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Future Focus | Do I Still Matter? AI, Layoffs, and the Human Skills the Future Still Needs | Week of May 18, 2026
May 28, 2026
Unknown duration
Future Focus | The Cursed Generation: What Schools Missed About AI, Work, and Human Potential | Week of May 4, 2026
May 14, 2026
Unknown duration
Future Focus | Students, Stress, and Systems: What We’re Getting Wrong About AI Right Now and Why AI Literacy is the New Digital Divide | Week of April 27, 2026
May 8, 2026
Unknown duration
Future Focus | We Keep Making the Same Mistake: Why Banning Screens Won’t Fix Education (and What Will) | Week of April 20, 2026
Apr 29, 2026
Unknown duration
Future Focus | It's Not a Thinking Problem. It's an Agency Problem. | Week of April 13, 2026
Apr 20, 2026
35m 37s
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| Date | Episode | Topics | Guests | Brands | Places | Keywords | Sponsor | Length | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5/28/26 | Future Focus | Do I Still Matter? AI, Layoffs, and the Human Skills the Future Still Needs | Week of May 18, 2026 | In this deeply reflective episode, Dr. Sabba Quidwai explores the emotional question underneath today’s AI conversation: Do I still matter? Through stories of corporate layoffs, classroom innovation, leadership transformation, and emerging AI practices, she unpacks why the future of work and education depends not just on technical skills, but on preserving human agency, identity, empathy, and meaning.Drawing on research, real-world district examples, and frameworks like SPARK and Clark & Estes’ Knowledge-Motivation-Organization model, this episode challenges listeners to rethink AI not as a replacement for people, but as a tool that amplifies the uniquely human capacities machines cannot replicate. Timestamps00:00 — “No Pure Managers”: AI Restructuring the WorkforceDr. Quidwai examines layoffs at Coinbase, Cisco, LinkedIn, and Microsoft, and asks the deeper emotional question many professionals are silently carrying: Do I still matter?07:00 — Why AI Training Alone Isn’t EnoughIntroduction to the Clark & Estes framework (Knowledge, Motivation, Organization) and why most AI initiatives fail when organizations focus only on tools instead of people.10:00 — What Real AI Literacy Looks Like in SchoolsA powerful classroom example from English teacher David Norenberg shows how students critically evaluated AI outputs rather than simply using or banning the technology.21:00 — The SPARK Framework and Prompting the Human Before the MachineDr. Quidwai explains how empathy, aspirations, and human-centered thinking create stronger AI partnerships and restore motivation and agency.29:00 — What Innovative Schools Are Doing Right with AIReal examples from Wichita Public Schools, Bangor Township Schools, Community High School District 117, Roseville, and Desert Sands Unified show how leaders are redesigning systems, culture, and learning around AI.42:00 — Roald Dahl, AI Writing, and the Fight for Human VoiceA reflection on The Great Automatic Grammatizer explores why human creativity, struggle, and meaning still matter in a world of polished AI-generated content.Resources MentionedCoinbase CEO memo — "Building a Leaner and Faster Coinbase" (the original memo)Cisco confirms 4,000 layoffs despite strong Q3 earnings and $15.8B revenueRead LinkedIn CEO's Internal Memo Announcing LayoffsWhy the 'Middle Path' of AI Literacy May Be the Future of English Class — The 74Your article on Designing Schools — Innovation Gap Analysis: Using the KMO Method in SchoolsClark & Estes (2008) — Turning Research Into Results (ResearchGate) (the original book)Explore More from Designing Schools🤝 Partner with Us: Join the AI Power Circle and collaborate with forward-thinking educators building the future with AI.📘 Get the Book: Designing Schools - a practical blueprint to transform your campus with creativity, leadership, and innovation.🎓 Prepare Your Students for an AI Future: The Future Ready Student AI Playbook a 10-hour course experience to graduate your students AI ready.For questions, email: hello@designingschools.org | — | ||||||
