Welcome to episode 346 (“AI Hallucinations & Hardware”) of the EdTech Situation Room from February 5, 2025, where technology news meets educational analysis. This week, Dr. Jason Neiffer (aicentrist.com) and Dr. Wesley Fryer (wesfryer.com) dug deep into the evolving landscape of artificial intelligence, comparing Google’s Gemini 2.0, ChatGPT-4o, Claude, and DeepSeek to assess their strengths, hallucination issues, and classroom use cases. The hosts also examined the looming Windows 10 end-of-life deadline and what it means for schools, legacy devices, and digital sustainability. Other highlights included the dual-use implications of drone technology in education and conflict, growing concerns about AI-driven robocalls, and the implications of shifting US-China tech trade policy. As always, the show concluded with their “Geeks of the Week,” featuring home automation projects and ethical explorations of AI tools in education. Our show was live-streamed and archived on YouTube Live via StreamYard.com. Please follow our @EdTechSR page on Facebook, @edtechsr@mastodon.education on Mastodon for updates, and join LIVE on Wednesday nights if you can. All show notes are available at edtechSR.com/links.
Welcome to episode 345 (“TikTok, Tech & Trust”) of the EdTech Situation Room from January 22, 2025, where technology news meets educational analysis. This week, Dr. Jason Neiffer (aicentrist.com) and Dr. Wesley Fryer (wesfryer.com) examined the political and educational ramifications of the recent TikTok ban—and its sudden reversal. They explored data privacy, digital trust, and youth resistance, alongside broader national security concerns. The hosts shared personal experiments with AI voice cloning, Raspberry Pi-based smart home systems, and browser extensions that enhance privacy and AI access. Wes recounted an AI-fueled snow day project that turned brisket fat into a business plan, while Jason showcased tools like 11 Labs and Glarity for automated content analysis. The conversation also emphasized the importance of mental health, educator community, and media literacy as foundational skills in today’s volatile tech landscape. Our show was live-streamed and archived on YouTube Live via StreamYard.com. Please follow our @EdTechSR page on Facebook, @edtechsr@mastodon.education on Mastodon for updates, and join LIVE on Wednesday nights if you can. All show notes are available at edtechSR.com/links.
Welcome to episode 344 (“Voices We Can’t Trust”) of the EdTech Situation Room from January 15, 2025, where technology news meets educational analysis. This week, Dr. Jason Neiffer (aicentrist.com) and Dr. Wesley Fryer (wesfryer.com) examined the fast-moving frontier of artificial intelligence, starting with voice cloning tools like Play.ht and the ethical dilemmas they present. The conversation then pivoted to Meta’s decision to end its fact-checking program, highlighting rising concerns over misinformation, harassment, and platform responsibility. TikTok’s potential U.S. ban sparked dialogue about regulatory overreach, legal complexities, and the app’s cultural impact. The hosts also discussed the New York Times’ lawsuit against OpenAI, with implications for copyright law and AI development. Additional topics included the sunset of Windows 10, the fractured nature of online discourse, and the increasing need for robust media literacy education. Our show was live-streamed and archived on YouTube Live via StreamYard.com. Please follow our @EdTechSR page on Facebook, @edtechsr@mastodon.education on Mastodon for updates, and join LIVE on Wednesday nights if you can. All show notes are available at edtechSR.com/links.
Welcome to episode 343 (“Clickbait and Chrome”) of the EdTech Situation Room from January 1, 2025, where technology news meets educational analysis. This week, Dr. Jason Neiffer (aicentrist.com) and Dr. Wesley Fryer (wesfryer.com) rang in the new year with a lively discussion on AI-driven schools, content creation ethics, and platform accountability. They examined Arizona’s bold move to pilot an AI-led curriculum, the growing influence of tools like Khanmigo, and how content monetization is reshaping the web — from affiliate link scandals to the rise of short-form video. The hosts reflected on Chrome extension privacy concerns, including Honey’s controversial practices, and unpacked Google’s culture of concealment amid antitrust scrutiny. Also on tap: the media’s evolving role in political influence, the explosion of educator activity on BlueSky, and the critical importance of visual and AI literacy in classrooms today. Our show was live-streamed and archived on YouTube Live via StreamYard.com. Please follow our @EdTechSR page on Facebook, @edtechsr@mastodon.education on Mastodon for updates, and join LIVE on Wednesday nights if you can. All show notes are available at edtechSR.com/links.
