automation Anywhere co-founder Neeti Mehta Shukla to unpack how this shift frees people from repetitive tasks and lets them focus on more meaningful work that uses their human judgment, care, and creativity.

We trace the journey from early RPA (robotic process automation) ...

If you’ve ever wondered whether AI has 'broken' school, this conversation with Stanford associate professor Victor Lee cuts through the noise and gets to the heart of the issue.

We start by mapping out three lenses every learner needs:

1. The user who applies tools well.
2. The developer who grasps core concepts like models and training data.
3. The critic who sees bias, persuasion, and societal impact.

That trifecta becomes a...

The hardest part of AI in education isn’t picking a tool. It’s deciding what kind of learning we want to protect, elevate, and scale.

On this episode of aiEDU Studios, we dive straight into that question with Sunanna Chand, executive director of The Reinvention Lab at Teach For America.

Sunanna has a clear stance on edtech: focus on talent over technology. Instead of imagining rows of students plugged into personalized dashboards, sh...

Teaching at Rikers Island isn’t a typical origin story for a future school district leader. And yet, it demonstrates that education works best as human development, not a test-prep machine. 

Former Chicago Public Schools CEO J.C. Brizard joins aiEDU Studios to talk about modern-day school systems and what to keep, what to scrap, and how to move faster than technology that's reshaping our jobs and lives. 

We got candid about why ...

Teens don’t treat AI like magic. They treat it like a wrench — something that's useful, but only as good as the person using it. 

On this episode, we sat down with students who’ve put AI tools to work in surprising ways. Between all their experiences, we saw a grounded view of AI as a study aid, a creative partner, and sometimes a risky shortcut that demands stronger digital literacy. 

Jeremy’s experience highlighted a...

Are you worried your teen is spending more time with a chatbot than with real friends? 

On this episode, we spoke with child/adolescent psychiatrists Dr. Jeremy Chapman and Dr. Ashvin Sood to learn how AI shows up in teens’ social lives and schoolwork, and how parents can respond with clarity instead of panic. Together we map out a simple framework: curiosity first, judgment last, and functionality as the North Star for family decis...

AI can sound human, but it isn’t — and that difference changes how we teach, parent, and prepare kids for a future shaped by AI. 

On this episode, we dive into AI readiness: the blend of skills, ethics, and technical insight that young people need to question, adapt, and lead in an AI-powered world.

We sit down with Philip Colligan of the Raspberry Pi Foundation to unpack layered AI literacy, including what students should...

Are you worried your kids might let AI do their thinking for them? 

On this episode, Alex and Dr. Aliza dig into the questions parents ask most and share a practical roadmap for raising curious, confident, and discerning kids who can use AI without losing their edge. Whether it's developing everyday habits to build critical thinking or setting clear boundaries for schoolwork, we show how to help your kids become AI ready — flue...

Are you worried about preparing your kids for jobs that don’t exist yet? 

In this episode, we dig into the changes that AI is bringing to work and school. First up, materials scientist Ashley Kaiser reveals how AI is powering “self-driving labs” to offload repetitive tasks, which gives her more time for creative planning and scientific analysis. 

Next, Google’s Ben Gomes explains why the next era of education must emphasize concepts ...

Let's be honest: Trying to make assignments “AI-proof” is like trying to write a “calculator-proof” math problem. 

With that in mind, we explore how to design AI-ready assessments that reward genuine understanding and insight when answers are cheap and instant.

Alex and Dr. Aliza unpack a college course that embraces AI rather than hides from it. Tulane University associate professor Nick Mattei walks us through a ter...

Pressing an AI button won’t write a novel that anyone wants to read. 

On this episode, we look at using AI for writing – not as a shortcut, but as a thinking partner that helps you move from fuzzy concepts to sharp ideas without losing your voice. 

Alongside author Amit Gupta and Google’s VP of Learning, Maureen Heymans, we map the line between helpful brainstorming and harmful outsourcing. Ultimately, we landed on a simple rule of t...

What if technology made classrooms feel more human, not less?

On this episode of Raising Kids in the Age of AI, we dive into real stories from the front lines of education to show how AI can help teachers fulfill diverse learning needs, increase engagement, and bring back joy to school so it doesn't turn into a screen-filled dystopia.

Alex and Dr. Aliza sit down with New York City special ed and tech teache...

Let’s strip away the hype and make AI understandable, useful, and human.

Google Research VP Maya Kulycky explains why the human brain remains unmatched (And why that’s good news!) and offers practical guidance for using AI as a collaborator, not a crutch. Google DeepMind COO Lila Ibrahim takes us inside different projects that expand what’s possible with AI in anthropology (Project Aeneas) and molecular biology (AlphaFold...

aiEDU Studios has launched a separate podcast entitled Raising Kids in the Age of AI, created in collaboration with Google!

Co-hosts Alex Kotran and Dr. Aliza Pressman will explore how AI is shaping the future of parenting and learning in conversations with parents, students, and leaders in education and technology.

Meet Isabell, a 13-year-old entrepreneur who is using AI to enhance (Not replace!) her creativity...

What does it mean for students to be 'AI ready?'

In this "in-house" episode, aiEDU CEO Alex Kotran sits down with Chief Program Officer Emma Doggett Neergaard and Director of Learning Khushali Narechania to explore the organization's new AI Readiness Framework. The aiEDU Learning Team unpacks how their framework provides a roadmap for K-12 educators to prepare students for an AI-powered future.

What happens when you combine Hollywood-level storytelling with the intimacy of audio?

Oz Woloshyn and Mangesh Hattikudur, co-founders of Kaleidoscope, have created some of the most compelling podcasts in the medium by focusing on one simple truth: people love feeling smart, especially when learning feels like an adventure.

Kaleidoscope's award-winning shows transport listeners from the Amazon rainforest in ...