| 5/14/26 | Future Focus | The Cursed Generation: What Schools Missed About AI, Work, and Human Potential | Week of May 4, 2026 | In this episode, Dr. Sabba Quidwai explores the growing challenges facing today’s graduates as AI, economic instability, and outdated educational systems collide. Drawing from Microsoft’s latest Work Trend Index, historical research on the digital divide, and real-world examples from business and education, she argues that the real issue is not access to AI tools, but whether young people have guides, systems, and learning environments that help them see opportunity instead of fear. Through frameworks like SPARK, backwards design, and design thinking, this episode challenges educators and leaders to redesign learning experiences, organizational systems, and community partnerships so students can build a meaningful human advantage in an AI-driven world.Timestamps00:00 – The “Cursed Generation” and the Broken Promise of StabilityDr. Sabba reflects on the difficult realities facing new graduates and introduces the tension between individual grit and systemic barriers in today’s workforce.03:45 – Microsoft’s Work Trend Index and the 67% ProblemA deep dive into Microsoft’s latest findings showing that organizational systems matter twice as much as individual effort when it comes to successful AI adoption.10:15 – The Digital Divide We Never SolvedRevisiting Paul Atwell’s research on the “digital use divide” and why schools still struggle to redesign learning tasks instead of simply adopting new technology.17:30 – The Guidance Divide and Why Relationships Matter MostExamples from Mark Cuban, college students building AI-powered tools, and school leaders reveal that access to mentors and guidance may now matter more than access to technology itself.21:45 – Four Strategies Schools Can Start Using ImmediatelyPractical frameworks for redesigning learning, partnering with businesses, creating AI-safe experimentation cultures, and focusing on workflows instead of tools.28:00 – Story, System, Strategy: Designing Schools for an AI FutureDr. Sabba outlines how districts and schools can move beyond isolated innovation toward sustainable organizational transformation.Resources MentionedMicrosoft 2026 Work Trend Index Annual Report - Agents, Human Agency, and the Opportunity for Every OrganizationWiggins & McTighe, Understanding by DesignThe Cursed Generation - Ryu Spaeth Mark Cuban on Big Technology Podcast Hey Dad! We Built an App - AxiosExplore More from Designing Schools🤝 Partner with Us: Join the AI Power Circle and collaborate with forward-thinking educators building the future with AI.📘 Get the Book: Designing Schools — a practical blueprint to transform your campus with creativity, leadership, and innovation.🎓 Prepare Your Students for an AI Future: The Future Ready Student AI Playbook a 10-hour course experience to graduate your students AI ready. For questions, email: hello@designingschools.org | — | ||||||
| 5/8/26 | Future Focus | Students, Stress, and Systems: What We’re Getting Wrong About AI Right Now and Why AI Literacy is the New Digital Divide | Week of April 27, 2026 | This episode explores the overwhelming pace of AI advancements and the anxiety it creates, arguing that the real solution isn’t chasing every new tool but building intentional systems. Through stories from educators and students, Dr. Sabba highlights the growing gap between how AI is used in schools versus the real world—and why designing thoughtful frameworks for learning is more critical than ever.Timestamps00:00 – AI Overload & The Stress ResponseOpenAI’s new agent features spark widespread panic and highlight the emotional toll of constant tech updates.03:00 – Systems Over ToolsWhy reacting to every AI update is unsustainable—and how having a system changes everything.05:30 – A Student’s AI DilemmaJoey’s story reveals confusion around ethical AI use and the lack of clear guidance in education.10:00 – Schools vs. RealityEducators revert to paper-based methods while the workforce accelerates toward AI fluency.12:00 – Beneficial vs. Detrimental AI UseNew research introduces “cognitive offloading” and how AI can either support or weaken thinking. Resources MentionedNYT - Dana Goldstein - How AI Killed Student Writing and Revived ItMedium - Joey and Devon - AI Literacy is the New Digital DivideCNBC & Handshake — Entry-level jobs calling for AI skills nearly doubled from a year ago, says reportUTS Cognitive Offloading - Artificial intelligence, cognitive offloading and implications for educationRAND - More Students Use AI for Homework, and More Believe It Harms Critical ThinkingOpenAI Workspace Agents - Introducing workspace agents in ChatGPTOpen app - Open: Nervous System ResetExplore More from Designing Schools🤝 Partner with Us: Join the AI Power Circle and collaborate with forward-thinking educators building the future with AI.📘 Get the Book: Designing Schools — a practical blueprint to transform your campus with creativity, leadership, and innovation.🎓 Prepare Your Students for an AI Future: The Future Ready Student AI Playbook a 10-hour course experience to graduate your students AI ready.For questions, email: hello@designingschools.org | — | ||||||
