EdTechSR Ep 331 CrowdStrike Crisis Impact

Welcome to episode 331 (“CrowdStrike Crisis Impact”) of the EdTech Situation Room from July 24, 2024, where technology news meets educational analysis. This week, Dr. Jason Neiffer (aicentrist.com) and Dr. Wesley Fryer (wesfryer.com) covered an array of pressing issues in tech and education. They delved into the recent widespread disruption caused by a CrowdStrike security update, which affected numerous organizations, including airlines and medical facilities, sparking discussions on cybersecurity vulnerability, dependency on digital infrastructure, and the essential preparations individuals and organizations should make. On the legislative front, they reviewed judicial blocks on age-verification laws for social media in Mississippi, examining the implications for digital privacy, parental control, and student safety. The hosts also discussed AI in education, with updates on emerging AI models from Meta and Mistral, the rise of open-source options, and considerations for classroom integration. The ethical considerations surrounding generative AI and the risk of “lazy learning” with AI-assisted assignments were hot topics, leading to a conversation about critical engagement, media literacy, and the role of assignments in fostering genuine learning. “Geeks of the Week” included Wes’s discovery of Spoutible, a Twitter alternative focused on safety, and his experiences using AI to troubleshoot coding projects with MakeCode Arcade. Jason shared LocalSend, an open-source cross-platform file-sharing app for Android and iOS, providing an alternative to AirDrop. 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 shownotes are available on edtechSR.com/links. AI Disclosure: An initial draft of this episode summary was generated using https://notegpt.io/youtube-transcript-generator and a custom GPT on ChatGPT, as well as options for our show title! Stay savvy and safe!

Shownotes

  1. Subscribe to our EdTechSR Substack Newsletter!
  2. EdTech Situation Room Listener Survey: wfryer.me/edtechsr
  3. Follow EdTechSR on FacebookMastodon and Substack!
  4. Audio podcast feed (Subscribe with iTunes or Stitcher)
  5. Video version on YouTube
  6. Check out our video podcast feed and subscribe to our YouTube Channel (episodes also in this YouTube playlist)
  7. Jason Neiffer (Mastodon: mastodon.cloud/@neif) – aicentrist.com – blog: blog.ncce.org
  8. Wes Fryer (Mastodon: mastodon.cloud/@wfryer) – wesfryer.com
  9. Introducing Llama 3.1: Our most capable models to date (Meta; 23 July 2024)
  10. Apple shows off open AI prowess: new models outperform Mistral and Hugging Face offerings (VentureBeat; 19 July 2024)
  11. Finding GPT-4’s mistakes with GPT-4 (Open AI Blog; 27 June 2024)
  12. Record labels sue AI music generators Suno and Udio alleging “unimaginable scales” of copyright infringement (MusicTech, 24 June 2024)
  13. Eureka Labs
  14. 3 things parents and students told us about how generative AI can support learning (Google Blog; 18 July 2024)
  15. [VIDEO] The real reasons Apple won’t put macOS on the iPad (The Verge via YouTube; 24 July 2024)
  16. CrowdStrike blames test software for taking down 8.5 million Windows machines (THe Verge; 24 July 2024)
  17. But… The worst internet outage still hasn’t happened yet (Vox; 24 July 2024)
  18. The Paris Olympics Will Show Us the Future of Sports on TV (Wired 17 July 2024) – Paywall free version
  19. Judge blocks Mississippi law that required age verification on social media (Verge, 2 Jul 2024)
  20. The FBI got into the Trump rally shooter’s phone in just 40 minutes (Verge, 19 Jul 2024)
  21. Jason’s Geek of the Week: https://localsend.org/ 
  22. Wes’ Geek of the Week: Debugging Javascript with Claude and Wes on Spoutible
EdTechSR Ep 331 CrowdStrike Crisis Impac” (CC BY 2.0) by Wesley Fryer

