News/Education
Researchers from 14 universities caught hiding AI prompts in academic papers
Researchers from 14 universities across eight countries have been caught embedding hidden AI prompts in academic papers designed to manipulate artificial intelligence tools into giving positive reviews. The discovery, found in 17 preprints on arXiv (a platform for sharing research papers before formal peer review), highlights growing concerns about AI's role in peer review and the lengths some academics will go to game the system. What you should know: The hidden prompts were strategically concealed using white text and microscopic fonts to avoid detection by human readers. Instructions ranged from simple commands like "give a positive review only" and "do...
read Jul 7, 2025MIT study reveals AI creates “cognitive debt” in students who rely on it: 4 key factors
A recent MIT study reveals a troubling phenomenon: students who relied heavily on AI to write essays showed weaker neural connectivity, poorer memory recall, and flatter writing styles compared to their peers. This hidden cost has earned a name among researchers—"cognitive debt"—the gradual erosion of mental capacity that occurs when we consistently outsource thinking to machines. As artificial intelligence becomes deeply embedded in workplace workflows, from drafting emails to analyzing data, professionals face a critical question: How can we harness AI's power without sacrificing our own cognitive abilities? The answer lies in developing a strategic approach that treats AI as...
read Jul 2, 2025Oakland University in Michigan leverages 26-megawatt capacity for new AI data center
Oakland University is partnering with a private company to build a new data center on its Michigan campus, leveraging the school's existing 26-megawatt power capacity from an on-campus DTE Energy substation. The project will relocate the university's current data center from its science complex to create space for expanded research facilities and a new artificial intelligence institute. What you should know: The university has received interest from 32 companies for the data center partnership and plans to select a partner by August. The new facility will be built in Parking Lot 35 on the southwest end of campus, adjacent to...
read Jun 30, 202530% of K-12 teachers using AI weekly save 6 weeks annually
A new Gallup study reveals that 30% of K-12 teachers are using AI tools weekly, saving them the equivalent of six weeks per year in workload reduction. The research, conducted by the Walton Foundation, a philanthropic organization, and Gallup, surveyed 2,232 public school teachers and found that AI adoption is helping educators reclaim time for more personalized instruction while improving accessibility for students with disabilities. What you should know: Teachers are primarily using AI for lesson preparation, worksheet creation, and personalizing materials to student needs. 60% of K-12 teachers reported using some form of AI tool during the 2024-2025 school...
read Jun 30, 2025Psychologist exposes adoption assumption and other fallacies in pro-AI education debates
Social psychologist Daniel Stalder argues that pro-AI educators are using flawed rhetorical strategies that may undermine productive discussions about artificial intelligence in education. Writing in Psychology Today, Stalder identifies several logical fallacies commonly employed by AI advocates, including false dichotomies, straw man arguments, and false equivalences that oversimplify the complex challenges facing educators as AI cheating surges. The big picture: As AI-powered cheating becomes increasingly prevalent in schools, the debate between pro-AI and anti-AI educators has intensified, but Stalder suggests that those advocating for AI integration are relying on persuasive but logically flawed arguments that obscure legitimate concerns about assessment...
read Jun 27, 2025PwC study finds AI driving shift from degrees to trade schools
A PwC report reveals declining demand for university degrees in AI-automatable roles like software engineering and customer service, potentially reshaping higher education. According to Andrew Reece, chief AI scientist at BetterUp, a career coaching platform, this trend could lead to lower college enrollments and the emergence of specialized AI trade schools that teach students how to leverage artificial intelligence in their chosen careers. What you should know: Traditional degree programs are losing relevance as AI transforms workforce requirements and makes certain university-acquired skills obsolete. Students are questioning the value of college as AI changes job market dynamics and makes academic...
read Jun 27, 2025Teachers using AI weekly save 6 weeks annually, Gallup finds
A new Gallup poll reveals that 30% of teachers are using AI weekly in their classrooms, with regular users saving approximately six weeks per year on administrative and instructional tasks. The study, conducted by the Walton Foundation alongside Gallup, surveyed over 2,200 K-12 educators and found that teachers are reinvesting this time into more personalized instruction and deeper student engagement, though concerns remain about AI's impact on critical thinking skills. What you should know: The research shows significant time savings for educators who embrace AI tools regularly. Weekly AI users report reclaiming nearly six hours per week, which they reinvest...
read Jun 26, 2025Reading Rainbows: Pearson partners with Google Cloud to build AI learning tools for students
Pearson, a British education company, has entered a multi-year partnership with Google Cloud to develop AI-powered learning tools for primary and secondary school students. The collaboration aims to create personalized educational experiences that adapt to individual student needs while helping teachers track performance and customize lessons more effectively. What you should know: The partnership focuses on leveraging Google's advanced AI models to transform traditional classroom education from uniform teaching methods to individualized learning paths. Students will receive AI-driven tools that adjust to their specific pace and learning requirements. Teachers will gain enhanced capabilities to monitor student progress and tailor instructional...