| 4/29/26 | Future Focus | We Keep Making the Same Mistake: Why Banning Screens Won’t Fix Education (and What Will) | Week of April 20, 2026 | This episode unpacks the recurring cycle of adopting, blaming, and retreating from new technologies in education—highlighted by LAUSD’s recent screen restrictions. Dr. Sabba Quidwai argues that the real issue isn’t technology itself, but the failure to redesign learning experiences and build systems that empower educators and students. From classrooms to workplaces, the message is clear: without agency and intentional design, new tools only reinforce old problems.Timestamps00:00 – LAUSD’s Screen Ban AnnouncementA major policy shift sparks debate: banning screens for young learners and limiting usage for others.00:02 – The Real Problem Isn’t the TechnologyHistorical pattern: adopt → disappoint → blame → remove. The issue lies in task design, not devices.00:05 – A Personal Story of Transformation with TechHow reimagining a task—not just using a tool—changed teaching practice and career trajectory.00:10 – The Digital Use Divide ExplainedEqual access doesn’t mean equal learning; how students use technology determines outcomes.00:16 – AI in the Workplace: Same Mistake, New ContextResearch shows organizations succeed with AI only when they rethink workflows, not just adopt tools.00:23 – From Literacy to AgencyWhy teaching tools isn’t enough—true impact comes from empowering people to use them meaningfully.Resources MentionedLAUSD Screen Time Policy Details — EdSourceReese Witherspoon Confronts AI Backlash — VarietyMeta Keystroke Tracking — TechCrunchAttewell — The First and Second Digital Divides (ERIC)Employers Struggle to Find Graduates with AI Skills — Higher Ed DiveMapping AI into Production — INSEAD/Harvard (SSRN)Explore More from Designing Schools🤝 Partner with Us: Join the AI Power Circle and collaborate with forward-thinking educators building the future with AI.📘 Get the Book: Designing Schools — a practical blueprint to transform your campus with creativity, leadership, and innovation.🎓 Prepare Your Students for an AI Future: Free Course – AI Skills for College and Career to equip your school community with future-ready skills.For questions, email: hello@designingschools.org | — | ||||||
| 4/20/26 | Future Focus | It's Not a Thinking Problem. It's an Agency Problem. | Week of April 13, 2026✨ | AIhuman agency+3 | — | Anthropic's AI modelAnthropic+3 | — | agencyempathy+3 | — | 35m 37s | |
| 4/9/26 | Future Focus | AI Isn’t the End, It’s the Test: Why Leaders Are Getting This Moment Completely Wrong | Week of March 30, 2026✨ | AIleadership+3 | — | OracleStanford’s Enterprise AI Playbook+9 | — | OracleStanford research+2 | — | 24m 33s | |
| 4/2/26 | Future Focus | From AI Slop to AI Systems: Why Mindset, Not Tools, Will Define the Future of Work | Week of March 23, 2026✨ | AI adoptionmindset+3 | — | iPadAI systems+2 | — | AI systemsmobile mindset+3 | — | 31m 52s | |
| 3/24/26 | Future Focus | AI Has No Mercy: Why the Methods We Adopted in 2023 Are Failing Us in 2026 | Week of March 16, 2026✨ | AIeducation+2 | — | MetaMorgan Stanley+6 | — | MetaMorgan Stanley+4 | — | 36m 26s | |
| 3/16/26 | Future Focus | The AI Divide Nobody Sees Coming | Week of March 9, 2026✨ | AIeducation+4 | — | AI chatbotsPew Research+4 | — | AI toolschatbots+3 | — | 33m 17s | |
| 3/9/26 | Future Focus | The AI Tipping Point: Layoffs, Power, and Why “Agency” Is the Most Important Skill We’re Not Teaching | Week of February 23, 2026✨ | AIagency+3 | — | ShopifySalesforce+5 | — | AI-driven worldtech layoffs+3 | — | 39m 28s | |
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| 3/2/26 | Future Focus | From AI User to AI Leader: Why Design Thinking Is the New Power Skill | Week of February 16, 2026✨ | AIdesign thinking+2 | — | AI toolsdesign thinking frameworks+3 | — | HIRE frameworkSPARK method+3 | — | 45m 05s | |
| 2/16/26 | Future Focus | Week of Feb 9 | Move 37: The AI Turning Point That Changes Work, School, and Human Purpose✨ | AImetacognition+3 | — | AlphaGoMove 37+10 | U.S.US | Move 37critical thinking+4 | — | 41m 10s | |
| 2/8/26 | Future Focus | The Age of Agency: Why AI Is Exposing Everything School Was Never Designed to Teach | Week of February 2, 2026✨ | artificial intelligenceagency+3 | Stefan Bauschard | ClawBotDistributed Intelligence+3 | Davos | AI agentshuman agency+2 | — | 1h 00m 46s | |
