News/Education
Illinois school district installs AI gun detection amid accuracy concerns
Oak Lawn High School District 229 in Illinois has installed an AI-powered gun detection system from Omnilert, a company specializing in school security technology, that monitors both inside and outside the school campus. The district received the technology through a three-year grant that covers the cost of the AI detection appliance, training, and technical support, with the system going live before students returned on August 13. How it works: The Omnilert system integrates with existing security cameras to identify potential firearms using artificial intelligence. When the AI detects what appears to be a gun, it sends the data to a...
read Sep 2, 2025Virginia colleges embrace faculty-led AI policies over campus-wide bans
Virginia colleges are adopting diverse approaches to artificial intelligence education, with most institutions allowing faculty to develop their own classroom AI policies rather than implementing campus-wide restrictions. This decentralized strategy comes as U.S. Sen. Mark Warner, Virginia's Democratic senator, recently warned local university presidents about potential job disruptions that AI may cause for college graduates, highlighting the urgent need for comprehensive AI literacy programs. What you should know: Most regional institutions are taking a faculty-driven approach to AI integration rather than blanket institutional policies. Randolph College requires instructors to establish their own rules on generative AI use in their courses,...
read Sep 2, 2025Michigan political science professor Erik Trump to examine AI’s impact on reading, research skills
Erik Trump, a political science professor at Saginaw Valley State University, will deliver a lecture titled "AI Reading, Writing, and Research: What's Left Behind for Us?" on September 24 at Hoyt Public Library in Saginaw, Michigan. The presentation will examine whether artificial intelligence represents a pivotal moment for public knowledge, literacy, and libraries, addressing both contemporary concerns and long-standing cultural anxieties about AI's impact on fundamental learning processes. What you should know: The lecture will explore AI's influence on reading, writing, and research while demonstrating actual AI tools during the presentation. Trump serves as director of the Center for Excellence...
read Sep 2, 2025Soft skills outperform tech expertise in AI-driven workplace, claims Harvard study
A new Harvard Business Review study reveals that soft skills like collaboration, adaptability, and mathematical thinking are more valuable for career advancement than specialized technical knowledge as AI reshapes the workplace. The research, conducted by scientists from Northwestern University and Harvard, analyzed millions of U.S. job data points from 2005 to 2019 and found that workers with strong foundational skills earn higher wages, advance faster, and adapt better to industry changes than those with deep technical expertise. The big picture: As AI accelerates workplace technology adoption, the "half-life" of specialized technical skills has plummeted from 10 years in the 1980s...
read Sep 2, 2025Switzerland launches Apertus, world’s first open-source national AI model
Switzerland has launched Apertus, an open-source national Large Language Model developed by public institutions including EPFL, ETH Zurich, and the Swiss National Supercomputing Centre. The move positions Switzerland as the first country to offer a fully transparent AI model as public infrastructure, potentially setting a new standard for how nations approach AI development and data sovereignty. What you should know: Apertus represents a completely open approach to AI development, with full transparency across its entire training process. Users can inspect any part of the model's training, access comprehensive documentation, source code, and the datasets used to build it. The model...
read Sep 2, 2025Indigenous youth use AI to preserve languages disappearing every 2 weeks
Young Indigenous technologists are developing AI-powered tools to help preserve and revitalize endangered languages in their communities, addressing a crisis where the UN estimates an Indigenous language dies every two weeks. These projects, led by individuals like Danielle Boyer with her SkoBot language-learning robot and Jared Coleman's AI-powered Paiute translator, represent a growing movement to reverse generational language loss while maintaining ethical control over cultural resources. The big picture: Indigenous communities worldwide are racing against time to preserve languages that colonization systematically suppressed, with half of all global languages projected to disappear by 2100. How the technology works: Boyer's SkoBot...
read Sep 2, 2025Bristol, UK council’s AI art on creative course guides sparks artist backlash
Bristol City Council sparked controversy after using AI-generated artwork on the cover of a course guide promoting adult creative learning classes, with local designers arguing the decision undermines the very skills being taught. The backlash highlights growing tensions between cost-cutting AI adoption and preserving opportunities for human creative professionals. What happened: Bristol City Council distributed 72,000 course guides in July featuring an AI-generated cover image to promote adult learning workshops, including creative classes. Illustrator Adam Birch complained that using AI to promote creative workshops "devalues" the classes being advertised. The AI-generated cover contained telltale errors, including a figure with only...
read Sep 1, 2025Chile develops Latam-GPT, a 50B-parameter AI model for Latin America
The Chilean National Center for Artificial Intelligence is developing Latam-GPT, an open-source large language model specifically designed for Latin America and trained on regional languages and contexts. The project aims to help the region achieve technological independence by creating AI that understands local dialects, cultural nuances, and historical contexts that global models often overlook. What you should know: Latam-GPT represents a collaborative effort across Latin America to build regionally-focused AI capabilities. The model contains 50 billion parameters, making it comparable to GPT-3.5 in scale and complexity. It's trained on over 8 terabytes of text data from 20 Latin American countries...
