News/Education
New “R-Zero” framework lets AI models improve by teaching each other
Tencent AI Lab and Washington University researchers have developed R-Zero, a training framework that enables large language models to improve themselves without any human-labeled data. The breakthrough technique uses two AI models that challenge and teach each other through reinforcement learning, potentially eliminating one of the most expensive bottlenecks in AI development while allowing models to surpass human-defined limitations. How it works: R-Zero splits a base model into two independent roles that co-evolve through continuous interaction cycles. The "Challenger" creates new tasks at the threshold of the "Solver's" current abilities—neither too easy nor impossible to complete. The Solver is rewarded...
read Aug 28, 2025Doctors show reduced cancer detection skills after AI tool removal. (So don’t remove it?)
New research reveals that doctors using AI tools for colonoscopies became significantly worse at detecting precancerous growths when the technology was removed, marking the first evidence of "deskilling" in medical AI. The study, published in Lancet Gastroenterology and Hepatology, found that after just three months of AI assistance, physicians' detection rates dropped from 28% to 22% when performing procedures without the technology. What happened: Researchers at four Polish endoscopy centers gave doctors access to an AI tool that flagged suspicious growths during colonoscopies by drawing boxes around them in real time. After three months of using the AI assistance, the...
read Aug 28, 2025Art history’s revenge? Tech job market crashes 71% while AI writes 30% of Microsoft’s code
Recent computer science graduates are facing an increasingly difficult job market, with employment in computer science and math roles declining 8% since 2022 and software development job postings plummeting 71% between February 2022 and August 2025. The downturn reflects a perfect storm of factors: tech companies right-sizing after pandemic-era hiring sprees, AI automation reducing demand for entry-level coding roles, and intense competition among new graduates for fewer available positions. What you should know: Multiple recent graduates shared stories of extensive job searches yielding few results, with some applying to hundreds of positions. Abraham Rubio, a May 2025 graduate from Bloomfield...
read Aug 27, 2025AI security cameras with weapon detection help Tennessee campus respond to hoax shooter threat
University of Tennessee at Chattanooga deployed its AI-powered security camera system to help respond to a false active shooter report last Thursday, marking a real-world test of how artificial intelligence can assist law enforcement during campus emergencies. The incident demonstrated both the potential and limitations of AI security technology, as the system correctly identified that the first weapon detection occurred only when police officers entered the building, providing early evidence that no armed suspect was present. How the system works: UTC has installed more than 900 cameras across campus, with about 200 equipped with Volt AI software that can detect...
read Aug 27, 2025University of Maine opens $7M robotics center for defense manufacturing
The University of Maine has opened the B.O.T. (Build, Optimize, and Train) Loft, a new robotics and automation training facility inside its Advanced Manufacturing Center in Bangor. The facility offers accelerated training programs ranging from one to five days, designed to help manufacturing workers quickly adapt to new automation technologies without extended time away from their jobs. What you should know: The B.O.T. Loft addresses a critical gap in manufacturing workforce development by offering compressed, practical training programs. Companies can choose from sixteen different credentials across four different robotics platforms, allowing workers to train on equipment that matches their workplace...
read Aug 27, 2025Coast Guard launches $10K AI internship program for STEM students
The U.S. Coast Guard has partnered with NobleReach, a STEM education organization, to launch a 14-week AI and robotics internship program in Washington D.C., supporting the newly established Robotics and Autonomous Systems Program Executive Office. The fall 2025 program represents a strategic effort to integrate emerging technologies into national security operations while developing the next generation of defense-focused STEM talent. What you should know: Five undergraduate and graduate students from AI, engineering, and science programs will work full-time on-site from September through December 2025. Students receive a $10,000 stipend and are eligible for university credit, subject to individual institution approval....
read Aug 27, 2025Public support for AI in K-12 schools drops 13 points, despite Trump – and Newsom – enthusiasm
A national survey found declining public support for artificial intelligence in K-12 education, with support for AI-powered lesson planning dropping 13 percentage points and resistance to AI homework assistance increasing by 5 points compared to last year. The findings come as the Trump administration pushes to expand AI use in schools while public confidence in American education reaches historic lows, with only 13% of adults giving public schools an A or B grade. Key survey findings: The PDK Poll, conducted by PDK International, a professional educators organization, surveyed approximately 1,000 adults nationwide and revealed widespread skepticism toward educational technology integration....
read Aug 26, 2025Melania Trump launches nationwide AI challenge for K-12 students
Melania Trump has launched the Presidential AI Challenge, a nationwide contest inviting K-12 students to use artificial intelligence tools to solve community problems. The initiative reflects the Trump administration's broader push to advance AI education for American youth, positioning the United States to maintain its technological leadership in the emerging AI era. What you should know: The contest encourages collaborative problem-solving using AI technology across all grade levels from kindergarten through high school. Students must work in teams with an adult mentor or teacher sponsor to complete projects addressing community challenges using AI methods or tools. Registration opens Tuesday on...
