EdTechSR Ep 321: AI Integration Insights

Welcome to episode 321 (“AI Integration Insights”) of the EdTech Situation Room from March 6, 2024, where technology news meets educational analysis. This week, Dr. Jason Neiffer (aicentrist.com) and Dr. Wesley Fryer (wesfryer.com) explored the ever-evolving landscape of artificial intelligence and its profound implications for education and technology. Amidst the scenic backdrop of the NCTIES conference in Raleigh, North Carolina, and the anticipation of spring break, the co-hosts delved into pressing topics that captivate the attention of educators and tech enthusiasts alike. The conversation kicked off with insights into the significance of AI integration in educational settings, reflecting on how these technologies are reshaping teaching, learning, and professional development. The co-hosts examined the latest developments in AI legislation, highlighting its impact on educational technology and policy. The discussion ventured into the realm of digital privacy, with a focus on recent executive orders aimed at curbing the sale of personal data to foreign entities, underscoring the ongoing challenges and ethical considerations surrounding data privacy and security. A highlight of the episode was the exploration of innovative AI tools and platforms, offering a glimpse into the future of education and the potential of AI to enhance learning experiences. Dr. Neiffer shared his experiences with AI integration in the Montana Digital Academy, while Dr. Fryer provided insights from his role as a middle school media literacy and STEM teacher. In light of the NCTIES 2024 conference, the co-hosts discussed the importance of collaborative professional development and the exchange of ideas among educators. The episode also touched on broader implications of AI on educational practices, the dynamics of digital education, and the role of technology in addressing contemporary challenges in the education sector. “Geeks of the Week” included notable mentions of the latest AI-driven educational tools and resources, offering valuable insights for educators aiming to leverage technology in enhancing learning environments. Our show was live-streamed and archived simultaneously on YouTube Live as well as Facebook Live via StreamYard.com. Please follow us on Facebook, Mastodon and Substack, 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. Apple Has a New Open-Source AI Image Editor (LifeHacker, 7 Feb 2024)
  10. Google Chatbot’s A.I. Images Put People of Color in Nazi-Era Uniforms (The New York Times; 22 February 2024)
  11. Google Chatbot’s A.I. Images Put People of Color in Nazi-Era Uniforms #GiftLink https://bit.ly/3wQ9ff8 
  12. Claude 3 Released – (Anthropic; 4 March 2024)
  13. Ideogram 1.0 Released (Ideogram; 28 February 2024)
  14. The AI wars heat up with Claude 3, claimed to have “near-human” abilities (ArsTechnica, 4 Mar 2024)
  15. Windows 11 Gets its First Big Update of the Year With Copilot and Accessibility Improvements (Thurott.com; 29 February 2024)
  16. Biden executive order aims to stop Russia and China from buying Americans’ personal data (Engadget; 28 February 2024)
  17. Walmart isn’t buying Vizio for its hardware. It wants the TV maker’s ad business (Fast Company; 20 February 2024)
  18. $30 doorbell cameras can be easily hijacked, says Consumer Reports (ArsTechnica, 28 Feb 2024)
  19. Microsoft is Killing the Windows Subsystem for Android and Amazon Appstore on Windows 11 (Thurrott; 5 March 2024)
  20. Apple unveils the new 13- and 15‑inch MacBook Air with the powerful M3 chip (Apple Newsroom; 4 March 2024)
  21. Jason’s Geek of the Week: New York Public Library’s Digital Collections
  22. Wes’ Geeks of the Week: [VIDEO] Expert Behind Google’s Secret A.I. Writing Tool | Steven Johnson | How I Write Podcast and [PODCAST] How to Fix the Internet: “Open Source Beats Authoritarianism”
EdTechSR Ep 321: AI Integration Insights” (CC BY 2.0) by Wesley Fryer