EdTechSR Ep 330 AI Summer Surge

Welcome to episode 330 (“AI Summer Surge”) of the EdTech Situation Room from July 18, 2024, where technology news meets educational analysis. This week, Dr. Jason Neiffer (aicentrist.com) and Dr. Wesley Fryer (wesfryer.com) discussed a variety of topics with a focus on artificial intelligence and its broader implications. Key discussions included the increasing dominance of AI in various sectors, the ethical challenges surrounding AI usage, and the impact of AI on social media and disinformation. The hosts also touched on the significance of AI vision tools and their practical applications, from personal use cases to educational settings. The episode covered the evolving landscape of social media algorithms and their effects on user engagement and information dissemination. Dr. Fryer shared his personal experiences with algorithmic bans on social media platforms and the importance of computational thinking in education. The conversation also highlighted the latest updates from major tech companies, including Microsoft’s changes in Windows updates and Apple’s advancements in iOS 18. “Geeks of the Week” included “Claude AI” and “Chad GPT Vision Tools” (from Jason) and “Ideogram AI Visuals” and “Perplexity Answer Engine” (from Wes). Our show was live-streamed and archived on YouTube via StreamYard.com. We created our episode show art with Ideogram.ai. 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!

Shownotes

  1. Subscribe to our EdTechSR Substack Newsletter!
  2. EdTech Situation Room Listener Survey: wfryer.me/edtechsr
  3. Follow EdTechSR on FacebookMastodon and Substack!
  4. Audio podcast feed (Subscribe with iTunes or Stitcher)
  5. Video version on YouTube
  6. Check out our video podcast feed and subscribe to our YouTube Channel (episodes also in this YouTube playlist)
  7. Jason Neiffer (Mastodon: mastodon.cloud/@neif) – aicentrist.com – blog: blog.ncce.org
  8. Wes Fryer (Mastodon: mastodon.cloud/@wfryer) – wesfryer.com
  9. GPT-4o mini released (OpenAI; 18 July 2024)
  10. SchoolAI
  11. Google VidsGoogle’s Blog post about Google Vids:
  12. ‘One screen, two movies’: Conflicting conspiracy theories emerge from the Trump rally shooting (AP, 18 July 2024)
  13. NotebookLM goes global with Slides support and better ways to fact-check (Google Keyword Blog)
  14. Meta tells court it won’t sue over Facebook feed-killing tool—yet (ArsTechnica, 17 Jul 2024)
  15. Claude AI summary and analysis
  16. Microsoft is changing how it delivers Windows updates: 4 things you need to know (ZDnet, 18 Jul 2024)
  17. Apple rolls out iOS 18 Beta: List of eligible devices and how to update your devices (LiveMint.com; 17 July 2024)
  18. FCC closes “final loopholes” that keep prison phone prices exorbitantly high (ArsTechnica, 18 Jul 2024)
  19. Jason’s Geek of the Week: Google AI Studio
  20. Wes’ Geeks of the Week: Social Media Text Formatter (CustomGPT – details / instructions) and “Teaching the Conspiracies – Part 2” (starts Sunday, July 21!)
EdTech Situation Room Episode 330: AI Su” (CC BY 2.0) by Wesley Fryer

EdTechSR Ep 329 Apple’s AI Move

Welcome to episode 329 (“Apple’s AI Move”) of the EdTech Situation Room from June 26, 2024, where technology news meets educational analysis. This week, Dr. Jason Neiffer (aicentrist.com) and Dr. Wesley Fryer (wesfryer.com) discussed a variety of technology topics through an educational lens. Key discussions included Apple’s recent advancements in AI, their strategic decisions regarding AI integration, and the implications for educational technology. The episode also covered the ongoing challenges with tech privacy, the evolving digital divide among students regarding access to AI tools, and innovative applications of AI in social media. “Geeks of the Week” included Jason’s recommendation of Notion, a comprehensive note-taking and organization app, and Wes’s highlight of a family audio preservation project using digitized tapes from 1972. Our show was live-streamed and archived on YouTube Live via StreamYard.com.(Facebook changed their live streaming policies, so unfortunately we can’t live stream there until we get at least 100 likes on our Facebook page!) 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!

