Episodes

  • Trending in ED AI | A New Feed Is Born!

    Trending in ED AI | A New Feed Is Born!
    Jun 16 2025
    Welcome to Trending in ED AI, brought to you by Palmer Media, the same folks who produce the flagship education podcast Trending in Ed. In this special milestone edition, host Mike Palmer is joined by our virtual co-host, Nancy, to explore the exciting and rapidly evolving world of Artificial Intelligence through a learning lens. In this episode, we discuss: The Canny Centaur: We revisit key concepts like the "canny centaur" and navigating the "uncanny valley," exploring how to effectively blend AI with human intuition and empathy to enhance learning without losing the human touch. AI in Practice & Pop Culture: We dive into AI's immediate applications in education, from personalized tutoring systems reminiscent of Baymax from Big Hero 6 to accelerating skill development through simulations, much like Neo in The Matrix. We also touch on ethical considerations from series like Black Mirror, discussing data privacy and algorithmic bias. Sycophantic Drift: Discover the fascinating concept of "sycophantic drift"—how AI assistants can unintentionally become overly agreeable, and the design challenge this poses for providing accurate feedback in educational AI. The Future of AI Hardware: We explore the intriguing collaboration between Jony Ive and Sam Altman on new AI hardware, including speculation around an "AI surveillance medallion," and its implications for privacy and continuous data capture. Contrasting AI Philosophies: We highlight the differing perspectives of prominent AI leaders, contrasting Luis von Ahn of Duolingo's "AI-first" strategy with Dario Amodei of Anthropic's focus on AI safety and ethical alignment. Mary Meeker's AI Report: We break down Mary Meeker's latest report on AI adoption, revealing its unprecedented speed, plummeting inference costs, and the "great reshuffling" of job roles that signals AI as a mandatory infrastructure. Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. Visit us at Trending in Ed AI for more.
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    26 mins
  • Trending in ED AI | Dr. Philippa Hardman on AI and the Future of Instructional Design

    Trending in ED AI | Dr. Philippa Hardman on AI and the Future of Instructional Design
    Jun 16 2025
    This episode of Trending in Ed - AI features a truly insightful conversation with Dr. Philippa Hardman, a renowned expert at the intersection of learning science, data, and artificial intelligence. Dr. Hardman, whom we affectionately call an "unusual hybrid beast" , brings a unique perspective as a historian by training who now dedicates her work to applying learning science principles to educational technology. In this essential discussion, Dr. Hardman challenges conventional notions of AI in education, emphasizing that AI is fundamentally "a tool in our hands... rather than a replacement". She explores how AI can help us "deliver better learning experiences" by making learning more motivating and leading to true mastery, not just recall and regurgitation. We delve into why AI represents a potentially more profound disruption than previous technologies like MOOCs , specifically because it can force us to deliver on the long-standing promise of fostering innovative, original, and creative thinking. Dr. Hardman also provides a critical look at the risks of AI, acknowledging that it is "as flawed as we are as humans" and inherently biased. She stresses the importance of making everyone "very critical consumers of AI" and understanding how to mitigate these risks. She advocates for using AI to develop crucial skills like critical thinking, rather than avoiding its use in the classroom. This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in the practical applications, ethical considerations, and transformative potential of AI in shaping the future of education. Dr. Hardman's insights are invaluable as we collectively navigate this rapidly evolving frontier.
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    35 mins