read Sep 1, 2025China invests $84B in SCO countries as Xi pushes against “Cold War” attitudes
Chinese President Xi Jinping called for strengthened artificial intelligence cooperation among Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) members while rejecting "Cold War mentality" at the largest SCO summit to date in Tianjin. The gathering, featuring over 20 foreign leaders including Russian President Vladimir Putin and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, represents China's broader effort to position itself as a global peacemaker amid ongoing tensions with the United States and various international conflicts. Key financial commitments: Xi announced that China has invested $84 billion in other SCO countries and pledged support for 10,000 students to participate in Beijing's "Luban" vocational education program. The...
read Sep 1, 202562% of Gen Z workers hide their AI usage from colleagues, says survey
Generation Z workers face a peculiar workplace paradox: they're expected to seamlessly integrate artificial intelligence into their daily tasks, yet most receive little to no formal training on these tools. This disconnect has created a phenomenon researchers now call "AI shame"—the anxiety and embarrassment young professionals feel when using AI tools, often leading them to hide their reliance on the technology or pretend to understand systems they've never been properly taught. A recent survey by WalkMe, a digital adoption platform owned by enterprise software giant SAP, reveals the scope of this hidden struggle. While nearly 89% of Gen Z workers...
read Sep 1, 2025Senior developers use AI for 50% of code vs 13% for juniors
Experienced developers with over 10 years in the field are more than twice as likely to use AI code-generation tools to produce over half of their finished software compared to junior developers, according to new research from Fastly, a cloud services platform. The findings challenge assumptions about AI adoption in programming, revealing that senior developers embrace these tools not out of laziness, but as a strategic response to their broader responsibilities beyond day-to-day coding. What you should know: A July survey of 791 US developers found stark differences in AI tool usage across experience levels. Around 33% of senior developers...
read Sep 1, 2025Landlocked in: Kazakhstan makes AI mandatory for 390,000 university students
Central Asia's Kazakhstan has made artificial intelligence a mandatory subject across all universities, with 93 institutions already integrating AI into their academic programs and 20 universities launching 25 new educational tracks. This nationwide initiative positions Kazakhstan to compete with leading AI-adopting countries like China, Finland, and the United States while preparing students for an AI-driven economy. Key implementation details: The Aisana project will be included in university curricula starting this academic year, giving every student hands-on experience with AI technologies. So far, 390,000 students have completed specialized AI courses, with 3,000 earning official certificates. Deputy Minister of Science and Higher...
read Sep 1, 2025“I was hoping you’d tell me”: Companies demand AI literacy for hiring but can’t define what it means
The job market has developed a new prerequisite that's leaving many candidates scratching their heads: AI literacy. As artificial intelligence tools become mainstream business resources, employers across industries are weaving AI skills into job descriptions—even for roles that seem far removed from technology. However, what exactly constitutes "AI literate" remains frustratingly undefined, creating confusion for job seekers and hiring managers alike. This ambiguity became apparent to Taylor Tucker, a 30-year-old former project manager, when she applied for a senior business analyst position at Disney. Despite having used generative AI—artificial intelligence that creates new content like text, images, or code—for various...
read Sep 1, 2025AI-to-pipelayer-pipeline? Trade school enrollment surges 6.6% as students seek AI-proof careers
Generation Z is abandoning traditional college paths and flocking to trade schools, with enrollment in programs like HVAC and welding expected to grow 6.6% annually. This shift reflects growing concerns about AI displacing white-collar jobs and the financial burden of college debt, while skilled trades offer comparable wages without requiring four-year degrees. The big picture: Young workers are increasingly viewing trades as "AI-proof" careers that can't be automated, with one industry expert noting "AI can't install an HVAC system." Key enrollment trends: Trade-focused education is experiencing unprecedented growth across multiple pathways. Fall enrollment at trade schools is projected to grow...
read Sep 1, 2025Canadian university debuts 3D AI teaching assistant “Kia” to co-teach ethics course
Simon Fraser University professor Steve DiPaola has introduced Kia, a 3D AI teaching assistant, to co-teach his first-year course on AI history and ethics alongside him this fall. The initiative represents what SFU calls a "world first" in higher education, designed to expose students to AI capabilities and limitations through direct classroom interaction rather than theoretical discussion alone. What you should know: Kia appears as an expressive Black female digital persona with real-time facial expressions and body language, created by DiPaola to serve as an AI collaborator rather than a replacement for human teaching staff. The AI assistant will answer...
read Aug 29, 2025Spokane, Washington college launches AI certificate program with $152K state funding
Spokane Falls Community College will launch an artificial intelligence certificate program in fall 2026, focusing on applications in cybersecurity, healthcare, and manufacturing. The program represents part of a broader Washington state initiative to prepare students for an AI-integrated workforce, funded by a $152,000 grant from the state's $1 million AI education investment. What you should know: The yearlong certificate program aims to give students practical AI skills for high-demand industries where the technology is becoming essential. "This will give our students an advantage going into the next evolution of the workforce," said Mark Neufville, program lead at SFCC's Cyber Center,...