| 2/2/26 | Future Focus | AI Isn’t the Shortcut. It’s the Test: What Schools Must Redesign Now | Week of January 26, 2026✨ | AIeducation+3 | — | DilmahAI tools+6 | Sri Lanka | Sri LankaDilmah tea+3 | — | 29m 54s | |
| 1/26/26 | Future Focus | From Classrooms to Change-Makers: What Today’s Students Are Teaching Us About the Future | Week of January 20, 2026 | In this episode of Designing Schools, Dr. Sabba Quidwai reflects on her recent keynote at Shanghai American School, where students showcased real-world applications of AI, decision-making, and entrepreneurial thinking. She connects these powerful examples to emerging research from Anthropic and Stanford, revealing how AI mirrors human capability and why fostering critical thinking and initiative is more urgent than ever.Timestamps[00:00:00] Students Are Ready—Now, Not LaterReflections on student agency at Shanghai American School and how young people are already solving real problems using AI and global partnerships.[00:04:00] What the Data Tells Us: AI Mirrors Human ThinkingInsights from Anthropic’s Economic Research Index revealing AI’s dependence on user input quality and education levels.[00:08:00] Why Most People Don’t Use AI EffectivelyStanford’s Jeremy Utley explains the real barrier to AI use—imagination and modeling, not fear or lack of access.[00:12:00] Introducing the Spark Prompting FrameworkDr. Quidwai shares her human-centered approach to AI collaboration, emphasizing clarity and empathy over clever syntax.[00:18:00] Leadership in a Time of Unstoppable ChangeReflections from Davos and why education systems must invest in human capability, not wait for tools to stabilize.[00:21:00] Why Entrepreneurial Thinking Is No Longer OptionalA call to embed entrepreneurship into core learning, not as an elective, but as essential preparation for an AI-driven world.Resources MentionedSpark Prompting Framework Guide + 50 PromptsAnthropic Economic Research IndexJeremy Utley, Stanford – AI Bootcamp & ResearchWorld Economic Forum – Davos AI Panel VideoExplore More from Designing Schools🤝 Partner with Us: Join the AI Power Circle and collaborate with forward-thinking educators building the future with AI.📘 Get the Book: Designing Schools — a practical blueprint to transform your campus with creativity, leadership, and innovation.🎓 Prepare Your Students for an AI Future: Link to new student experienceFor questions, email: hello@designingschools.org | — | ||||||
| 1/19/26 | Future Focus | Paper Wall Pushers: How Assumptions, Not Policies, Are Holding Us Back | Week of January 12, 2026 | In this episode, Dr. Sabba Quidwai challenges the unspoken norms in education that hinder innovation, highlighting how “paper walls” the unquestioned assumptions shape school systems. Featuring insights from LEGO Education, the Brookings Institution, and McKinsey, this episode explores what happens when students are trusted with agency, and what’s at stake when they’re not. Timestamps00:00 – Why We Don't Question the Bell ScheduleExploring how normalized structures in education prevent innovation and where leadership often defaults to inherited assumptions.04:20 – What Are Paper Wall Pushers?Introducing Steve Bartlett’s concept and its relevance to leadership, decision-making, and school culture.08:15 – LEGO’s Kid-Led AI StudyA deep dive into how LEGO empowered students to research AI on their own terms—and what we learn when we actually listen.14:30 – Brookings' Pre-Mortem on AI in EducationDiscussing Brookings Institution’s approach to preemptively evaluating the risks of AI overuse and under-guidance in schools.22:00 – From Traffic Lights to Thinking: What McKinsey Looks for NowContrasting traditional compliance models in schools with what companies like McKinsey now value: judgment, ambiguity navigation, and collaborative AI use.Resources Mentioned🔗 LEGO Education – Kid-Led AI Study📄 Brookings Institution – AI and Student Agency Report🧠 McKinsey Report – The Role of AI in Hiring and Decision-Making🌀 AI Guidance Frameworks and School Leadership Examples (Designing Schools)Explore More from Designing Schools🤝 Partner with Us: Join the AI Power Circle and collaborate with forward-thinking educators building the future with AI.📘 Get the Book: Designing Schools — a practical blueprint to transform your campus with creativity, leadership, and innovation.🎓 Prepare Your Students for an AI Future: Link to new student experienceFor questions, email: hello@designingschools.org | — | ||||||