Shownotes

  1. Subscribe to our EdTechSR Substack Newsletter!
  2. EdTech Situation Room Listener Survey: wfryer.me/edtechsr
  3. Follow EdTechSR on FacebookMastodon and Substack!
  4. Audio podcast feed (Subscribe with iTunes or Stitcher)
  5. Video version on YouTube
  6. Check out our video podcast feed and subscribe to our YouTube Channel (episodes also in this YouTube playlist)
  7. Jason Neiffer (Mastodon: mastodon.cloud/@neif) – aicentrist.com – blog: blog.ncce.org
  8. Wes Fryer (Mastodon: mastodon.cloud/@wfryer) – wesfryer.com/after
  9. It’s Time to Believe the AI Hype (Wired, 17 May 2024)
  10. Microsoft Provides Update on Recall, Addresses Complaints (Thurott.com, 7 June 2024)
  11. Google is Working on a Recall Feature for ChromeOS (Thurott.com, 6 June 2024)
  12. OpenRecall
  13. AIs are coming for social networks (The Verge, 18 June 2024)
  14. Introducing Apple Intelligence, the personal intelligence system that puts powerful generative models at the core of iPhone, iPad, and Mac (Apple PR)
  15. What are all these Apple executives doing with their legs? (WaPo, 14 June 2024) – paywall free version
  16. OK, fine, here’s Apple Intelligence (Jason Snell @ Six Colors, 13 June 2024)
  17. The iPhone Is Now an AI Trojan Horse (The Atlantic, 10 June 24) – paywall free version
  18. The iPad’s new Calculator actually might have been worth the 14-year wait (Macworld, 10 June 2024)
  19. SpaceX’s Starlink May Be Keeping the Ozone From Healing, Research Finds (Futurism, 15 June 2024) – Related CustomGPT story
  20. Wesley’s Geeks of the Week: 1972 Christmas Audio Letter (on YouTube) with analog tape photoSteven Johnson & Michael Specter on the Future of Life (27 April 2023)
  21. Jason’s Geek of the Week: Notion… wow.
EdTechSR Ep 329: Apple’s AI Move” (CC BY 2.0) by Wesley Fryer

EdTechSR Ep 328 AI Copyright Clash

Welcome to episode 328 (“AI Copyright Clash”) of the EdTech Situation Room from June 5, 2024, where technology news meets educational analysis. This week, Dr. Jason Neiffer (aicentrist.com) and Dr. Wesley Fryer (wesfryer.com) discussed a variety of pressing topics in the realm of educational technology. Key discussions included the controversy surrounding AI-generated voices and copyright, highlighted by the recent Scarlett Johansson incident with OpenAI. They delved into the implications of AI ethics, focusing on the balance between technological advancements and ethical considerations in education. The hosts also explored the potential and challenges of AI companions, reflecting on how these technologies might shape future interactions and relationships. Additionally, they discussed practical strategies for integrating AI tools into educational settings, emphasizing the importance of responsible usage and the evolving landscape of AI legislation. “Geeks of the Week” included Fireflies.ai, an advanced AI meeting notetaker recommended by Jason, and Google’s Gemini Prompting Guide 101, highlighted by Wes as a valuable resource for effective AI prompts. 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!

Shownotes

  1. Subscribe to our EdTechSR Substack Newsletter!
  2. EdTech Situation Room Listener Survey: wfryer.me/edtechsr
  3. Follow EdTechSR on Facebook, Mastodon and Substack!
  4. Audio podcast feed (Subscribe with iTunes or Stitcher)
  5. Video version on YouTube
  6. Check out our video podcast feed and subscribe to our YouTube Channel (episodes also in this YouTube playlist)
  7. Jason Neiffer (Mastodon: mastodon.cloud/@neif) – aicentrist.com – blog: blog.ncce.org
  8. Wes Fryer (Mastodon: mastodon.cloud/@wfryer) – wesfryer.com/after
  9. OpenAI, Google DeepMind’s current and former employees warn about AI risks (Reuters, 4 June 2024)
  10. Perplexity AI’s new feature will turn your searches into shareable pages (TechCrunch; 5 June 2024)
  11. Kai Fu Lee Interview with Fortune Magazine
  12. Lawyers say OpenAI could be in real trouble with Scarlett Johansson (The Verge; 22 May 2024)
  13. Exactly how stupid was what OpenAI did to Scarlett Johansson? (The Washington Post; 21 May 2024)
  14. TechLife – Dating a ChatBot (BBC Sounds, 4 June 2024)
  15. Chat GPT “DAN” (and other “Jailbreaks”)
  16. Display of a captured wolf in a Wyoming bar brings outrage (NPR, 1 June 2024)
  17. A Perspective on Meta’s Moderation of Palestinian Voices (Tech Policy Press Podcast, 26 May 2024)
  18. Lawsuit argues Call of Duty helped Cause the Uvalde School Shooting (ArsTechnica, 29 May 2024)
  19. What Doge Taught Me About the Internet (OpEd, New Yorker, 5 June 2024)
  20. Jason’s Geek of the Week: https://fireflies.ai/ https://www.make.com/en https://www.notion.so/notes
  21. Wesley’s Geeks of the Week: https://history.wesfryer.com/ Google’s “Prompting Guide 101” My Mastodon Lists
EdTechSR Episode 328: AI Copyright Clash” (CC BY 2.0) by Wesley Fryer