read Aug 29, 2025Southeast Asian studios create AI-powered animated anthology about tech relationship
Singapore studios HIP Studios and FizzDragon have partnered with Philippine indie publisher 8Letters to co-produce "AI: Love & Hate," a 90-minute animated anthology feature exploring humanity's relationship with artificial intelligence. The collaboration represents a first-of-its-kind partnership in Southeast Asia that combines traditional animation with generative AI technology to adapt stories from independent Asian authors, positioning the region as an emerging hub for AI-driven content creation. What you should know: The sci-fi anthology will comprise six 15-minute stories adapted from novels by independent authors, examining conflicted emotions surrounding technological advancement. The feature will be released in both English and Mandarin-language versions,...
read Aug 29, 2025Kean University launches New Jersey’s first AI bachelor’s degree
Kean University has launched New Jersey's first bachelor's degree in artificial intelligence, beginning in the fall semester. The program is part of a broader AI initiative that includes establishing an Artificial Intelligence Center of Excellence and integrating AI tutors and research tools across coursework, positioning the university at the forefront of AI education in the state. What you should know: The bachelor of science in artificial intelligence degree aims to prepare students for high-demand careers in one of today's fastest-growing technology sectors. Focus areas include building large language models (the AI systems that power tools like ChatGPT) and exploring ethical...
read Aug 29, 2025Girls get hands-on with retail robots at BJ’s Wholesale Club STEM program
BJ's Wholesale Club recently hosted Girls Inc. of Worcester students for a behind-the-scenes look at how STEM powers retail operations, featuring demonstrations of autonomous robotics technology. The initiative highlights growing efforts by retailers to inspire the next generation of female STEM leaders while showcasing how advanced automation is transforming modern retail environments. What you should know: The visit was part of the Eureka program, a STEM-intensive leadership initiative for girls in grades 8-12. Caroline Krieger, Robotics & Automation Manager at BJ's Wholesale Club, shared her career journey and demonstrated how retail robotics work in practice. The students got hands-on experience...
read Aug 29, 2025AI and “vibe coding” are democratizing software development for everyone
The fusion of "vibe coding" and artificial intelligence is democratizing software development, allowing anyone to build professional-grade applications using intuition and AI assistance rather than formal programming expertise. This partnership is reshaping who can create software, moving beyond traditional technical gatekeepers to empower doctors, small business owners, and students to turn ideas into working solutions within hours instead of months. What you should know: Vibe coding emphasizes flow, intuition, and creative problem-solving over rigid technical instruction, similar to cooking by taste rather than following a strict recipe. When combined with AI copilots like ChatGPT, Claude, or GitHub Copilot, this approach...
read Aug 29, 2025San José awards $225K to AI startups Elythea, Metafoodx, Clika and Satlyt
San José has completed the first city-led AI startup grant program in the United States, awarding $225,000 total to four early-stage companies developing AI solutions for civic challenges. The AI Incentive Program represents a pioneering approach to municipal innovation funding, positioning San José as a leader in leveraging artificial intelligence for urban problem-solving while strengthening the city's tech ecosystem. What you should know: Four startups emerged victorious from a competitive field of 170 applicants, each tackling different civic challenges through AI innovation. Elythea received $50,000 for its AI voice agents that connect with at-risk maternal health patients. Metafoodx won $50,000...
read Aug 28, 2025Tampa museum debuts AI exhibit to demystify artificial intelligence for families
The Museum of Science & Industry (MOSI) in Tampa will debut "AI: Your Mind and The Machine," a new exhibit exploring artificial intelligence's historical presence in everyday life through interactive displays and educational content. The family-friendly exhibit aims to demystify AI technology and demonstrate how it enhances rather than threatens human capabilities, opening September 6 with regular museum admission. What you should know: The exhibit traces AI's evolution from early gaming systems to modern applications across multiple industries. Classic games like Pong and Simon serve as examples of early AI implementations, showing how pattern recognition technology has been part of...
read Aug 28, 2025Miami-based startup Coconote’s AI note-taking app now free for all US educators
Coconote, the AI-powered note-taking app used by over 1.5 million students, has announced that its premium version is now free for all educators nationwide as the back-to-school season begins. This move eliminates cost barriers for teachers and professors while positioning the Miami-based startup—built by former Loom engineers—as a major player in the educational technology space. What you should know: The announcement comes at a pivotal moment as Coconote reaches its biggest milestone of serving more than 1.5 million students this year. Built by veteran engineers who previously worked at Loom, a video messaging company acquired by Atlassian for $975 million,...
read Aug 28, 2025Frontline Education launches K-12 AI Advisory Council to guide schools
Frontline Education has launched the Dear Future campaign, which includes establishing a K-12 AI Advisory Council to help district leaders evaluate and develop AI tools for schools. This initiative comes as education leaders struggle to navigate the flood of AI products following President Trump's April executive order to integrate artificial intelligence into U.S. education. What you should know: The Dear Future campaign operates through two main components designed to involve educators in AI development. District leaders are encouraged to share ideas for how AI can improve education. Selected leaders will join an AI Advisory Council to test and provide feedback...
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