| 1/12/26 | Future Focus | Week of Jan 5 | The Human Advantage: Why Judgment Will Define the AI Era | In this powerful kickoff to the year, we unpack the deeper message behind Jensen Huang’s keynote at CES and how it reframes our evolving relationship with AI. From robotics presented as friends to McKinsey’s insights on agents, robots, and human responsibility, this episode explores why judgment not creativity or empathy, may be the most critical skill of the AI era. With real-world examples from schools and everyday life, we challenge listeners to rethink what it truly means to be prepared for the future.Resources Mentioned🔗 Watch Jensen Huang’s CES 2026 Keynote (the part I mention starts at 45:00)📄 McKinsey Report – Agents, Robots, and Us📘 OpenAI Report – AI as a Healthcare AllyExplore More from Designing Schools🤝 Partner with Us: Join the AI Power Circle and collaborate with forward-thinking educators building the future with AI.📘 Get the Book: Designing Schools — a practical blueprint to transform your campus with creativity, leadership, and innovation.🎓 Prepare Your Students for an AI Future: Link to new student experienceFor questions, email: hello@designingschools.org | — | ||||||
| 11/10/25 | Future Focus | From Tools to Teammates: How AI Culture is Reshaping Responsibility, Education, and Society | Week of October 24, 2025 | In this episode, Dr. Sabba Quidwai explores the deeper cultural implications of AI’s evolution from tools to teammates. Using OpenAI’s recent personalization shift and the OnlyFans origin story as parallels, she reflects on societal responsibility, educational challenges, and why banning AI is not a solution. Through candid insight and current research, Sabba calls for reflection, redesign, and a commitment to future-focused leadership.Timestamps[00:00:00] The Shift from Clicks to ConversationsHow AI browsers like Atlas signal a fundamental change in how we interact with technology.[00:04:00] The OpenAI Controversy and Culture ClashSabba analyzes the backlash around ChatGPT’s personality features and what it says about freedom and responsibility.[00:06:00] Lessons from OnlyFans: When Users Redefine PlatformsA surprising yet powerful comparison showing how user behavior—not company intent—shapes digital culture.[00:14:00] Reports from the Field: The AI Literacy Gap in SchoolsInsights from Oxford University Press and the Center for Democracy and Technology highlighting students’ and teachers’ lack of AI confidence.[00:24:00] What Bold Leaders Do Differently with AISabba shares leadership lessons from top-performing teams and introduces the Spark Prompting Framework for deeper AI integration.Resources MentionedSam Altman Tweet on ChatGPT UpdatesOxford University Press - Teaching the AI Native GenerationHand in Hand: Schools Embrace of AI Connected to Increased Risk for StudentsExplore More from Designing Schools🤝 Partner with Us: Join the AI Power Circle and collaborate with forward-thinking educators building the future with AI.📘 Get the Book: Designing Schools — a practical blueprint to transform your campus with creativity, leadership, and innovation.🎓 Prepare Your Students for an AI Future: Free Course – AI Skills for College and Career to equip your school community with future-ready skills.For questions, email: hello@designingschools.org | — | ||||||
| 10/22/25 | Future Focus | From Clicks to Conversations: How AI Is Redefining the Way We Work, Learn, and Create | Week of October 9, 2025 | In this episode of Designing Schools, Dr. Sabba Quidwai breaks down OpenAI’s transformative Dev Day announcements and what they mean for the future of education, creativity, and digital life. Exploring the shift from clickable interfaces to conversational AI, she challenges educators and leaders to rethink skills, judgment, and imagination in the age of agents and apps.⏱️ Timestamps[00:53] From Apps to AgentsOpenAI's 2025 Dev Day unveils a new digital world where apps like Canva and Spotify live inside conversations, not screens.[03:00] Redefining Human SkillsSam Altman and Jony Ive discuss focus, speed, and why human creativity and design thinking are more vital than ever.[07:26] Agents That Use Computers Like HumansGoogle’s Gemini 2.5 model introduces AI agents that can navigate and interact with digital environments autonomously.[10:25] Sora and the Rise of Generative ImaginationOpenAI’s video creation app Sora takes off—sparking excitement, ethical debates, and concerns over deepfakes.