EdTechSR Ep 320 Privacy and Platform Shifts

Welcome to episode 320 (“Privacy and Platform Shifts”) of the EdTech Situation Room from February 21, 2024, where technology news meets educational analysis. This week, Dr. Jason Neiffer and Dr. Wesley Fryer, joining from their diverse locales of Montana and North Carolina, dove into a rich dialogue exploring the evolving landscape of digital privacy, the shift in platforms due to new technological integrations, and the profound implications for educators and learners. In a world increasingly shaped by artificial intelligence, the co-hosts unpacked the potential of AI in revolutionizing not just educational practices but also the broader societal interactions, drawing attention to the pressing issues of digital droughts affecting agricultural economies and the potential for wildfire risks. The discussion ventured into the realms of policy, with insights into legislation aimed at protecting youth online, and the innovative strides in virtual reality, highlighting the quest for immersive learning environments. As digital citizenship continues to be a pivotal theme, Fryer and Neiffer emphasized the importance of navigating the complexities of tech integration with foresight and ethical consideration. “Geeks of the Week” included an exploration of perplexity AI as a tool for enhancing research and the groundbreaking developments in virtual reality, pointing towards a future where education transcends traditional boundaries. 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, subscribe to us on Substack, 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. High school senior: Why aren’t more teachers embracing AI? (CNN OpEd, 16 Sept 2024)
  10. MTDA AI Framework via Michigan Virtual
  11. Sora by OpenAI (official)
  12. Musk’s X sold checkmarks to Hezbollah and other terrorist groups, report says (ArsTechnica, 14 Feb 2024)
  13. New Surgeon General Advisory Raises Alarm about the Devastating Impact of the Epidemic of Loneliness and Isolation in the United States (US Dept of Human Services, May 2023)
  14. Senate poised to pass biggest piece of tech regulation in decades (Washington Post; 15 February 2024)
  15. Kids Online Safety Shouldn’t Require Massive Online Censorship and Surveillance: 2023 Year in Review (EFF, 28 Dec 2023)
  16. Media Literacy
  17. Here’s why conspiracy theories about Taylor Swift and the Super Bowl are spreading (NPR, 1 Feb 2024)
  18. After years of losing, it’s finally feds’ turn to troll ransomware group (ArsTechnica, 20 Feb 2024)
  19. Hardware
  20. After trying the Vision Pro, Mark Zuckerberg says Quest 3 ‘is the better product, period’ (The Verge; 13 February 2024)
  21. Wes’ Geeks of the Week:: Rewind: Third Wave Internet with Ben Tarnoff (Reimagining the Internet, 18 Jan 2024) and Grandparents of Media Literacy and wesfryer.com/after (reboot), 
  22. Jason’s Geek of the Week: Matt Wolfe Channel (YouTube)
EdTechSR Ep 320 Privacy and Platform Shifts” (CC BY 2.0) by Wesley Fryer

EdTechSR Ep 319 Tech Titans Testify

Welcome to episode 319 (“Tech Titans Testify”) of the EdTech Situation Room from January 31, 2024, where technology news meets educational analysis. This week, Dr. Jason Neiffer (aicentrist.com) and Dr. Wesley Fryer (wesfryer.com) delved into a variety of current topics at the intersection of technology, education, and policy. Discussions kicked off with an exploration of the unusual weather patterns affecting the United States, including an unprecedented heatwave followed by a forecast of more snow, showcasing the bizarre weather phenomena exacerbated by climate change. The conversation quickly pivoted to pressing cybersecurity concerns, highlighting FBI warnings about potential Chinese cyberattacks on U.S. critical infrastructure. The episode also covered the testimony of tech CEOs before Congress, where topics ranged from social media’s impact on youth to digital privacy challenges and the responsibilities of tech companies in moderating content. In a lighter vein, Dr. Fryer shared exciting updates from the Webb Space Telescope, offering a glimpse into the universe’s marvels and the scientific community’s latest discoveries. The episode further discussed the rise of artificial intelligence, its implications for education and security, and the innovative uses of AI in creating new educational content and tools. Reflecting on the digital landscape, the hosts touched upon the evolving role of smart speakers and the potential shifts in browser technologies, pointing to a future where technology is increasingly integrated into our daily lives and learning environments. “Geeks of the Week” included a nod to the Hardfork podcast for its insightful analysis of media and journalism’s digital transformation and the Voices of DARPA podcast, shedding light on defense research projects that could influence future educational technologies. 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. ChatGPT’s new @-mentions bring multiple personalities into your AI convo (ArsTechnica, 31 Jan 2024)
  10. Google News Is Boosting Garbage AI-Generated Articles (404 Media; 18 January 2023) – Archive.today version
  11. Nightshade, the tool that ‘poisons’ data, gives artists a fighting chance against AI (TechCrunch; 26 January 2024)
  12. Toxic Telegram group produced X’s X-rated fake AI Taylor Swift images, report says (ArsTechnica, 26 Jan 2024)
  13. Teen boys use AI to make fake nudes of classmates, sparking police probe (ArsTechnica, 2 Nov 2023)
  14. FBI director warns that Chinese hackers are preparing to ‘wreak havoc’ on US critical infrastructure (CNN, 31 Jan 2024)
  15. Amazon confirms that Fire TV is dropping Android in deleted job listing (9 to 5 Google; 31 January 2024)
  16. Accusations, tears and rants: 5 takeaways from today’s tech CEO hearing (CNN, 31 Jan 2024)
  17. Pew report shows TikTok’s rise and YouTube’s ubiquity (TechCrunch; 31 January 2024)
  18. The Media and Democracy Project names Elon Musk the “2023 Disinformer of the Year” (Media & Democracy Project, 31 Jan 2024)
  19. Apple Vision Pro review: magic, until it’s not (The Verge; 30 January 2024)
  20. The Vision Pro (Daring Fireball; 30 January 2024)
  21. Apple is finally allowing full versions of Chrome and Firefox to run on the iPhone (The Verge; 25 January 2024)
  22. Positive Misc
  23. NASA’s Webb Depicts Staggering Structure in 19 Nearby Spiral Galaxies (NASA Webb Mission Team, 29 Jan 2024)
  24. Jason’s Geek of the Week: Drop.com
  25. Wes’ Geeks of the Week: Mediapocalypse Now + a16z’s Chris Dixon Defends Crypto + HatGPT (Hard Fork, 26 Jan 2024) and Voices from DARPA Podcast: Episode 73: The AI Cyber Challenge – CTF, Code, and Critical Infrastructure
EdTechSR Ep 319 Tech Titans Testify” (CC BY 2.0) by Wesley Fryer

