AI in Edu: News, Tools, & Views (August 1)
Welcome to my weekly digest of AI in education news, tools, and views to help keep you informed. Let’s get started:
OpenAI’s New Moves in Education: ‘Study Mode’ and 'Study Together'
As reported at tomdaccord.com, GPT has launched a new feature called ‘Study Mode’ and is quietly testing a related feature called ‘Study Together’. Study Mode, available to users on Free, Plus, Pro, and Team plans, is designed to help users like a tutor, by not offering immediate solutions but rather via metacognitive strategies, such as asking questions and encouraging step-by-step reasoning. It further assists users by providing clarifying hints or by rephrasing a question. Study Together, spotted by several GPT users, appears to promote collaborative learning and reinforces metacognitive strategies.
https://www.tomdaccord.com/blog/openais-next-move-in-schools-clues-from-study-together-mode
NotebookLM Now Features Video Overviews
As reported at tomdaccord.com, Google has introduced Video Overviews in NotebookLM. Video Overviews are AI-generated narrated slideshows that can feature images, diagrams, quotes, and more in research summaries. NotebookLM users can customize their prompts to steer the narrative, visuals, and emphasis in the direction they wish. (Watch Video Overviews in action on YouTube.) As a result, Video Overview slideshows can help students understand abstract concepts and intricate processes and make data more understandable. In addition, NotebookLM’s Studio panel has been upgraded and users can now generate and store multiple Audio Overviews, Video Overviews, Mind Maps, or Reports—all within the same notebook.
https://www.tomdaccord.com/blog/notebooklm-rolls-out-video-overviews
Google Enhances Search AI Mode for Students with Image Uploads and Study Canvas
The Verge reports that Google has updated its AI Mode in Search—especially for students—with new desktop features. Users can now upload images directly (soon PDFs and Drive files) to ask AI Mode questions about visual content like homework problems, diagrams, or lecture materials. Additionally, Search Live allows real-time camera‑based interactions via Google Lens, and Chrome will offer an “Ask Google about this page” option for AI‑powered insights.
https://www.theverge.com/news/715218/google-ai-mode-image-upload-canvas-update-students
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School AI: Showcase 2025
As reported at tomdaccord.com, Showcase 2025 is a School AI promotional event highlighting new School AI features, like Dot, Power Ups, and Mission Control. It also attempts to explore how AI can enhance personalized learning, student voice, and more — and features several edtech experts. You can watch a recording of the main event and its breakout sessions.
https://www.tomdaccord.com/blog/school-ai-showcase-2025
How to avoid cognitive debt by building critical thinking skills
This eSchool News article explores how educators can avoid “cognitive debt”, the learning deficit that occurs when students rely too heavily on AI by emphasizing critical thinking through clear instruction, rich dialogue, and process-focused assignments. The article advocates building educators’ AI toolboxes that support learning—not just shortcuts—and includes strategies to guide students in actively engaging with AI outputs rather than passively accepting them.
How This District Is Using AI in Instruction—and Navigating Public Concern
Education Week reports that the Darlington School District in South Carolina has entered its second year piloting supervised generative AI use in classrooms, after initially blocking ChatGPT in 2022 during the emergence of AI. District leaders prioritized creating a position statement focused on flexibility, transparency, and stakeholder engagement, including tech coaches, teachers, school board, and families. Darlington emphasizes process and values over rigid policy and aims to integrate AI thoughtfully while addressing public concerns.
A.I.-Driven Education: Founded in Texas and Coming to a School Near You
The New York Times reports on Alpha School, a private institution in Austin that delivers core academics via AI-powered tutoring in just two hours per day. During the rest of the day, students engage in life skills like public speaking and leadership under adult “guides” rather than traditional teachers. The school claims accelerated learning and high academic growth and plans to expand to a dozen cities, including New York and Orlando, this fall. Critics raise concerns over screen time and reduced human interaction.
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/07/27/us/politics/ai-alpha-school-austin-texas.html?
Putting K–12 AI Policies Into Practice
EdTech magazine reports that districts nationwide are crafting their own AI policies as federal and state guidance remains limited, with no unified federal standard and state models still few and non-mandatory. Tucson Unified and Greenwich, CT schools exemplify policies that cover students, teachers, and staff, laying out usage ethics, citation expectations, academic integrity, and clear definitions. Crafting effective plans involves forming inclusive task forces of educators, tech staff, parents, and board members to collaboratively draft and communicate clear, usable AI guidelines.
https://edtechmagazine.com/k12/article/2025/07/putting-k-12-ai-policies-practice
And More…
BookWatch - create animated book summaries
What Teachers Should Know About ChatGPT’s New Study Mode Feature - Education Week
Microsoft Edge transforms into an AI browser with new Copilot Mode - The Verge
Google Photos can now animate your photos into short videos - TechRadar
Photoshop just made it shockingly easy to edit objects and people into photos - The Verge
"Buckle Up, Here it Comes!" - The Homework Machine, Episode 1
From pen to prompt: Navigating AI in the classroom - eSchoolNews
4 Principles for Classroom AI, From an Experienced Educator - Education Week
Can an AI-Powered Tutor Produce Meaningful Results? - Education Week
What really shapes the future of AI in education? - eSchoolNews
Teachers' Essential Guide to Cybersecurity - Common Sense Education
The Ed. Dept. Wants to Steer Grant Money to AI. What That Means for Schools - Education Week
AI Deepfake Explicit Images of Students: What Can School Leaders Do? - Tech&Learning
Edtech Equity Project Tackles Racial Bias in AI Learning Tools - GT
Trust Before Tech: AI Integration in Higher Education Coaching - TCEA
Google users are less likely to click on links when an AI summary appears in the results - PEW Research Center
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