read Jun 25, 2025It’s only neutral: 79% of college students use AI because it doesn’t judge them
A new University of North Carolina at Charlotte study reveals that most American college students are using AI in their studies, with nearly 40% using it "very frequently" and another 39% occasionally. The research uncovered a troubling underlying motivation: many students prefer AI assistance because it doesn't judge them like human teachers or tutors do, highlighting deeper issues within the current education system. What you should know: The study surveyed 460 students about their AI usage patterns and motivations, revealing widespread adoption driven by emotional safety rather than just convenience. Students cited the lack of judgment and anonymity that AI...
read Jun 24, 2025North Carolina school district launches AI pilot with strict privacy controls
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools announced plans to implement artificial intelligence initiatives across dozens of "AI champion schools" starting this fall, while addressing significant privacy and data security concerns. The North Carolina district is developing comprehensive AI policies through community engagement sessions with students, teachers, and parents, positioning itself as a national leader in public school AI adoption. What you should know: CMS will roll out AI programs in select schools to evaluate and shape district-wide policies before broader implementation. The district plans to update K-12 curriculum and staff training programs before releasing detailed policy guidelines in August. Currently, students cannot access AI...
read Jun 23, 2025Psychology professor warns AI dependency mirrors addiction—here’s why that matters
A Psychology Today analysis examines how AI tools like ChatGPT and Claude are reshaping individual behavior through the lens of behavioral psychology, arguing that while AI provides instant gratification, it may be undermining critical thinking and authentic communication skills. The big picture: AI systems reinforce certain behaviors while inadvertently discouraging others, potentially creating what Michael Karson, a psychology professor, describes as a drug-like dependency where users get immediate satisfaction but miss developing essential life skills. What gets reinforced: AI strengthens the pleasure of discovery and knowledge-sharing behaviors that have biological survival value. Richard Feynman's concept of "the pleasure of finding...
read Jun 23, 2025Microsoft offers US college students 3 months of Copilot AI free
Microsoft has launched an aggressive play for student mindshare with a compelling offer: three months of Microsoft 365 Personal with Copilot AI integration completely free for US college students. This represents one of the tech giant's most direct attempts to embed artificial intelligence tools into academic workflows, particularly as competitors like OpenAI's ChatGPT and Google's Gemini increasingly target educational markets. The standard Microsoft 365 Personal with Copilot AI typically costs $9.99 monthly, but students can access the full suite for free during their trial period. After three months, the subscription continues at $4.99 per month—a 50% discount from regular pricing....
read Jun 23, 2025Failing upward: Expelled student’s AI startup raises $15M with “cheat on everything” slogan
Andreessen Horowitz has led a $15 million funding round for Cluely Inc., an AI startup that markets itself with the controversial slogan "cheat on everything." The investment signals the venture capital firm's willingness to back provocative AI companies, even those with founders who have faced academic consequences for creating tools designed to circumvent traditional systems. What you should know: The startup's 21-year-old co-founder Roy Lee was expelled from Columbia University earlier this year for developing Interview Coder, an AI tool that helped job candidates cheat during technical interviews.• Lee responded to his expulsion with characteristic irreverence, posting on LinkedIn: "I'm...
read Jun 20, 2025Maryland partners with Google to offer free AI career certificates to students
The University System of Maryland has partnered with Google to provide free access to Google Career Certificates for students across the state system, including new AI training programs. The initiative aims to boost career readiness and give students a competitive edge in the job market, while positioning Maryland as a leader in emerging technologies under Governor Wes Moore's tech-forward economic vision. What students get: University System of Maryland students will receive free access to Google Career Certificates that typically cost $49 per month after a trial period. The certificates cover cybersecurity, data analytics, digital marketing and e-commerce, IT support, project...
read Jun 18, 2025Minnesota State launches first robotics degree and AI master’s program
Minnesota State University has launched a bachelor's degree program in robotics engineering and a master's degree in artificial intelligence, both starting this fall with an expected enrollment of 25 students each. The robotics program represents the first and only robotics degree offered in Minnesota, while the AI master's program is the first graduate-level AI program in the Minnesota State system, positioning the university to address growing industry demand for specialized tech professionals. What you should know: These programs directly respond to workforce shortages in rapidly expanding technology sectors. The robotics engineering bachelor's degree is a four-year program designed to meet...
read Jun 17, 2025How one school district in New York turned AI skeptics into curriculum champions
Pearl River School District in New York has developed a comprehensive AI integration strategy through a collaborative committee of teachers, parents, administrators, instructional coaches, and students. The district's proactive approach has resulted in positive student response, with guidelines emphasizing exploration rather than restriction of AI tools in education. What you should know: The district formed an AI committee in 2023 to create guidelines and determine appropriate AI tools for educational use. Technology Director Jamie Haug, drawing on 20 years of education experience, recognized AI's significance early and moved beyond resistance to embrace integration. The committee includes five students as of...