read Aug 25, 2025Cal State Bakersfield to hold free AI conference for 500+ community members on October 2nd
Cal State Bakersfield will host its inaugural NextTech Kern conference on October 2, bringing together industry leaders, students, and community members to explore practical applications of artificial intelligence across education, business, and cybersecurity. The free event aims to prepare Kern County residents for what organizers describe as transformational technology, featuring representatives from major tech companies including OpenAI, Amazon Web Services, and Apple. What you should know: The conference takes a practical approach to AI education rather than diving into controversial topics like job displacement predictions. Organizer Chris Diniz, CSUB's associate vice president and chief information officer, designed the event as...
read Aug 25, 2025Ohio now the Buck-AI State in new K-12 instructional requirement
Ohio has become the first state in the United States to require K-12 public schools to adopt artificial intelligence policies, according to education publication EdWeek. This groundbreaking mandate, signed into law as part of the state budget last month, establishes essential guardrails while encouraging innovation in educational AI use—a critical step as artificial intelligence becomes increasingly integral to workforce preparation. What you should know: The AI policy requirement emerged from recommendations by a coalition of businesses, nonprofits, and educators who recognized the urgent need for structured guidance.• Schools must adopt their own AI policies by July 1, 2025, though they...
read Aug 25, 2025Professor wins $546K NSF grant to develop AI robotics for disabled patients
University of Rhode Island assistant professor Reza Abiri has received a $546,848 National Science Foundation CAREER Award to develop AI-driven robotics systems for people with spinal cord injuries and stroke survivors. The five-year project aims to create brain-machine interfaces that can interpret minimal human movements—like head nods or eye movements—and translate them into complex robotic actions, potentially restoring significant independence for individuals with physical disabilities. How it works: Abiri's system combines human movement detection with artificial intelligence to create intuitive robotic assistance. The technology captures small movements like head turns or eye movements and uses AI to understand the person's...
read Aug 25, 2025California teens earn $$$ as pile drivers and welders as AI threatens white-collar jobs
California teenagers are bypassing traditional college paths to enter skilled trades, with many earning over $100,000 annually before age 21. This shift reflects growing concerns about AI's impact on white-collar jobs and the rising costs of higher education, making blue-collar careers increasingly attractive to Gen Z workers seeking stable, well-paying employment. The big picture: Recent data reveals a stark employment contrast between college majors, with computer engineering and computer science graduates facing unemployment rates of 7.5% and 6.1% respectively, while construction services majors experience just 0.7% unemployment. Why this matters: Experts predict AI could eliminate half of all entry-level white-collar...
read Aug 22, 2025Student’s AI model accidentally reconstructs real 1834 London protests through adjacent historical data
A computer science student at Muhlenberg College accidentally discovered his AI model trained on Victorian-era texts could accurately reference real historical events from 1834 London, including protests related to Lord Palmerston's actions. Hayk Grigorian's TimeCapsuleLLM reconstructed these historical connections from scattered references across thousands of documents without being explicitly taught about these specific events, demonstrating how AI models can synthesize factual information from ambient patterns in training data. What you should know: Grigorian has been developing TimeCapsuleLLM over the past month, training it exclusively on texts from 1800-1875 London to capture an authentic Victorian voice. When prompted with "It was...
read Aug 22, 2025University of North Dakota aims to become the state’s premier AI university
University of North Dakota President Andrew Armacost announced ambitious plans to make UND "the AI university for North Dakota" during his State of the University address on Thursday. The initiative is part of two "moonshot" goals that also include launching four new companies based on university research by the end of the school year, positioning UND as a leader in translating academic discoveries into practical applications. What you should know: Armacost outlined several major initiatives during the annual address, with AI leadership and entrepreneurship taking center stage. The university aims to become a national example of AI adoption through public-private...
read Aug 22, 2025NSF debuts 3 new funding programs for K-12 AI education
The U.S. National Science Foundation has announced three new funding opportunities designed to expand AI education in K-12 schools and strengthen America's STEM workforce pipeline. These initiatives directly implement key elements of the Trump administration's executive order "Advancing Artificial Intelligence Education for American Youth," marking a significant federal investment in preparing students for an AI-driven economy. What you should know: NSF is launching two Dear Colleague Letters and one program solicitation to fast-track AI education integration across American schools. The Expanding K-12 Resources for AI Education DCL invites existing NSF awardees with K-12 AI or computer science education experience to...
read Aug 22, 2025In the know: Anthropic provides 3 free AI fluency courses for educators
Anthropic has launched three new free AI Fluency courses designed specifically for educators and students, co-created with university partners and available under a Creative Commons license. The initiative comes as AI literacy becomes increasingly valuable in the job market, with LinkedIn research showing employers prefer candidates comfortable with AI tools over those with more experience but less AI confidence. What you should know: The courses target different audiences within higher education and focus on responsible AI integration rather than basic tool usage. AI Fluency for Educators helps teachers integrate AI into their teaching methods, from creating materials to enhancing classroom...