EdTechSR Ep 318 Deepfake Democratic Threats

Welcome to episode 318 (“Deepfake Democratic Threats”) of the EdTech Situation Room from January 24, 2024, where technology news meets educational analysis. This week, Dr. Jason Neiffer (aicentrist.com) and Dr. Wesley Fryer (wesfryer.com) embarked on a comprehensive exploration of the latest developments in artificial intelligence, copyright laws, and the impact of technology in education and society at large. The conversation kicked off with a deep dive into Meta’s investment in Nvidia AI chips, underscoring Mark Zuckerberg’s commitment to bolstering AI capabilities with billions of dollars. This move signals a significant shift towards more advanced AI integrations across various platforms and services. In the realm of AI and intellectual property, the hosts discussed the new certificates for copyright-compliant AI, highlighting the challenges and controversies surrounding AI-generated content and its compliance with copyright laws. Despite these efforts, notable tools like ChatGPT have faced scrutiny for potential copyright issues. A concerning trend in the misuse of AI technology was addressed through the discussion of a fake Joe Biden robocall, which misled voters in New Hampshire. This incident illustrates the growing problem of deepfake technologies and their potential to disrupt democratic processes. The hosts also delved into the legal and ethical dimensions of AI, discussing perspectives on whether training generative AI models on copyrighted works constitutes fair use. This topic sparked a debate on the future of intellectual property in an AI-dominated landscape. From an economic viewpoint, a MIT study shed light on the limitations of job automation by AI, suggesting that only a fraction of tasks involving vision are economically viable for AI automation. This finding prompts a reevaluation of AI’s impact on the workforce and the need for a balanced approach to integrating these technologies. On the technological front, updates to Google Chrome and ChromeOS were discussed, including new generative AI features and enhancements aimed at improving user productivity and focus. The hosts also touched on Google’s latest AI video generator, Lumiere, capable of creating whimsical scenarios featuring cute animals, showcasing the lighter side of AI advancements. Apple’s recent developments were a hot topic, with discussions on the App Store rule changes, the sale of Vision Pro headsets, and innovative features like Stolen Device Protection to safeguard iPhones against theft. The conversation also highlighted Apple’s plans to integrate generative AI into iPhones, emphasizing the company’s strategic direction towards embracing AI technology. In education, the release of Microsoft’s AI-powered reading tutor as a free resource marked a significant milestone in leveraging AI to enhance learning experiences. The update to the National Ed-Tech Plan, its first since 2017, was praised for its forward-looking vision in integrating technology into education. Finally, the hosts reflected on the dire consequences of accessing forbidden content in North Korea, as highlighted in a BBC report, and the vulnerabilities of cash apps in facilitating theft, underscoring the broader societal implications of technology adoption and security. 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. Mark Zuckerberg indicates Meta is spending billions of dollars on Nvidia AI chips (CNBC; 18 January 2024) 
  10. Certificates for copyright-compliant AI are here — but ChatGPT won’t get one (The Next Web; 18 January 2024)
  11. Fake Joe Biden robocall tells New Hampshire Democrats not to vote Tuesday (MSNBC, 22 Jan 2024)
  12. Is A.I. the Death of I.P.? (THe New Yorker; 15 January 2024)
  13. Training Generative AI Models on Copyrighted Works Is Fair Use (Association of Research Libraries, 23 Jan 2024)
  14. Rethinking AI’s impact: MIT CSAIL study reveals economic limits to job automation (MIT; 22 January 2024)
  15. Google’s next Chrome update adds three new generative AI features (Engadget, 23 Jan 2024)
  16. ChromeOS 122 bringing Focus Mode to Chromebooks (About Chromebooks; 21 January 2024)
  17. How to customize your mouse buttons on a Chromebook [VIDEO] (ChromeUnboxed; 6 January 2024)
  18. Google’s latest AI video generator can render cute animals in implausible situations (ArsTechnica, 24 Jan 2024) – Lumiere
  19. Apple’s App Store rule changes draw sharp rebuke from critics (Bloomberg; 18 January 2024)
  20. Kuo: Apple Has Already Sold Up to 180,000 Vision Pro Headsets (MacRumors; 22 January 2024)
  21. Apple’s Stolen Device Protection feature is now live. Here’s how it can help protect your iPhone (CBS News; 23 January 2024)
  22. Apple boosts plans to bring generative AI to iPhones (FT, 23 Jan 2024)
  23. Bots May Have Nabbed Thousands of Apple Vision Pro Preorders (PC Mag, 24 Jan 2024)
  24. Microsoft makes its AI-powered reading tutor free (TechCrunch, 18 Jan 2024)
  25. National Ed-Tech Plan Gets First Update Since 2017 (Government Technology, 24 Jan 2024)
  26. North Korea: Rare footage shows teens sentenced to hard labour over K-drama (BBC, 18 Jan 2024)
  27. Mugger take your phone? Cash apps too easily let thieves drain accounts, DA says (ArsTechnica, 24 Jan 2024)
  28. Jason’s Geeks of the Week: https://clipdrop.co/https://www.aicentrist.com/
  29. Wes’ Geeks of the Week: Roll Call Question Random GeneratorRecent AI Discoveries (thread)Invidioushttps://www.wesfryer.com/after/