Welcome to episode 342 (“Encrypted by Default”) of the EdTech Situation Room from December 18, 2024, where technology news meets educational analysis. This week, Dr. Jason Neiffer (aicentrist.com) and Dr. Wesley Fryer (wesfryer.com) unpacked the FBI’s unprecedented advice urging Americans to use encrypted messaging apps like Signal and WhatsApp, discussing the implications for personal privacy, national security, and school digital literacy. The show also dove into the Justice Department’s surprising push for Google to divest from Chrome, raising questions about the future of ChromeOS and educational tech ecosystems. Wes shared the latest drama from BlueSky’s decentralized moderation challenges, while Jason demoed real-time features of Google Gemini, showcasing just how sentient-like modern AI agents have become. Plus, a flurry of new AI tools from OpenAI and Google — including Sora, NotebookLM, and Gemini 2.0 — led to a creative explosion of possibilities in the classroom. “Geeks of the Week” highlighted an election-focused podcast from Kate Starbird and a budget-friendly combo for running AI locally with Msty and OpenRouter. Our show was live-streamed and archived on YouTube Live via StreamYard.com. Please follow our @EdTechSR page on Facebook, @edtechsr@mastodon.education on Mastodon for updates, and join LIVE on Wednesday nights if you can. All show notes are available at edtechSR.com/links.
Sora prompt example: “Tockefeller center is overrun by golden retrievers! everywhere you look, there are golden retrievers.” https://openai.com/sora/?shareId=16
Welcome to episode 341 (“Blue Sky Rising”) of the EdTech Situation Room from December 4, 2024, where technology news meets educational analysis. This week, Dr. Jason Neiffer (aicentrist.com) and Dr. Wesley Fryer (wesfryer.com) explored the surge in popularity of Bluesky as a social platform for educators, the rising importance of media literacy, and the expanding role of AI in classrooms and personal security. Jason shared insights from Montana’s first AI Play Date event, and Wes highlighted a fantastic media literacy teaching example making national headlines. The hosts also discussed the hidden security risks of smart devices, the unexpected afterlife of Redbox kiosks, and the powerful implications of voice cloning technologies. Other topics included privacy concerns surrounding Bluesky post-scraping and the Supreme Court’s upcoming review of the FCC’s Universal Service Fund. Our show was live-streamed and archived on YouTube Live via StreamYard.com. Please follow our @EdTechSR page on Facebook, @edtechsr@mastodon.education on Mastodon for updates, and join LIVE on Wednesday nights if you can. All show notes are available at edtechSR.com/links.
Welcome to episode 340 (“Big Tech & Big Changes”) of the EdTech Situation Room from November 13, 2024, where technology news meets educational analysis. This week, Dr. Jason Neiffer (aicentrist.com) and Dr. Wesley Fryer (wesfryer.com) explored the latest shifts in the tech landscape, from Apple’s hardware advancements to AI’s growing role in education and privacy concerns. Jason shared insights on upgrading to Apple’s new MacBook Pro with an M4 chip, emphasizing its speed, efficiency, and potential for running local AI models. The conversation expanded into the broader implications of AI, including the rise of open-source models and their increasing competitiveness with proprietary AI. Privacy and ethical concerns around AI usage in schools and workplaces were also discussed, along with the risks posed by AI-driven misinformation and surveillance. The hosts examined Amazon’s expansion of drone deliveries, reflecting on how autonomous technologies are reshaping logistics and transportation. Jason recounted his firsthand experience with Waymo’s self-driving taxis in Phoenix, offering insights into their cautious driving behavior and evolving role in urban mobility. Social media developments were another hot topic, with a deep dive into BlueSky’s rapid growth past 15 million users and its potential as a new hub for educators. The discussion also touched on the dangers of mass text-based disinformation campaigns following the recent election, highlighting the broader need for digital literacy and stronger privacy protections. Finally, in “Geeks of the Week,” Wes highlighted Descript, a powerful AI-based podcast and video editing tool, and his surprising experience joining Truth Social to observe its information ecosystem. Jason recommended Google’s Machine Learning Crash Course, now updated with generative AI examples for those looking to deepen their understanding of AI development. Our show was live-streamed and archived simultaneously on YouTube Live as well as Facebook Live via StreamYard.com. Please follow our @EdTechSR page on Facebook, @edtechsr@mastodon.education on Mastodon for updates, and join LIVE on Wednesday nights if you can. All shownotes are available on edtechSR.com/links. AI Disclosure: An initial draft of this episode summary was generated using youtubetranscript.com and a custom GPT on ChatGPT, as well as options for our show title! Stay savvy and safe!
