AI for Education on CBS News
AI for Education was on CBS News Chicago yesterday as part of their "Eye on AI" series to talk about what we're seeing in schools right now. Towards the end a Zoom notification made a guest appearance on CEO Amanda Bickerstaff’s face for about ten seconds - proof that you can help people navigate emerging technology everyday and still get taken out by a pop-up.
Fortunately, it takes a lot more than that to keep her from talking about AI and education. They covered a lot of ground in a short segment, but three things stood out:
1. It starts with teachers and leaders.
The first question was about how we're tackling AI adoption in schools. I shared that before we ever get to students, we work with teachers and leaders to build confidence — not just with the tools, but with the ethica that l adoption of these tools. No one is an expert on AI in education yet. We're all learning together, and that means focusing on limitations just as much as opportunities.
2. The "cheating" narrative needs to go.
We talked about one of the biggest misconceptions in education right now: that AI is only for cheating. Students are internalizing that message, and it's leading to two negative outcomes. Some are hiding their use, with no support or training, which can affect not just their schoolwork but their mental health and wellbeing. Others are avoiding AI entirely, even as they head into college and careers where these skills will matter. We need transparency and real discussions, not fear.
3. AI can do more than just save teachers time.
Finally, They got into how teachers are actually using AI. In our experience, intentional, AI-literate use doesn't necessarily save teachers a ton of time. But it means teachers are upgrading instructional materials, supporting diverse learners, and getting back to the work they love most — building relationships and helping young people find a love of learning.
Overall it was a great segment and thanks to the CBS team who also shared AI for Education's new free student AI literacy course and our guide for parents (links in the comments if you want to check them out).