EdTechSR Ep 317 Digital Privacy Predicaments

Welcome to episode 317 (“Digital Privacy Predicaments”) of the EdTech Situation Room from January 17, 2024, where technology news meets educational analysis. This week, Dr. Jason Neiffer (AIcentrist.com) and Dr. Wesley Fryer (wesfryer.com/after) delved into pressing issues surrounding digital privacy, the ethical implications of AI in education, and the latest advancements in EdTech tools and platforms. Highlights of the discussion included the evolving landscape of digital privacy laws, innovative uses of AI in the classroom, and the potential impacts of new technology policies on educators and students. The episode also covered key updates from major tech companies and their influence on educational technology. “Geeks of the Week” featured insightful resources and tools beneficial for educators. Although the specific “Geeks of the Week” links from this episode are not provided here, they typically include cutting-edge educational tools, tips, and articles shared by Jason and Wes, contributing to the professional growth of educators and the enhancement of learning environments with technology. Our show was live-streamed and archived simultaneously on YouTube Live as well as Facebook Live via StreamYard.com. Please follow @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 4, 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. Microsoft launches a Pro plan for Copilot (TechCrunch; 15 January 2024)
  10. AI-Generated ‘George Carlin’ Comedy Special Blasted by Comedian’s Daughter (Rolling Stone; 11 January 2024)
  11. George Carlin: I’m Glad I’m Dead (2024) – Full Special (Dudesy via YouTube) CAUTION: Adult Themes and Salty Language
  12. OpenAI must defend ChatGPT fabrications after failing to defeat libel suit (ArsTechnica, 17 Jan 2024)
  13. Microsoft Tops Apple to Become Most Valuable Public Company (NYTimes, 12 Jan 2024) #GiftLink
  14. App Store to Be ‘Split in Two’ Ahead of EU iPhone Sideloading Deadline (MacRumors, 15 Jan 2024)
  15. Teen sued Utah over social media law requiring curfew for minors (ArsTechnica, 17 Jan 2024)
  16. Substack Realizes Maybe It Doesn’t Want To Help Literal Nazis Make Money After All (But Only Literal Nazis) (TechDirt, 10 Jan 2024)
  17. Hard Fork Podcast (NY Times)
  18. Apple Vision Pro’s Lengthy Sales Pitch Will Include 25-Minute Demo (Bloomberg; 14 January 2024)
  19. Supreme Court upholds Apple vs. Epic ruling, Apple must allow app developers to link to other payment systems (9 to 5 Mac; 16 January 2024)
  20. Even more Californians could be moving to Austin after Apple shuttered a San Diego office (San Antonio Express, 17 Jan 2024)
  21. Researcher uncovers one of the biggest password breaches in recent history (ArsTechnica, 17 Jan 2024)
  22. Passkeys may not be for you, but they are safe and easy—here’s why (ArsTechnica, 12 May 2023)
  23. CES 2024: AI everything, what we expect in Las Vegas and all the announcements so far (Engadget; 8 January 2024)
  24. The GE Profile Smart Indoor Smoker brings BBQ inside for $1,000 (Engadet, 8 Jan 2024)
  25. Jason’s Geek of the Week: FlightAware
  26. Wes’ Geek of the Week: Free virtual AI EdTech PlayDate: Saturday, Jan 20th, 10am to Noon ET (EventBrite Registration)
Digital Privacy Predicaments” (CC BY 2.0) by Wesley Fryer