EdTechSR Ep 327 AI Search Evolution

Welcome to episode 327 (“AI Search Evolution”) of the EdTech Situation Room from May 22, 2024, where technology news meets educational analysis. This week, Dr. Jason Neiffer (aicentrist.com) and Dr. Wesley Fryer (wesfryer.com) discussed various topics, beginning with Jason’s recent trip to Japan, where he visited Hiroshima and experienced some unique weather patterns. The conversation quickly transitioned to an in-depth look at current technology news and its implications for education. Key discussions included the return of controversial figures to social media platforms, the impact of fractured social media ecosystems on communication and professional development, and the potential and challenges of federated social media platforms like Mastodon. The hosts emphasized the importance of educators exploring and understanding these evolving platforms to better navigate the digital landscape. The episode also highlighted significant updates from Google I/O and Microsoft, focusing on their AI advancements and new product announcements. Jason and Wes analyzed Google’s move to integrate AI into search results, comparing it to science fiction-like interactions and pondering its future implications for advertising, media, and user behavior. They also delved into Microsoft’s controversial “Recall” feature, which captures screenshots of users’ screens every few seconds, raising substantial privacy and security concerns. The hosts wrapped up with their “Geeks of the Week” segment. Jason recommended the Logitech Options+ software for enhancing mouse functionality with AI features, while Wes shared a personal throwback by showcasing a 1978 remix of Star Wars and a practical video on managing email effectively for a productive digital life. 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!

Shownotes

  1. Subscribe to our EdTechSR Substack Newsletter!
  2. EdTech Situation Room Listener Survey: wfryer.me/edtechsr
  3. Follow EdTechSR on Facebook, Mastodon and Substack!
  4. Audio podcast feed (Subscribe with iTunes or Stitcher)
  5. Video version on YouTube
  6. Check out our video podcast feed and subscribe to our YouTube Channel (episodes also in this YouTube playlist)
  7. Jason Neiffer (Mastodon: mastodon.cloud/@neif) – aicentrist.com – blog: blog.ncce.org
  8. Wes Fryer (Mastodon: mastodon.cloud/@wfryer) – wesfryer.com/after
  9. OpenAI debuts GPT-4o ‘omni’ model now powering ChatGPT (TechCrunch; 13 May 2024)
  10. Google I/O 2024: everything announced (The Verge, 14 May 2024)
  11. Key January 6th Instigator, Nick Fuentes, Reinstatement on Twitter/X: The Implications (Just Security, 4 May 2024)
  12. Roblox Community Protests ‘Communism’ Update (404 Media, 9 May 2024)
  13. Microsoft Surface event: the 6 biggest announcements (The Verge; 20 May 2024)
  14. How the new Microsoft Recall feature fundamentally undermines Windows security (Double Pulsar, 21 May 2024) 
  15. Jason’s Geek of the Week: LogiTech AI Generator
  16. Wes’ Geek of the Week: Star Wars 1978 Remix (6 min) and Email Jedi Tricks (31 min)
EdTech Situation Room Epsiode 327” (CC BY 2.0) by Wesley Fryer

EdTechSR Ep 326: Live from Japan!

Welcome to episode 326 (“Live From Japan!”) of the EdTech Situation Room from May 8, 2024, where technology news meets educational analysis. This week, Dr. Jason Neiffer (aicentrist.com) joined live from Kyoto, Japan, and Dr. Wesley Fryer (wesfryer.com) joined from Charlotte, North Carolina. They discussed a variety of topics including Jason’s travel experiences in Japan, the latest Apple product updates, and the significance of privacy and security in technology. Key discussions included: Jason’s culinary adventures in Japan and observations on the strong dollar’s impact on travel costs. The latest updates to Apple’s iPads, with a focus on their implications for education and the mixed reactions from the tech community. The importance of multi-factor authentication highlighted by a major healthcare cyber attack due to its absence. The role of debate in developing critical thinking skills in an AI-dominated world. Media literacy and the new challenges posed by sophisticated propaganda and misinformation campaigns. “Geeks of the Week” included Google’s free webinar series “Generative AI for Teachers” (from Wes), and Amazon Prime’s series “Fallout” based on the popular video game (from Jason). 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!