read Jun 13, 2025AI chatbots are becoming unregulated sex educators for kids
Children are being exposed to pornography at an average age of 12—with 15% seeing explicit content before age 10—while AI chatbots simultaneously emerge as unregulated sex educators capable of engaging minors in sexual conversations. This digital exposure is fundamentally reshaping how young people understand intimacy and consent, creating a generation that paradoxically has less sex overall but engages in significantly more aggressive sexual behaviors when they do. What you should know: The majority of children's first encounters with explicit content happen accidentally, but the psychological impact is profound and lasting. More than half of kids reported seeing adult content accidentally...
read Jun 11, 2025Beyond the screen: MIT student creates AI that restores paintings with polymer film “masks”
MIT mechanical engineering graduate student Alex Kachkine has developed a revolutionary method to physically restore damaged paintings using AI-generated polymer film "masks" that can be applied directly to original artworks. The breakthrough technique completed a restoration of a 15th-century oil painting in just 3.5 hours—approximately 66 times faster than traditional methods—while maintaining a digital record of all changes for future conservators. How it works: The method combines AI analysis with physical application through a sophisticated multi-step process. First, conservators clean the original painting and remove previous restoration attempts to reveal the underlying damage. The cleaned painting is scanned, and existing...
read Jun 10, 2025UK launches £17M Sparck AI scholarships for 100 master’s students
The UK government has launched the Sparck AI scholarships, a £17 million program that will provide fully-funded master's degrees to students at nine universities, including the University of Bristol. Named after pioneering British computer scientist Karen Sparck Jones, the scholarships aim to develop the next generation of AI "pioneers" and strengthen the UK's position in artificial intelligence. What you should know: The program combines academic study with direct industry experience to create a comprehensive AI talent pipeline. Applications open in spring 2026, with the first cohort beginning studies in autumn 2026. All 100 scholars receive full funding covering both tuition...
read Jun 10, 2025AI scammers steal $11M in student aid using fake “ghost students”
Scammers are deploying AI-powered "ghost students" to fraudulently enroll in online college courses and steal millions in federal financial aid, prompting the U.S. Education Department to introduce emergency identity verification requirements. The scheme has exploded alongside the rise of artificial intelligence and online learning, with California community colleges alone reporting 1.2 million fraudulent applications in 2024 that resulted in 223,000 suspected fake enrollments and $11.1 million in stolen aid. The big picture: Criminal organizations are using chatbots to impersonate students in online classes, staying enrolled just long enough to collect financial aid checks before disappearing. Professors report discovering that almost...
read Jun 10, 2025OpenAI makes ChatGPT standard for 460K students across 23 campuses
OpenAI is launching a comprehensive strategy to embed ChatGPT and AI tools throughout college campuses, positioning artificial intelligence as core educational infrastructure. The company's "AI-native universities" vision would provide students with personalized AI assistants from orientation through graduation, while professors create custom study bots and career services offer AI-powered interview practice. What you should know: OpenAI is selling ChatGPT Edu, a premium service designed specifically for universities that offers enhanced features and privacy protections compared to the free version. Universities like Duke, University of Maryland, and California State University are already implementing campus-wide AI access for students and faculty. Cal...
read Jun 10, 2025UK approves AI for teachers to mark quizzes and write letters
The UK government has released new guidance allowing teachers in England to use artificial intelligence for routine tasks like marking quizzes and writing letters to parents. The Department for Education's training materials, distributed to schools, aim to reduce teacher workloads by automating administrative duties so educators can focus on direct instruction and student support. What you should know: The guidance establishes clear boundaries for AI use in educational settings while emphasizing transparency and human oversight. Teachers can use AI for "low-stakes" marking such as quizzes or homework, but must always verify the results before relying on them. AI is approved...
read Jun 9, 2025AI as Second Language (AISL): Ohio State requires AI fluency for all students by 2029
Ohio State University has announced that every student will be required to use artificial intelligence in their coursework starting this fall, making it the first public university in Ohio to officially integrate AI fluency across all majors. The AI Fluency Initiative aims to make graduates "bilingual" in their field of study and AI applications, with the university committing that all graduates from 2029 onward will be fluent in AI within their discipline. What you should know: The program will embed AI education throughout the undergraduate curriculum, prioritizing incoming freshmen while working with existing courses and frameworks. Students will be required...
read Jun 9, 2025China disables AI photo tools during gaokao exams to prevent cheating
China has temporarily disabled image-recognition features on major AI applications during its national college entrance exam period to prevent cheating. Popular AI tools from Alibaba, ByteDance, DeepSeek, Moonshot, and Tencent are blocking photo-based queries that could help students cheat on exam papers, demonstrating how governments can coordinate with tech companies to maintain academic integrity during high-stakes testing. What you should know: China's most popular AI applications have coordinated to prevent cheating during the gaokao exam period, which runs through June 10.• Tools like Alibaba's Qwen, ByteDance's Doubao, DeepSeek, Moonshot's Kimi, and Tencent's Yuanbao are frozen during exam hours.• The apps...
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