EdTechSR Ep 316 AI Legislative Insights

Welcome to episode 316 (“AI Legislative Insights”) of the EdTech Situation Room from January 10, 2024, where technology news meets educational analysis. This week, Dr. Jason Neiffer (aicentrist.com) and Dr. Wesley Fryer (wesfryer.com/after) discussed a range of topics focusing on the intersection of technology, education, and policy. Key discussions included the latest developments in AI legislation and its impact on educational technology, in-depth analysis of current tech trends, and thoughtful debates on various EdTech policies. The episode also delved into the broader implications of AI on educational practices and the dynamics of digital education. ‘Geeks of the Week’ included the Everyday AI Podcast, Beeper (software which integrates multiple chat apps) and the AI Resource Guides from EdTech PlayDate CLT. Our show was live-streamed and archived simultaneously on YouTube Live as well as Facebook Live via StreamYard.com. Please follow @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 4, 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. In case you missed it, ChatGPT rival ‘Copilot’ is now on iOS and Android (Mashable; 2 January 2024)
  10. The New York Times Sues Microsoft, OpenAI for Copyright Infringement (Thurott; 27 December 2023)
  11. Exposing the Rotten Reality of AI Training Data (Podcast, Tech Policy Press, 31 Dec 2023)
  12. Google settles $5 billion privacy lawsuit over tracking people using ‘incognito mode’ (ABC News, 29 Dec 2023)
  13. Facebook, Instagram block teens from sensitive content, even from friends (ArsTechnica, 9 Jan 2024)
  14. AirTag saves Christmas, tracks down luggage stolen from Charlotte airport (Apple Insider, 29 Dec 2023)
  15. Apple Just Broke a Tradition It Held for 12 Years (Mac Rumors; 1 January 2024)
  16. Column: Meet the most dangerous quack in America (LA Times, 9 Jan 2024)
  17. Tips for sorting online fact from fiction (NPR KUOW, 3 Jan 2024)
  18. Jason’s Geek of the Week: Everyday AI Podcast
  19. Wes’ Geek of the Week: BeeperAI Resource Guides (PlayDateCLT)
EdTech Situation Room – AI Comic Style” (CC BY 2.0) by Wesley Fryer

EdTechSR Ep 266 AI for Excel

Welcome to episode 266 (“AI for Excel”) of the EdTech Situation Room from August 10, 2022, where technology news meets educational analysis. This week Jason Neiffer (@techsavvyteach) and Wesley Fryer (@wfryer) discussed features in ChromeOS 104 and 105, an AI bot for Excel formulas, and an increased price for Twitter Blue. Google’s warrantless video permissions for police, survey results about political violence in the U.S., and GenZ search preferences for TikTok over YouTube were also highlighted topics. Additionally, subscription based cars, and latest Meta’s chatbot fail were explored Geeks of the Weeks included Kible and Ad Observatory. Check out our shownotes for links to all the articles we discussed, and subscribe to our Substack to receive all the links we discussed and also didn’t have time to talk about in this week’s show in your email inbox! Our show was live streamed and archived simultaneously on YouTube Live as well as our Facebook Live page via StreamYard.com, and compressed to a smaller video version (about 100MB) on AmazonS3 using Handbrake software. Please follow us on Twitter @edtechSR for updates, and join us LIVE on Wednesday nights (normally) if you can at 10 pm Eastern / 9 pm Central / 8 pm Mountain / 7 pm Pacific or 3 am UTC. All shownotes are available on http://edtechSR.com/links. 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 Twitter!
  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 (@techsavvyteach) – blog: blog.ncce.org
  8. Wes Fryer (@wfryer) – wesfryer.com/after
  9. ChromeOS 104 rolling out and introducing new features (Chrome Unboxed; 5 August 2022)
  10. Chrome OS 105 partial split windows and multitasking button details (About Chromebooks; 11 July 2022)
  11. Game-changer for Excel: Free AI bot creates any Excel formula you need (Boy Genius Report; 31 July 2022)  https://excelformulabot.com/
  12. ​​Twitter raises its Blue subscription price (MS PowerUser; 29 July 2022)
  13. Google, like Amazon, will let police see your video without a warrant (Verge, 27 July 2022)
  14. He surveyed 8,600 Americans about political violence. The results are beyond scary (LA Times, 21 July 2022)
  15. Nearly half of Gen Z is using TikTok and Instagram for search instead of Google, according to Google’s own data (Insider; 13 July 2022)
  16. The future of cars is a subscription nightmare (The Verge; 13 July 2022)
  17. Meta’s New AI Chatbot Loves Anti-Racism and Mean Girls (Gizmoto; 6 August 2022)
  18. Jason’s Geek of the Week: Kible
  19. Wes’ Geek of the Week: Ad Observatory (details)