Shownotes

  1. Subscribe to our EdTechSR Substack Newsletter!
  2. EdTech Situation Room Listener Survey: wfryer.me/edtechsr
  3. Follow EdTechSR on Facebook, Mastodon and Substack!
  4. Audio podcast feed (Subscribe with iTunes or Stitcher)
  5. Video version on YouTube
  6. Check out our video podcast feed and subscribe to our YouTube Channel (episodes also in this YouTube playlist)
  7. Jason Neiffer (Mastodon: mastodon.cloud/@neif) – aicentrist.com – blog: blog.ncce.org
  8. Wes Fryer (Mastodon: mastodon.cloud/@wfryer) – wesfryer.com/after
  9. Google’s New AI Predicts Molecular Behavior, Which Could Supercharge Drug Discovery (CNet, 8 May 2024)
  10. Our Students’ Future in an AI-World is Debatable (Higher Education Digest; 3 May 2024)
  11. Related: The American Lyceum
  12. AIs can now pull quotes from articles without hallucination (Stefan Bauschard; 8 May 2024)
  13. This Week in Tech 977 Gahoo Yoogle (with Amy Webb and Kevin Rose)
  14. Mitt Romney Reveals Twisted Reason Why Congress Moved to Ban TikTok (New Republic, 6 May 2024)
  15. OMG NEW APPLE STUFF!  Everything announced at Apple’s Let Loose iPad event (Engadget; 8 May 2024)
  16. Apple’s Crushing iPad Ad Trashed By Hugh Grant, Justine Bateman & Almost Everyone Else (Deadline, 8 May 2024)
  17. Is Apple BEHIND on AI???  Fitting Facts To The Narrative At The Washington Post (John Gruber, Daring Fireball; 6 May 2024)
  18. The New Propaganda War (The Atlantic, June 2024)
  19. How your behavior became the world’s biggest resource (Technically Optimistic Podcast, 24 April 2024)
  20. Change Healthcare cyberattack was due to a lack of multifactor authentication, UnitedHealth CEO says (AP News, 1 May 2024)
  21. UnitedHealth says Change hackers stole health data on ‘substantial proportion of people in America’ (TechCrunch, 22 Apr 2024)
  22. Jason’s Geeks of the Week: ChatGPT… for travel advice! and Fallout on Amazon Prime
  23. Wes’ Geeks of the Week: Democracy and Human Rights Need Your Voice! (2.5 min) and all recorded “Webinars with Wes” are FREE! And free Grow with Google course “AI for Educators”
AI Jason in Japan” (CC BY 2.0) by Wesley Fryer

EdTechSR Ep 325: Privacy and TikTok Ban

Welcome to episode 325 (“Privacy and TikTok Ban”) of the EdTech Situation Room from April 24, 2024, where technology news meets educational analysis. This week, Dr. Jason Neiffer and Dr. Wesley Fryer delve into a variety of technology and educational topics. They discuss Dr. Neiffer’s upcoming trip to Japan, providing insights into the extensive planning required for such an adventure. The conversation quickly transitions to pressing issues in tech and education, notably the recent U.S. legislation potentially affecting TikTok. This move by Congress, framed as a national security issue, opens broader debates on data privacy and the influence of social media on public opinion. The episode also covers the significant impact of artificial intelligence on content creation and the ethical implications of AI technologies. Updates from tech giants like Google and Apple are discussed, highlighting upcoming events and product enhancements that could influence educational practices. “Geeks of the Week” includes personal tech recommendations and educational resources, emphasizing tools that effectively integrate technology into educational settings. 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!

