What’s Up With AI In Chicago-Area Schools?

What’s Up With AI In Chicago-Area Schools?

From In the Loop with Sasha-Ann Simons by WBEZ Chicago

April 14, 2026 · 32 min

About this episode

The episode discusses the implications of a new private school in Chicago that will use AI for instruction instead of traditional teachers.

A new private school where students will learn from AI, rather than from teachers, is set to open in Chicago this fall. Questions abound: what will happen to teachers? What are the potential benefits and drawbacks of relying on a relatively new technology to instruct children? In the Loop discusses with a panel of educators and AI experts: Brady Gunnink, English teacher, Jones College Prep, Katie Page, Instructional Technology Coordinator, District 214 and Kristian Hammond, director of Northwestern’s Artificial Intelligence masters program. Plus, we get a status update on how AI tools are being used in Chicagoland classrooms. For a full archive of In the Loop interviews, head over to wbez.org/intheloop.

People in this episode

Guests: Brady Gunnink, Katie Page, Kristian Hammond

Topics covered

  • AI in education
  • Chicago schools
  • technology in classrooms

Keywords

  • artificial intelligence
  • education technology
  • teacher roles

Mentioned in this episode

Products: AI tools

Places: Chicago, Chicagoland

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