EdTechSR Ep 236 Shame on Canon

Welcome to episode 236 (“Shame on Canon”) of the EdTech Situation Room from October 20, 2021, where technology news meets educational analysis. This week Jason Neiffer (@techsavvyteach) and Wesley Fryer (@wfryer) discussed the biggest announcements from Apple’s Monday “Unleashed” event, The Apple Music Voice plan, Google’s Pixel 6 Event announcements, and the forthcoming launch of Chrome OS 94 with better human sounding voices. Other topics included MacOS’ forthcoming update to “Monterey” on October 25th, the Google Assistant’s updated code to stand up to profane users, and Canon’s distasteful choice to disable all-in-one scanning features for users when they run out of ink. A counter-point to last week’s article about a former Pentagon official declaring the US has already lost the AI race with China, the mental and physical health costs of TikTok, and Facebook’s concerns about Instagram losing youth marketshare were also discussed. Possibilities for “an effective social media regulator,” Facebook’s secret blacklist of prohibited people, organizations and topics, Donald Trump’s announced “Truth Social” platform, and some miscellaneous articles about drones saving dogs from volcanoes, Russian space snafus and the confused Missouri governor who thinks “view HTML source” is criminal hacking were final article topics rounding out the show. Geeks of the Week included SortMyList.com, a podcast about Charles Babbage by Steven B. Johnson, a whimsical videoconferencing platform in beta (ooo for web) and the New York Times’ new invite-only audio app experiment. Our show was live streamed and archived simultaneously on YouTube Live as well as our Facebook Live page via StreamYard.com, and compressed to a smaller video version (about 100MB) on AmazonS3 using Handbrake software. Please follow us on Twitter @edtechSR for updates, and join us LIVE on Wednesday nights (normally) if you can at 10 pm Eastern / 9 pm Central / 8 pm Mountain / 7 pm Pacific or 3 am UTC. All shownotes are available on http://edtechSR.com/links. Stay savvy and safe!

Shownotes:

  1. EdTech Situation Room Listener Survey: wfryer.me/edtechsr
  2. Follow @edtechSR on Twitter!
  3. Audio podcast feed (Subscribe with iTunes or Stitcher)
  4. Video version on YouTube
  5. Check out our video podcast feed and subscribe to our YouTube Channel (episodes also in this YouTube playlist)
  6. Jason Neiffer (@techsavvyteach) – blog: blog.ncce.org
  7. Wes Fryer (@wfryer) – wesfryer.com/after
  8. The 8 biggest announcements from Apple’s Unleashed event (The Verge; 18 October 2021)
  9. Trying to Understand Why The Apple Music Voice Plan Exists (MacObserver, 20 Oct 2021)
  10. The biggest announcements from Google’s Pixel 6 event (The Verge; 19 October 2021)
  11. macOS Monterey is officially launching on October 25th (The Verge; 18 October 2021)
  12. Support For Chrome Apps On Chrome Os Has Been Extended Through 2025 (ChromeUnboxed; 15 October 2021)
  13. Chrome OS 94 Introduces More Human-Sounding Voices For Select-To-Speak (ChromeUnboxed; 15 October 2021)
  14. Google Assistant Is Tired Of Being Cursed Out, Asks Politely To Be Treated Better (ChromeUnboxed, 18 Oct 2021)
  15. Canon sued for disabling scanner when printers run out of ink (Bleeping Computer; 16 October 2021)
  16. Sorry former Pentagon expert, but China is nowhere near winning the AI race (The Next Web, 15 Oct 2021)
  17. Teen Girls Are Developing Tics. Doctors Say TikTok Could Be a Factor (Wall Street Journal; 19 October 2021)
  18. Instagram Struggles With Fears of Losing Its ‘Pipeline’: Young Users (NY Times, 16 Oct 2021)
  19. What would an effective social-media regulator look like? (Columbia Journalism Review, 13 Oct 2021)
  20. Revealed: Facebook’s Secret Blacklist Of “Dangerous Individuals And Organizations (The Intercept, 12 Oct 2021)
  21. Trump Plans to Regain Social Media Presence With New Company (Bloomberg, 20 Oct 2021)
  22. Confused governor says looking at webpage’s HTML is criminal hacking (Mashable, 14 Oct 2021)
  23. Drone operator will try to rescue dogs from Spanish volcano (Reuters, 19 Oct 2021)
  24. A Russian spaceship pushed the space station out of position again (Business Insider, 15 Oct 2021)
  25. Third-party health apps are vulnerable to hacks, report finds (The Verge; 18 October 2021)
  26. Jason’s Geek of the Week: sortmylist.com
  27. Wes’ Geeks of the Week: Wes: Babbage and the Dancer (Or, Can You Fall in Love With a Robot?) (Wonderland Podcast, 16 Aug 2016) and ooo for Web and NYT Invite Only Audio app