Shownotes

  1. Subscribe to our EdTechSR Substack Newsletter!
  2. EdTech Situation Room Listener Survey: wfryer.me/edtechsr
  3. Follow EdTechSR on Facebook, Mastodon and Substack!
  4. Audio podcast feed (Subscribe with iTunes or Stitcher)
  5. Video version on YouTube
  6. Check out our video podcast feed and subscribe to our YouTube Channel (episodes also in this YouTube playlist)
  7. Jason Neiffer (Mastodon: mastodon.cloud/@neif) – aicentrist.com – blog: blog.ncce.org
  8. Wes Fryer (Mastodon: mastodon.cloud/@wfryer) – wesfryer.com/after
  9. Author granted copyright over book with AI-generated text—with a twist (ArsTechnica, 18 Apr 2024)
  10. How One Author Pushed the Limits of AI Copyright (Wired; 17 April 2024)
  11. Deepfakes in the courtroom: US judicial panel debates new AI evidence rules (ArsTechnica, 24 Apr 2024)
  12. OpenAI’s GPT-4 can exploit real vulnerabilities by reading security advisories (The Register; 17 April 2024)
  13. Cool or creepy? Microsoft’s VASA-1 is a new AI model that turns photos into ‘talking faces’ (Tom’s Guide; 18 April 2024)
  14. Biden signs TikTok ‘ban’ bill into law, starting the clock for ByteDance to divest it (The Verge, 24 Apr 2024)
  15. Is the new TikTok ban for real? (Vox; 24 April 2024)
  16. China bans government officials from using iPhones for work, Wall Street Journal reports (Reuters, 6 Sept 2023)
  17. What the evidence really says about social media’s impact on teens’ mental health (Vox; 12 April 2024)
  18. Schools Want to Ban Phones. Parents Say No. (WSJ; 20 April 2024)
  19. Nation-state hackers exploit Cisco firewall 0-days to backdoor government networks (ArsTechnica, 24 Apr 2024)
  20. An Apple event is coming: What are you most excited to see? (9 to 5 Mac; 23 April 2024)
  21. Apple Releases Open Source AI Models That Run On-Device (MacRumors, 24 Apr 2024)
  22. Jason’s Geek of the Week: eSIMS for Travel!
  23. Wes’ Geeks of the Week: [PODCAST] How Should I Be Using A.I. Right Now? by Ezra Klein with Ethan Mollick and Apple in China – Face-Off: The U.S. vs China
EdTech Situation Room: Ep 325” (CC BY 2.0) by Wesley Fryer

EdTechSR Ep 324: Deep Dives into Disinformation

Welcome to episode 324 (“Deep Dives in Disinformation”) of the EdTech Situation Room from April 17, 2024, where technology news meets educational analysis. This week, Dr. Jason Neiffer and Dr. Wesley Fryer discussed a variety of important topics in educational technology and AI’s impact on education, from San Diego, California and Charlotte, North Carolina respectively. Jason opened the episode by sharing his experiences at the ASU + GSV conference, which brought together leaders in education and technology. The discussions at the conference focused heavily on the integration of AI in educational settings and the ethical implications of new technologies. Wes and Jason then delved into the pressing issue of Kremlin-backed actors spreading disinformation through sophisticated AI tools. They discussed the evolution of disinformation tactics and the crucial role of media literacy in combating these threats. The co-hosts explored various other technological updates, including new developments from Google and Microsoft, emphasizing the educational potentials and challenges of these innovations. They also addressed the need for thoughtful integration of AI tools in education, to enhance learning without compromising ethical standards. “Geeks of the Week” featured valuable tools and resources for educators. Among these, Jason highlighted an AI-powered music creation tool, emphasizing its potential to revolutionize educational content delivery. 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!

Shownotes

  1. Subscribe to our EdTechSR Substack Newsletter!
  2. EdTech Situation Room Listener Survey: wfryer.me/edtechsr
  3. Follow EdTechSR on Facebook, Mastodon and Substack!
  4. Audio podcast feed (Subscribe with iTunes or Stitcher)
  5. Video version on YouTube
  6. Check out our video podcast feed and subscribe to our YouTube Channel (episodes also in this YouTube playlist)
  7. Jason Neiffer (Mastodon: mastodon.cloud/@neif) – aicentrist.com – blog: blog.ncce.org
  8. Wes Fryer (Mastodon: mastodon.cloud/@wfryer) – wesfryer.com/after
  9. Texas will use computers to grade written answers on this year’s STAAR tests (Texas Tribune, 9 April 2024)
  10. Hard Fork Podcast: “A.I.’s Data Wall + a Surprise Privacy Bill + What Happened to the TikTok Ban?” (12 Apr 2024)
  11. AI Music Generation Takes Center Stage: Udio and Suno
  12. Kremlin-backed actors spread disinformation ahead of US elections (ArsTechnica, 17 Apr 2024)
  13. https://substack.com/@katieharbath 
  14. The great rewiring: is social media really behind an epidemic of teenage mental illness? (Nature; 29 March 2024)
  15. Apple Plans to Overhaul Entire Mac Line With AI-Focused M4 Chips (Bloomberg; 11 April 2024)
  16. Apple is reportedly planning a big AI-focused M4 Mac upgrade (The Verge; 11 April 2024)
  17. Jason’s Geek of the Week: AI Chat Battle!
  18. Wes’ Geek of the Week: StoryGraph
EdTech Situation Room: Episode 324” (CC BY 2.0) by Wesley Fryer