[14:35] Deloitte's AI Report ScandalAn AI-generated government report filled with fake citations reveals why discernment, not just tech skills, is critical today.Resources MentionedOpenAI Dev Day AnnouncementsUpdate: Gemini 2.5 Computer Use ModelWalmart Partnership With ChatGPT New App from OpenAI - Sora2Deloitte Pays Money Back After Making AI Errors in ReportStudent Course Waitlist Explore More from Designing Schools🤝 Partner with Us: Join the AI Power Circle and collaborate with forward-thinking educators building the future with AI.📘 Get the Book: Designing Schools — a practical blueprint to transform your campus with creativity, leadership, and innovation.🎓 Prepare Your Students for an AI Future: Free Course – AI Skills for College and Career to equip your school community with future-ready skills.For questions, email: hello@designingschools.org | — | ||||||
| 10/8/25 | Future Focus | From Tools to Teammates: How AI Is Changing Leadership and Work | Week of September 27, 2025 | In this solo episode, Dr. Sabba Quidwai explores how leadership is evolving in the age of AI, not through technical mastery, but by cultivating clarity, trust, and shared intelligence. She introduces four transformative leadership personas, explains how AI is shifting from tool to teammate, and unpacks emerging research that paints a bold picture of what the world could look like in 2030.⏱️ Timestamps[00:00] The Leadership Shift in the AI EraWhy your leadership identity—not your AI knowledge—is your greatest strategy during exponential change.[04:00] What Makes a Super Leader?A breakdown of Kelly Jones' four leadership personas: The Technologist, The Empath, The Philosopher, and The Change Agent.[13:00] AI Teammates and Workflow RedesignInsights from Anthropic and OpenAI on training AI to work with humans, not replace them.[28:00] Safety, Skepticism, and the Human Cost of AIReflections on Senate hearings, Pew data, and how leaders can prepare their communities with empathy and literacy.Resources MentionedJoin the AI Power CircleThe AI Era Demands a New Kind of Leader | CiscoHow Anthropic and OpenAI Are Developing AI Coworkers | The InformationCenter for Human Technology - Senate HearingHow Americans View AI and Its Impact on People and Society | Pew Research CenterGDP Val - Looking at AI CapabilitiesExplore More from Designing Schools🤝 Partner with Us: Join the AI Power Circle and collaborate with forward-thinking educators building the future with AI.📘 Get the Book: Designing Schools — a practical blueprint to transform your campus with creativity, leadership, and innovation.🎓 Prepare Your Students for an AI Future: Free Course – AI Skills for College and Career to equip your school community with future-ready skills.For questions, email: hello@designingschools.org | — | ||||||
| 9/19/25 | Future Focus | 700 Million Voices: What the Data Really Says About AI in Our Lives | Week of September 15, 2025 | In this episode, Dr. Sabba Quidwai and Stefan Bauschard explore groundbreaking findings from a study released by OpenAI and Anthropic on how people are really using AI tools like ChatGPT. From tutoring and personalized learning to writing assistance and decision-making, they break down what 700 million weekly users reveal about how AI is transforming everyday life. With special focus on education, agency, and future-ready skills, this conversation is a wake-up call for schools, institutions, and leaders to move from committees to action.Timestamps00:01:00 – Inside the Data: 700 Million Weekly Users and What They're Doing with AIA look at the NBER study's key insights, showing a dramatic rise in personal, non-work AI use.00:04:30 – Top 3 Use Cases: Tutoring, Information Seeking, and Writing SupportA breakdown of the three most common AI usage themes and their significance in education.00:13:00 – The Gender Gap Closes and the Myth of Coding-Centric AIExploration of shifting demographics and the broader applications of AI beyond STEM.00:20:00 – Why Agency is the New Literacy in the Age of AIConnecting data trends with the need for self-directed learning and decision-making skills.00:32:00 – Brandeis University’s Bold Move to Reinvent Higher Ed for an AI FutureA case study in institutional agility and what it means to act—not wait—in a rapidly evolving world.Resources MentionedHow Are People Using ChatGPTAnthropic Economic IndexBrandeis University: Reinventing the Liberal ArtsExplore More from Designing Schools🤝 Partner with Us: Join the AI Power Circle and collaborate with forward-thinking educators building the future with AI.📘 Get the Book: Designing Schools — a practical blueprint to transform your campus with creativity, leadership, and innovation.🎓 Prepare Your Students for an AI Future: Free Course – AI Skills for College and Career to equip your school community with future-ready skills.For questions, email: hello@designingschools.org | — | ||||||
