Year-End Special Part 2: 2026 AI & EdTech Predictions from Google, YouTube, Reach Capital, Owl Ventures & More!

The podcast episode centers on predictions for the future of EdTech, particularly regarding AI's role in education for 2026. Guests, including Jean-Claude Brizard from Digital Promise, Sunil Gunderia, Sophia Fenichel, Amit Patel from Owl Ventures, Dr. Sorin Rosier, Jomayra Herrera from Reach Capital, Dan Carroll, and Katie Kurtz from YouTube, share insights. Discussions cover AI's shift from workflow efficiency to curriculum and assessment impacts, the importance of evidence-based AI, and the need for AI literacy. The potential for AI tutors, personalized learning experiences, and the balance between technology and human connection are also explored, alongside concerns about screen time and the ethical implications of AI in education.

Outlines

Part 1: Foundations, Safety, and Trust

Part 2: Shifting Pedagogy and Learning Science

Part 3: Evidence-Based AI and Human Connection

Part 4: Deep Focus and the AI Tutor

Part 5: Market Trends and Institutional Shifts

Part 6: Social Interaction and Peer Learning

Part 7: Adoption, Policy, and School Choice

Part 8: Agentic AI and Literacy Standards

Part 9: Future Outlook and Implementation Challenges

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Edtech Insiders

Part 1: Foundations, Safety, and Trust

00:00Starbridge's EdTech Insights: Tracking Signals for Personalized Outreach

Starbridge's EdTech Insights: Tracking Signals for Personalized Outreach

00:31AI Safety, Consistency, and Trust in Education

AI Safety, Consistency, and Trust in Education

01:27The Golden Age of Motivated Learning: AI-Powered Tools and Resources

The Golden Age of Motivated Learning: AI-Powered Tools and Resources

Part 2: Shifting Pedagogy and Learning Science

02:31Digital Promise's Jean-Claude Brizard on AI's Shift to Curriculum and Instruction

Digital Promise's Jean-Claude Brizard on AI's Shift to Curriculum and Instruction

03:57AI's Acceleration in Learning Science and the Future of Assessment

AI's Acceleration in Learning Science and the Future of Assessment

05:55Educators as Crew: The Importance of Research-Practice Partnerships in EdTech

Educators as Crew: The Importance of Research-Practice Partnerships in EdTech

07:33Co-Design and the Leveling of the Playing Field in EdTech

Co-Design and the Leveling of the Playing Field in EdTech

09:05Centralized Leadership and the Future of the Education Department

Centralized Leadership and the Future of the Education Department

Part 3: Evidence-Based AI and Human Connection

10:31Sunil Gunderia on AI's Potential Guided by Evidence and Human Relationships

Sunil Gunderia on AI's Potential Guided by Evidence and Human Relationships

11:33ED's Study on AI-Supported Tutoring and the Perils of AI Companions

ED's Study on AI-Supported Tutoring and the Perils of AI Companions

13:40Moving from Generic Assistance to True Instructional Intelligence in 2026

Moving from Generic Assistance to True Instructional Intelligence in 2026

15:41Optimizing AI's Promise While Minimizing Peril: A Systems Approach

Optimizing AI's Promise While Minimizing Peril: A Systems Approach

17:00Building an Evidence Base for AI in Learning and Relationships

Building an Evidence Base for AI in Learning and Relationships

Part 4: Deep Focus and the AI Tutor

19:06Sophia Fenichel on the Collapsed Content Cycle and Hyper-Fragmented Attention

Sophia Fenichel on the Collapsed Content Cycle and Hyper-Fragmented Attention

20:51The AI Tutor as Hero Story: Multimodal Engagement and Precision Data

The AI Tutor as Hero Story: Multimodal Engagement and Precision Data

22:08Juggernaut Use Cases in Reading and High-Stakes Exams

Juggernaut Use Cases in Reading and High-Stakes Exams

23:41AI-Powered Annotation Coach: User-Driven Deep Reading Experiences

AI-Powered Annotation Coach: User-Driven Deep Reading Experiences

25:11AI for Learners: Balancing Superpowers with Critical Thinking

AI for Learners: Balancing Superpowers with Critical Thinking

Part 5: Market Trends and Institutional Shifts

27:29Amit Patel on Outcomes-Based Contracting and AI's Impact on EdTech

Amit Patel on Outcomes-Based Contracting and AI's Impact on EdTech

28:43Consistency of AI Responses: Building Trust in Education

Consistency of AI Responses: Building Trust in Education

31:27Proving Identity and Verifying Understanding in the Age of AI

Proving Identity and Verifying Understanding in the Age of AI

33:11Unlocking Secrets and Distinguishing Surface-Level Knowledge

Unlocking Secrets and Distinguishing Surface-Level Knowledge

34:45The Self-Selection of Talent into the Education Technology Sector

The Self-Selection of Talent into the Education Technology Sector

Part 6: Social Interaction and Peer Learning

36:03Dr. Soren Rosier on PeerTeach and the Power of Peer Tutoring

Dr. Soren Rosier on PeerTeach and the Power of Peer Tutoring

37:53AI's Paradox: Power vs. Social Interaction in the Classroom

AI's Paradox: Power vs. Social Interaction in the Classroom

39:54Moving Past Right and Wrong Answers: Nuanced Assessment with AI

Moving Past Right and Wrong Answers: Nuanced Assessment with AI

42:20Accelerating Research and Dissemination to Match Technology's Pace

Accelerating Research and Dissemination to Match Technology's Pace

Part 7: Adoption, Policy, and School Choice

44:53Jomayra Herrera on Adoption and Experimentation in 2025

Jomayra Herrera on Adoption and Experimentation in 2025

47:58High-Leverage Use Cases for AI in Curriculum and Instruction

High-Leverage Use Cases for AI in Curriculum and Instruction

49:19School Choice: A Shift in K-12 Education

School Choice: A Shift in K-12 Education

51:13The Viability of Selling to Micro Schools and Alternative Schools

The Viability of Selling to Micro Schools and Alternative Schools

Part 8: Agentic AI and Literacy Standards

53:42Dan Carroll on Mainstream Teacher AI Tools and Motivated Learners

Dan Carroll on Mainstream Teacher AI Tools and Motivated Learners

55:57Agentic AI in School Operations: An Always-On Assistant

Agentic AI in School Operations: An Always-On Assistant

57:43Rich Student Interactions with AI: Multimodal Formative Assessment

Rich Student Interactions with AI: Multimodal Formative Assessment

59:24Screen Backlash: Justifying Technology Use in Schools

Screen Backlash: Justifying Technology Use in Schools