EdTechSR Ep 323: Security Breaches Unfold

Welcome to episode 323 (“Security Breaches Unfold”) of the EdTech Situation Room from April 3, 2024, where technology news meets educational analysis. This week, Dr. Jason Neiffer (AIcentrist.com) and Dr. Wesley Fryer (wesfryer.com) discuss significant security breaches and vulnerabilities that have surfaced across various platforms, impacting millions from AT&T customers to young public school students. The episode also explores the latest in generative AI with insights from recent collaborations between Amazon and Anthropic, and the ethical quandaries faced by AI researchers. From discussing the ease of phishing attacks targeting Apple users to the potential educational transformations by generative AI as viewed by MIT, the conversation highlights critical tech and education intersections. ‘Geeks of the Week’ includes innovative educational tools and insights into how AI-generated content is shaping digital interactions. 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, mastodon.education/@edtechsr 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!

Shownotes

  1. Subscribe to our EdTechSR Substack Newsletter!
  2. EdTech Situation Room Listener Survey: wfryer.me/edtechsr
  3. Follow EdTechSR on Facebook, Mastodon and Substack!
  4. Audio podcast feed (Subscribe with iTunes or Stitcher)
  5. Video version on YouTube
  6. Check out our video podcast feed and subscribe to our YouTube Channel (episodes also in this YouTube playlist)
  7. Jason Neiffer (Mastodon: mastodon.cloud/@neif) – aicentrist.com – blog: blog.ncce.org
  8. Wes Fryer (Mastodon: mastodon.cloud/@wfryer) – wesfryer.com/after
  9. AT&T resets account passcodes after millions of customer records leak online (TechCrunch, 30 March 2024)
  10. Warning: Apple Users Targeted in Phishing Attack Involving Rapid Password Reset Requests (MacRumors, 26 March 2024)
  11. Hackers are targeting a surprising group of people: young public school students (NPR, 13 March 2024)
  12. The Strange Story of the Teens Behind the Mirai Botnet: Their DDos Malware Threatened the Entire Internet (IEEE Spectrum 23 May 2023)
  13. ChatGPT no longer requires an account — but there’s a catch (TechCrunch 1 April 2024)
  14. Amazon and Anthropic deepen their shared commitment to advancing generative AI (Amazon; 27 March 2024)
  15. Generative AI and K-12 Education: An MIT Perspective (An MIT Exploration of Generative AI; 26 March 2024)
  16. Anthropic researchers wear down AI ethics with repeated questions (TechCrunch, 2 April 2024)
  17. How Spammers, Scammers and Creators Leverage AI-Generated Images on Facebook for Audience Growth (Stanford Internet Observatory, 18 March 2024)
  18. OpenAI’s voice cloning AI model only needs a 15-second sample to work (Verge, 20 March 2024)
  19. Sora: first impressions (OpenAI, 25 March 2024)
  20. A wildly popular game dubbed ‘Pokémon with guns’ has been forced to deny that its characters are a rip-off (Business Insider, 25 Jan 2024)
  21. Jason’s Geek of the Week: going.com
  22. Wes’ Geeks of the Week: My 9 fav podcasts / My Podcast SubscriptionsSIFT Lesson VideosTired of Streaming? Free Blockbuster Libraries Offer an Alternative. (NYTimes, 21 March 2024) #GiftLink
Security Breaches Unfold (EdTechSR 323)” (CC BY 2.0) by Wesley Fryer