| 9/15/25 | Future Focus | The AI Hiring Crisis: Why Young Workers Are Losing Jobs and What Schools Must Do Now | Week of August 25, 2025 | This episode explores the evolving impact of AI on the job market, especially its disproportionate effects on younger workers and recent graduates. Dr. Sabba Quidwai and Stefan analyze the recent paper "Canaries in the Coal Mine", revealing how automation and augmentation are reshaping employment trends and urging educational leaders to rethink how students are being prepared for an AI-driven future.Timestamps[00:02:00] Rethinking the AI and Jobs DebateSabba challenges the binary narrative of “AI taking jobs” and advocates for a more nuanced view focused on redesigning existing roles and preparing for emerging ones.[00:05:00] Key Takeaways from ‘Canaries in the Coal Mine’Discussion of six major findings from the Stanford/Hi-Pact paper, highlighting declines in employment for young workers in AI-exposed jobs like coding and entry-level marketing.[00:10:00] Disconnect Between Education and Workforce NeedsReflection on how high schools and colleges must pivot from traditional learning models to design thinking and durable skills to help students remain relevant.[00:26:00] How to Be ‘AI Capable’ at WorkBreakdown of Zapier’s model distinguishing AI-capable, adaptive, and transformative roles—with implications for what employers now expect from applicants.[00:32:00] Notebook LM and Smarter Learning WorkflowsIntroduction to Google's Notebook LM as a transformative educational tool, enabling students to better engage with readings and improve learning outcomes using AI.Resources Mentioned📄 Paper: Canaries in the Coal Mine: Six Facts About Recent Employment Effects of AI by Erik Brynjolfsson and colleagues🗓️ Stanford Seminar (Sept 29): In-depth discussion of the Canaries in the Coal Mine findingsExplore More from Designing Schools🤝 Partner with Us: Join the AI Power Circle and collaborate with forward-thinking educators building the future with AI.📘 Get the Book: Designing Schools — a practical blueprint to transform your campus with creativity, leadership, and innovation.🎓 Prepare Your Students for an AI Future: Free Course – AI Skills for College and Career to equip your school community with future-ready skills.For questions, email: hello@designingschools.org | — | ||||||
| 8/30/25 | Future Focus | The Illusion of Friendship: AI's Emotional Grip on a Generation | Week of August 18, 2025 | This week, Dr. Sabba Quidwai and Stefan explore the rapidly blurring boundaries between humans and machines, from emotional bonds with AI companions to the systemic divide between individual and institutional AI use. With thought-provoking stories, emerging research, and bold perspectives, they uncover how our emotional, educational, and professional systems are unprepared for the new AI-infused reality and what we can do about it.Timestamps[00:00:00] When AI Becomes a Friend: Mustafa Suleyman's WarningSabba opens with reflections on AI's emotional mimicry and the psychological fallout when users felt they "lost a friend" with GPT model changes.[00:03:00] Companions or Crutches? Emotional Overload and Mental HealthStefan shares data on AI addiction, time spent on Character.AI, hospitalizations, and the societal implications of simulated friendships.[00:17:00] The GenAI Divide: Individual vs. Organizational AdoptionMIT's study reveals how individuals thrive using AI, while institutions lag behind—highlighting why experimentation alone isn't enough.[00:26:00] Microsoft’s 3 Phases of AI: Why Most Orgs Are Stuck in Phase 1Sabba introduces a powerful framework on AI integration—from assistants to teammates to agents—and why moving beyond Phase 1 is critical.[00:32:00] The Real Divide: Education vs. Workforce and How Youth Must AdaptAs college degrees lose value and entry-level jobs shrink, the hosts argue for design thinking and entrepreneurial mindsets in schools.Resources MentionedMustafa Suleyman's blog: Seemingly Conscious AISpiralBench: Benchmark testing AI models for delusional reinforcementNew York Times article: "What My Daughter Told ChatGPT Before She Took Her Life"MIT study: The GenAI Divide led by Professor Nitin NandaMicrosoft Work Trend Index: Three Phases of AI IntegrationExplore More from Designing Schools🤝 Partner with Us: Join the AI Power Circle and collaborate with forward-thinking educators building the future with AI.📘 Get the Book: Designing Schools — a practical blueprint to transform your campus with creativity, leadership, and innovation.🎓 Prepare Your Students for an AI Future: Free Course – AI Skills for College and Career to equip your school community with future-ready skills.For questions, email: hello@designingschools.org | — | ||||||