EdTechSR Ep 235 TikTok is Huge

Welcome to episode 235 (“TikTok is Huge”) of the EdTech Situation Room from October 13, 2021, where technology news meets educational analysis. This week Jason Neiffer (@techsavvyteach) and Wesley Fryer (@wfryer) discussed Epic’s ongoing court battles over third party smartphone app payment processors with both Apple and Google, as well as upcoming tech events next week by Apple, Google and Samsung. Options for editing PDF files in a web browser (including on Chromebooks) included a new Acrobat extension from Adobe, the Squid app from the Google Play Store and DocHub. The incredible growth and reach of TikTok (which is somehow slipping under the radar now for would-be Congressional regulators and regulation advocates) was highlighted, along with the alleged futility of US military efforts to develop robust artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities relative to China. Lastly, an article highlighting the Internet ignorance of many U.S. citizens was discussed. Geeks of the Week included an eye opening article by a high school student who successfully prank hacked his school district (and provided a comprehensive analysis for his IT department to use afterward) and the bill cutting service, AskTrim.com. Our show was live streamed and archived simultaneously on YouTube Live as well as our Facebook Live page via StreamYard.com, and compressed to a smaller video version (about 100MB) on AmazonS3 using Handbrake software. Please follow us on Twitter @edtechSR for updates, and join us LIVE on Wednesday nights (normally) if you can at 10 pm Eastern / 9 pm Central / 8 pm Mountain / 7 pm Pacific or 3 am UTC. All shownotes are available on http://edtechSR.com/links. Stay savvy and safe!

Shownotes

  1. EdTech Situation Room Listener Survey: wfryer.me/edtechsr
  2. Follow @edtechSR on Twitter!
  3. Audio podcast feed (Subscribe with iTunes or Stitcher)
  4. Video version on YouTube
  5. Check out our video podcast feed and subscribe to our YouTube Channel (episodes also in this YouTube playlist)
  6. Jason Neiffer (@techsavvyteach) – blog: blog.ncce.org
  7. Wes Fryer (@wfryer) – wesfryer.com/after
  8. Apple tries to block Epic’s court win before it takes effect on December 9 (ArsTechnica, 11 Oct 2021)
  9. Google countersues Epic Games for ‘willfully’ breaching Play Store contract w/ Fortnite stunt (9to5Google, 12 Oct 2021)
  10. Apple announces October 18th event after months of Mac rumors (The Verge; 12 October 2021)
  11. Pandemic-related supply issues send US PC market into decline (ArsTechnica, 11 Oct 2021)
  12. Google’s Pixel Fall Launch event: Here’s what to expect on October 19 (Digital Trends; 11 October 2021)
  13. Pixel 6 series will allegedly get 4 major Android updates alongside extended security patches (9 to 5 Google; 13 October 2021)
  14. Nokia T20 Android tablet launches under $250 w/ 3 years of updates promised (9 to 5 Google; 6 October 2021)
  15. Samsung announces Unpacked 2 event for Wednesday Oct 20th, right after Apple and Google (The Verge, 12 Oct 2021)
  16. Adobe Acrobat extension for Chrome, Edge gets a PDF editor (9 to 5 Google; 12 October 2021)
  17. Squid app for PDF editing and sketchnoting
  18. DocHub for PDF editing
  19. 1 Billion TikTok Users Understand What Congress Doesn’t (The Atlantic; 10 October 2021)
  20. U.S. Has Lost AI Race to China, According to Former Software Chief at Pentagon (Slate, 11 Oct 2021)
  21. Ex-Air Force Tech Boss Eviscerates Pentagon For Already Losing The AI Race Against China (The Drive, 13 Oct 2021)
  22. Americans Live on the Internet But Don’t Know Much About It (PC Magazine; 6 October 2021)
  23. Wes’ Geek of the Week: IoT Hacking and Rickrolling My High School District
  24. Jason’s Geek of the Week: www.asktrim.com
  25. Wes’ Pellet Grill and accessory recommendations: RecTeq RT-700 or GMG Jim Bowie, GMG Pizza Oven Insert and BBQhacks Griddle Attachment (Wes’ comparison video on different smoker options)