EdTechSR Ep 322: Openness Challenges Authoritarianism

Welcome to episode 322 (“Openness Challenges Authoritarianism”) of the EdTech Situation Room from March 20, 2024, where technology news meets educational analysis. This week, Dr. Jason Neiffer and Dr. Wesley Fryer navigated through the rapidly evolving landscape of technology, education, and policy. The episode offered in-depth discussions on the implications of new AI developments, with a particular focus on Google’s AI challenges and Microsoft’s latest endeavors in integrating AI into Windows. The conversation also touched on Apple’s strategic moves in AI and the broader impact of AI on educational practices and cybersecurity. Amid these discussions, the show highlighted the importance of open-source platforms in combating authoritarian regimes, as exemplified by Taiwan’s digital transformation under the leadership of its Digital Minister, Audrey Tang. The episode underscored the power of openness and transparency in fostering trust and democracy in the digital age. “Geeks of the Week” included insights into Stephen Johnson’s collaboration with Google on the Notebook LM project, showcasing the potential of AI in enhancing writing and creative processes. Additionally, the EFF’s podcast episode on “Open Source Beats Authoritarianism” was spotlighted, offering listeners a glimpse into Taiwan’s successful use of open-source principles to revolutionize government transparency and citizen engagement. 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!

Shownotes

  1. Subscribe to our EdTechSR Substack Newsletter!
  2. EdTech Situation Room Listener Survey: wfryer.me/edtechsr
  3. Follow EdTechSR on Facebook, Mastodon and Substack!
  4. Audio podcast feed (Subscribe with iTunes or Stitcher)
  5. Video version on YouTube
  6. Check out our video podcast feed and subscribe to our YouTube Channel (episodes also in this YouTube playlist)
  7. Jason Neiffer (Mastodon: mastodon.cloud/@neif) – aicentrist.com – blog: blog.ncce.org
  8. Wes Fryer (Mastodon: mastodon.cloud/@wfryer) – wesfryer.com/after
  9. Formula 1 chief appalled to find team using Excel to manage 20,000 car parts (ArsTechnica, 20 March 2024)
  10. Elon Musk sues OpenAI over AI threat (Courthouse News Service; 29 February 2024)
  11. OpenAI and Elon Musk (Open AI Blog; 5 Match 2024)
  12. In Latest A.I. War Escalation, Elon Musk Releases Chatbot Code (NYTimes, 17 March 2024)
  13. Elon Musk sues OpenAI over AI threat (Courthouse News Service; 29 February 2024)
  14. OpenAI and Elon Musk (Open AI Blog; 5 Match 2024)
  15. In Latest A.I. War Escalation, Elon Musk Releases Chatbot Code (NYTimes, 17 March 2024)
  16. Report: Apple’s iPhone AI Plans May Leverage Google Gemini (Thurrott; 18 March 2024)
  17. Copilot Pro Users Can Now Access the AI Assistant in the Microsoft 365 Web Apps (Thurrott; 14 March 2024)
  18. Microsoft Brings GPT-4 Turbo to Free Version of Copilot (Thurrott; 13 March 2024)
  19. 4 Reasons to Use Microsoft Copilot Instead of ChatGPT (MakeUseOf, 14 March 2024)
  20. Wes’ AI Learning site and preso slides “Stories About AI” ai.wesfryer.com
  21. House passes a bill that could lead to a TikTok ban if Chinese owner refuses to sell (AP; 13 March 2024)
  22. Why Trump is now against a TikTok ban (Washington Post, 12 March 2024)
  23. The U.S. Wants to Ban TikTok for the Sins of Every Social Media Company (404; 13 March 2024)
  24. Automakers Are Sharing Consumers’ Driving Behavior With Insurance Companies (NYTimes, 11 March 2024)
  25. How to consume information in times of conflict (DFR Lab, 18 Mar 2024)
  26. A Forensics Expert on Princess Kate’s Photo—and How Credentialing Tools Can Help Build Trust in a World of Increasing Uncertainty (Time; 12 March 2024)
  27. Walmart Brings the Popular MacBook Air With the M1 Chip to Its Shelves (Walmart Corporate; 15 March 2024)
  28. “Disabling cyberattacks” are hitting critical US water systems, White House warns (ArsTechnica, 19 March 2024)
  29. Four big questions for DC following massive health care hack (Politico, 18 March 2024)
  30. Wes’ Geeks of the Week: [PODCAST] Exploring the Intersection of Information Integrity, Race, and US Elections by Tech Policy Press and Mastodon.Education suspended by Mastodon.Cloud and War Over TikTok
  31. Jason’s Geek of the Week: innovationrunsthroughit.com
EdTechSR Ep 322: Openness Challenges Authoritarianism” (CC BY 2.0) by Wesley Fryer