Welcome to episode 339 (“Social Media Challenges in Schools”) of the EdTech Situation Room from November 6, 2024, where technology news meets educational analysis. This week, Dr. Jason Neiffer (aicentrist.com) and Dr. Wesley Fryer (wesfryer.com) tackled pressing tech issues with a focus on educational impacts. Key topics included Apple’s latest hardware releases like the Mac Mini with the M4 chip, MacBook Pro upgrades, and Apple Intelligence features such as direct ChatGPT integration and the new Image Playground app. The hosts shared their thoughts on how Apple’s seamless AI integration is enhancing productivity and creativity for educators and students alike. The discussion took a serious turn with an in-depth look at the dangers of TikTok challenges in schools, highlighting a recent JAMA Psychiatry article on the blurred lines between social media stunts and real mental health crises among youth. Wes and Jason reflected on the responsibilities of parents, educators, and tech companies in mitigating these risks. They also explored the mental health impact of grade-tracking apps, noting the anxiety these tools can create for students, especially those with learning differences. AI developments were front and center, including Ireland’s national AI training strategy for government workers and OpenAI’s new search engine tool, prompting a debate on search literacy in the age of AI. The episode also touched on Anthropic’s new desktop app for Claude and its experimental computer control feature, showcasing the rapid evolution of AI-powered tools for daily tasks. “Geeks of the Week” included Wes’ announcement of PodCamp CLT, a podcasting conference in Charlotte, NC, on December 7, and Jason’s upcoming webinar on Notebook LM for educators, along with his new home automation project using Home Assistant software. Our show was live-streamed and archived simultaneously on YouTube Live as well as Facebook Live via StreamYard.com. Please follow our @EdTechSR page on Facebook, @edtechsr@mastodon.education on Mastodon for updates, and join LIVE on Wednesday nights if you can. All shownotes are available on edtechSR.com/links. AI Disclosure: An initial draft of this episode summary was generated using youtubetranscript.com and a custom GPT on ChatGPT, as well as options for our show title! Stay savvy and safe!
Welcome to episode 338 (“AI Security Concerns”) of the EdTech Situation Room from October 23, 2024, where technology news meets educational analysis. This week, Dr. Jason Neiffer (aicentrist.com) and Dr. Wesley Fryer (wesfryer.com) explored the latest developments in technology, AI advancements, and their educational implications. The show opened with a lighthearted discussion about digital media preservation, sparked by San Francisco’s costly move to retire 5.25-inch floppy disks from its subway system. The co-hosts reflected on the importance of safeguarding old media formats and backing up digital assets. Shifting to security issues, they covered a disturbing incident of a Zoom hack that disrupted a school board meeting, highlighting the vulnerabilities of virtual platforms. Additionally, they discussed the growing adoption of passkeys as a promising, passwordless future for internet security, with Dr. Neiffer sharing his experiences using passkeys through OnePassword. The conversation then turned to the ongoing battle over internet data caps, with public outcry urging the FCC to ban them. Both hosts shared their excitement about fiber internet expansion, noting its importance for equitable digital access. AI developments dominated the latter half of the show. They discussed Anthropic’s release of Claude 3.5 Sonnet and its groundbreaking “Computer Use” feature, which allows the AI to perform desktop tasks autonomously. While this innovation offers potential time-saving benefits for educators, it also raises significant security concerns, as experts warn of increased cyberattack risks. The hosts also reflected on a tragic case involving Character.AI, where a chatbot’s inappropriate interactions contributed to a teenager’s suicide. This case underscored the urgent need for stronger guardrails on AI interactions with minors. To wrap up, the co-hosts highlighted the evolving role of AI agents and discussed how platforms like make.com and Google Gemini could streamline data management and automate administrative tasks for educators. “Geeks of the Week” included make.com (Jason) – a powerful tool for automating tasks using AI and integrations, and a Passkeys Guide from OnePassword (Wes) – a resource for exploring passwordless security solutions. Our show was live-streamed and archived simultaneously on YouTube Live as well as Facebook Live via StreamYard.com. Please follow our @EdTechSR page on Facebook, @edtechsr@mastodon.education on Mastodon for updates, and join LIVE on Wednesday nights if you can. All shownotes are available on edtechSR.com/links. AI Disclosure: An initial draft of this episode summary was generated using youtubetranscript.com and a custom GPT on ChatGPT, as well as options for our show title! AI image generated by Wes Fryer using Ideogram. Stay savvy and safe!
Welcome to episode 337 (“Teaching and Parenting in the AI Era”) of the EdTech Situation Room from October 16, 2024, where technology news meets educational analysis. This week, Dr. Jason Neiffer (aicentrist.com) and Dr. Wesley Fryer (wesfryer.com) explored the complexities of integrating AI into education. They discussed how school administrators, teachers, and parents are grappling with challenges like AI-assisted plagiarism, privacy concerns, and balancing innovation with ethical responsibility. Topics included the evolving role of professional development in addressing AI misconceptions, the antitrust push against Big Tech, and the transformative potential of emerging technologies like Apple’s Vision Pro. In “Geeks of the Week,” Jason highlighted tools like OpenMCQ and photo generation apps, while Wes showcased resources for emergency preparedness and media literacy. Our show was live-streamed and archived on YouTube Live via StreamYard.com. Please follow our @EdTechSR page on Facebook, the #edtechSR hashtag on BlueSky, @edtechsr@mastodon.education on Mastodon for updates, and join LIVE on Wednesday nights if you can. All show notes are available at edtechSR.com/links.