EdTechSR Ep 224 Stores Watch You

Welcome to episode 224 (“Stores Watch You”) of the EdTech Situation Room from July 21, 2021, where technology news meets educational analysis. This week Jason Neiffer (@techsavvyteach) and Wesley Fryer (@wfryer) discussed the extent of retail facial recognition and why it matters, Automattic’s acquisition of PocketCasts, the recent FTC ruling supporting the “Right to Repair,” and ongoing proposals for “Big Tech Regulation” / “The Tech Correction.” Additional topics highlighted included useful iOS apps for sketchnoting, Chromebook advice, improvements in Zoom for ChromeOS, the increased national focus on vaccine disinformation and more. Please see our shownotes for links to all these articles and resources! Our show was live streamed and archived simultaneously on YouTube Live as well as our Facebook Live page via StreamYard.com, and compressed to a smaller video version (about 100MB) on AmazonS3 using Handbrake software. Please follow us on Twitter @edtechSR for updates, and join us LIVE on Wednesday nights (normally) if you can at 10 pm Eastern / 9 pm Central / 8 pm Mountain / 7 pm Pacific or 3 am UTC. All shownotes are available on http://edtechSR.com/links. Stay savvy and safe!

Shownotes

  1. EdTech Situation Room Listener Survey: wfryer.me/edtechsr
  2. Follow @edtechSR on Twitter!
  3. Audio podcast feed (Subscribe with iTunes or Stitcher)
  4. Video version on YouTube
  5. Check out our video podcast feed and subscribe to our YouTube Channel (episodes also in this YouTube playlist)
  6. Jason Neiffer (@techsavvyteach) – blog: blog.ncce.org
  7. Wes Fryer (@wfryer) – wesfryer.com/after
  8. Popular Podcast App Pocket Casts Joins Automattic (The WordPress Blog; 21 July 2021)
  9. From Macy’s to Albertsons, facial recognition is already everywhere (Recode; 19 July 2021)
  10. Fight for the Future Database
  11. The MAGA-targeted “Freedom Phone” has a breathtaking amount of red flags (ArsTechnica, 20 July 2021)
  12. “Right wing apps” Newsmax, OANN, Parler, and Rumble
  13. New Florida law doesn’t require university students, faculty and staff to register political views (PolitiFact, 25 June 2021)
  14. Twitter suspends Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene for spreading covid-19 misinformation (Washington Post, 20 July 2021)
  15. The Best iPad Drawing Apps (That Aren’t Adobe Fresco) (Lifehacker; 30 June 2021)
  16. FTC unanimously adopts Right to Repair policy to reduce restrictions from manufacturers like Apple (9to5Mac, 21 July 2021)
  17. YouTube will make Unlisted videos uploaded before 2017 private next month (9 to 5 Google; 23 June 2021)
  18. Here’s why I can’t pick the best Chromebook (About Chromebooks, 8 July 2021)
  19. Zoom will get a more functional app for Chromebooks next week; PWA will be in Play Store (9 to 5 Google; 26 June 2021)
  20. Twitter May Start Labeling Your Tweets Based on How Wrong You Are (Gizmodo, 31 May 2021)
  21. Right or Left, You Should Be Worried About Big Tech Censorship (EFF; 16 July 2021)
  22. Twitter for iOS begins testing dislike button for some users (9to5Mac, 21 July 2021)
  23. Alarming number of Americans think vaccines contain microchips to control people (The Hill, 19 July 2021)
  24. ‘Facebook isn’t killing people’: Biden softens his attack over vaccine misinformation. (NY Times, 19 July 2021)
  25. A federal judge upholds Indiana University’s vaccination requirement for students (NY Times,  20 July 2021)