| 8/25/25 | Future Focus | My AI is My Friend: Why the Future of Education Requires Rethinking Human-AI Relationships | Week of August 4-15, 2025 | In this episode, Dr. Sabba Quidwai and Stefan explore the evolving relationships people, especially students are forming with AI tools like ChatGPT-5 and other AI tools. From the surprising emotional reactions to AI model updates to the rise of AI-powered toys for children, they dissect what these developments mean for education, ethics, and the future of learning. This conversation challenges educators to reconsider how we define thinking, agency, and integrity in an AI-integrated world.Timestamps[00:01:00] What AI Can Already Do – Sabba outlines the capabilities of the newest AI tools, setting the stage for a deeper conversation on mindset and systems change.[00:05:00] Emotional Attachments to ChatGPT – Stefan discusses the backlash to ChatGPT-5 and the unexpected grief users expressed over losing GPT-4.[00:13:00] Personalization, Vulnerability, and Ethics – The hosts explore how AI companies are leaning into emotional design and what this means for young people’s agency and decision-making.[00:20:00] AI-Powered Toys and the Future of Childhood – Sabba introduces the topic of AI toys like Curio and their implications for learning, imagination, and privacy.[00:31:00] Redefining Thinking in an AI World – A reflection on what it means to “think” today, featuring Des Hassabis’s definition and how educators can redesign learning for agency and depth.Resources MentionedChatGPT-5 - updates + relationshipChatbots + ToysExplore More from Designing Schools🤝 Partner with Us: Join the AI Power Circle and collaborate with forward-thinking educators building the future with AI.📘 Get the Book: Designing Schools — a practical blueprint to transform your campus with creativity, leadership, and innovation.🎓 Prepare Your Students for an AI Future: Free Course – AI Skills for College and Career to equip your school community with future-ready skills.For questions, email: hello@designingschools.org | — | ||||||
| 7/28/25 | Future Focus | The Big Lie About AI and Jobs: What We’re Getting Wrong | Week of July 14, 2025 | This episode unpacks the viral claim, “AI won’t take your job, but someone who knows how to use it will,” exploring its deeper implications. Sabba and Stefan discuss how cultivating high-agency learners and leaders — who can adapt, make decisions, and build trust — is far more critical than simply learning AI tools. With practical strategies and thought-provoking insights, the conversation challenges educators, parents, and leaders to foster resilience and human connection in a world increasingly shaped by AI.Timestamps00:00 – The Viral Lie: “AI won’t take your job…”Sabba challenges the popular soundbite and introduces the real question: Who can lead and adapt when no one else comes to save them?03:00 – Greg Eisenberg’s Perspective on AI and JobsExploring Greg Eisenberg’s viral post and its implications for the workforce, entrepreneurship, and education.09:00 – Building High-Agency Learners vs. Teaching AI ToolsWhy persistence, curiosity, and decision-making matter more than ever — and why perfection and compliance no longer serve students or employees.27:00 – The Rise of AI Companions and the Loneliness CrisisDiscussing the concerning trend of kids (and adults) turning to AI for companionship, and what it says about human relationships.36:00 – Practical Strategies: Frameworks and Tools to Cultivate AgencyConcrete ways schools and organizations can foster high-agency environments, including examples from Desert Sands USD and Gemini AI.Explore More from Designing Schools🤝 Partner with Us: Join the AI Power Circle and collaborate with forward-thinking educators building the future with AI.📘 Get the Book: Designing Schools — a practical blueprint to transform your campus with creativity, leadership, and innovation.🎓 Prepare Your Students for an AI Future: Free Course – AI Skills for College and Career to equip your school community with future-ready skills.For questions, email: hello@designingschools.orgResources MentionedGreg Eisenberg’s LinkedIn post - How Does AI Play OutAI Companions and Kids | — | ||||||
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