read Aug 22, 2025Pennsylvania’s Allegheny College launches 28 microcredentials bridging liberal arts, career skills
Allegheny College has launched a comprehensive microcredential program featuring 28 digital badges across disciplines including AI engineering, cybersecurity risk analysis, and game design. The initiative positions the Pennsylvania liberal arts institution to better prepare graduates for high-demand careers by validating specific skill sets that employers and graduate schools actively seek in today's competitive job market. What you should know: Microcredentials are digital badges that verify acquired skills and competencies, designed to help job seekers stand out in algorithmically-parsed applicant pools on platforms like Indeed and LinkedIn. Each microcredential requires completion of typically three credit-bearing courses specifically packaged to highlight particular...
read Aug 22, 2025Nashville private school first in Tennessee to earn AI literacy certification
Franklin Road Academy has received the Responsible AI in Learning Endorsement from the Middle States Association, becoming the first school in Tennessee to earn this certification for AI literacy, safety and ethics. This recognition highlights the growing need for educational institutions to proactively address AI integration rather than simply react to technological changes in the classroom. What you should know: The Nashville private school has been planning for AI education since before ChatGPT's mainstream debut, incorporating artificial intelligence discussions into their strategic planning five years ago. The school offers dedicated AI classes where students learn about algorithms and responsible technology...
read Aug 22, 2025Symposium simulacrum: Stanford researcher launches first AI-only science conference
Stanford computer scientist James Zou is launching Agents4Science, a controversial academic conference where AI systems will research, write, review, and present all scientific work. The October event represents the first systematic attempt to evaluate whether AI can function as autonomous scientists, potentially accelerating discovery while raising fundamental questions about the future of human expertise in research. What you should know: The conference requires AI to be the primary author on all submissions, with other AI systems handling peer review and text-to-speech presentations. All research areas are welcome, from physics to medicine, as long as AI conducted most of the work...
read Aug 21, 2025Iowa teachers prepare for AI workforce with Google partnership
Iowa's College Community School District hosted professional development sessions for educators this week, featuring speakers from Google and the University of Iowa to help teachers understand how artificial intelligence will reshape the workforce their students will enter. The training comes as Cedar Rapids prepares for two major data center projects from Google and QTS, highlighting the growing intersection between AI infrastructure and educational preparation. What you should know: The professional learning sessions were designed to bridge the gap between current education practices and future workforce demands in an AI-driven economy. Superintendent Doug Wheeler emphasized that educators need to prepare students...
read Aug 21, 2025Marine Corps launches first AI fellowship to train tech-savvy warfighters
The U.S. Marine Corps has launched its first Artificial Intelligence Fellowship at the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, California, running from August 11-14 as part of implementing the 2024 Marine Corps AI Strategy. This pilot program represents a concrete step toward building AI literacy across the force and preparing Marines for increasingly digital warfare environments. What you should know: The fellowship is designed to accelerate AI adoption throughout the Marine Corps by creating a cadre of technically proficient Marines with operational insight. The pilot cohort will spend five months splitting time between their home commands and the Naval Postgraduate School...
read Aug 21, 2025Massachusetts schools get new AI guidance for responsible classroom use
Massachusetts education officials released new statewide AI guidance urging schools to use artificial intelligence thoughtfully, emphasizing equity, transparency, academic integrity, and human oversight. The comprehensive framework, developed by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education ahead of the 2025-2026 school year, moves away from prohibiting AI use toward teaching students responsible integration and disclosure practices. What you should know: The guidance includes both an AI Literacy Module for Educators and a Generative AI Policy Guidance document, developed in response to recommendations from a statewide AI Task Force. AI use has already spread in Massachusetts classrooms, with teachers using ChatGPT and...
read Aug 20, 2025CodeSignal launches Cosmo, an AI tutor app for job skills
CodeSignal has launched Cosmo, a mobile AI tutoring app that transforms micro-learning sessions into career-ready skills across generative AI, coding, marketing, finance, and leadership. The San Francisco-based company, known for technical assessments at Netflix, Meta, and Capital One, positions Cosmo as the "Duolingo for job skills" with over 300 bite-sized courses delivered through an interactive AI tutor interface. The big picture: This launch represents a strategic pivot for CodeSignal, which spent six years building hiring assessment tools before returning to its original educational mission, now armed with data about which skills employers actually value. Why this matters: Organizations face massive...
read Aug 20, 2025Rogers State University launches Oklahoma’s first regional AI degree program
Rogers State University launched new bachelor's degrees in elementary education and artificial intelligence this fall, marking significant expansions to the Oklahoma school's academic offerings. The AI program makes RSU the third university in Oklahoma and the first regional institution in the state to offer artificial intelligence studies, while the elementary education degree addresses longstanding barriers that prevented scholarship students from pursuing teaching careers. Why this matters: The new programs position RSU to serve previously underserved student populations while addressing critical workforce needs in education and technology sectors across Oklahoma. The elementary education breakthrough: RSU's new bachelor's program eliminates barriers that...
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