FREAK OUT FRIDAY
AI IS PLOTTING TO TAKE OVER OUR CLASSROOMS AND THE WORLD
Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, gather around for this week's installment of Freak Out Friday, where we dive headfirst into the swirling whirlpool of anxiety and excitement that is Artificial Intelligence (AI). Grab your popcorn, because today's episode is packed with drama, intrigue, and a touch of existential dread. Spoiler alert: AI might just be plotting to take over our classrooms and, if we're not careful, the world!
First up on our AI-themed rollercoaster is the ominously titled "Big Ugly Bill" brought to you by none other than the former reality TV star and ex-President, Donald Trump. This blockbuster legislation, which seems to have been penned by a team of tech-happy lobbyists, is set to give AI a free pass in schools for the next decade. Yes, you heard that right – ten whole years of unregulated AI frolicking in the educational playground. What could possibly go wrong?
According to Diane Ravitch's blog, this bill is like giving AI a golden ticket to wreak havoc on student privacy and educational quality while tech billionaires laugh all the way to the bank. Over 200 state legislators are already waving red flags, urging us to contact our U.S. Senators faster than you can say "data breach." So, should you be alarmed? If your idea of fun doesn't include AI snooping through your child's lunch money transactions or deciding their future career path, then yes, maybe just a smidge.
Next on our agenda is Peter Greene's Curmudgucation blog, which poses the burning question: Should AI Make Students Care? Spoiler: Probably not. Greene argues that while AI can personalize learning experiences with the flair of a digital butler, it lacks the social pizzazz needed to make students feel like rockstars in their own academic show. Adolescents are wired to seek status and respect from their peers – something AI can't quite provide unless it suddenly becomes sentient and starts handing out friendship bracelets.
Greene points out that schools often fail to engage students because they offer limited avenues for earning that all-important social currency (think academics, sports, leadership). AI, unfortunately, can't fulfill the need for social recognition or confer status and respect, making it about as effective in motivating students as a motivational poster from 1995. Sorry, AI – you're just not cool enough to sit with us.
And now, for a twist of irony that would make even Alanis Morissette raise an eyebrow: The National Education Policy Center's blog highlights how generative AI (GenAI) might actually increase teacher workloads instead of lightening them. Imagine buying a robot vacuum that insists on leaving dust bunnies in every corner – that's GenAI for you. While these tools promise to save time by automating tasks like lesson planning and grading, they often lead to heightened demands on teachers, who end up refining or reworking GenAI-generated outputs just to keep things from going haywire.
Moving on to Jennifer Berkshire's podcast "Have You Heard," which recently celebrated its 200th episode with a lively discussion on the overselling of AI in education. Joined by guests Audrey Watters, Benjamin Riley, and John Warner, Berkshire delves into the problematic history of educational technology – a saga filled with broken promises and dashed hopes. The conversation highlights how tech industry leaders wield immense power to reshape education in ways that might be more reactionary than revolutionary. So before you buy into the AI hype, remember: If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
Finally, Julian Vasquez Heilig's article on Cloaking Inequity sounds the alarm on how AI is set to supercharge racism, rewrite history, and hijack learning. Picture this: AI systems that reflect societal biases and inequities like a funhouse mirror from your worst nightmares. These systems could potentially erase marginalized perspectives from curricula or prioritize tasks over ethics – because who needs human values when you've got algorithms?
Heilig warns against replacing human educators with AI, emphasizing the need for justice-driven AI development. Without ethical oversight and community consent, we might just find ourselves in a dystopian educational landscape where disinformation runs rampant and inequities deepen faster than you can say "standardized testing."
So there you have it, folks – a whirlwind tour of the current AI landscape in education. As we navigate these uncharted waters, let's keep our wits about us and remember that while technology can be a powerful tool, it's no substitute for the human touch. After all, even the most advanced AI can't replace the warmth of a teacher's smile or the camaraderie of a classroom filled with curious minds.
Until next time, stay curious and keep questioning – because in this ever-evolving world of education and technology, there's always more than meets the eye.
DANGER! Trump's "Big Ugly Bill" Protects AI for a Decade https://dianeravitch.net/2025/06/20/danger-trumps-big-ugly-bill-protects-ai-for-a-decade/ via @dianeravitch
CURMUDGUCATION: Should AI Make Students Care? https://curmudgucation.blogspot.com/2025/06/should-ai-make-students-care.html
Don't Buy the AI Hype - by Jennifer Berkshire https://educationwars.substack.com/p/dont-buy-the-ai-hype
Code Red: How AI Is Set to Supercharge Racism, Rewrite History, and Hijack Learning – Cloaking Inequity https://cloakinginequity.com/2025/06/20/code-red-how-ai-is-set-to-supercharge-racism-rewrite-history-and-hijack-learning/
Critical Studies of Education & Technology: More Work for Teacher? The Ironies of GenAI as a Labour-Saving Technology | National Education Policy Center https://nepc.colorado.edu/blog/more-work