In Other AI News This Summer
Just as you've finally had time to lounge by the pool, you start scrolling mindlessly through the news only to catch some shocking * funny * eye-rolling * worrying * AI headlines. Well, me too...
I always think summer will feel like it did when I was a kid, with lazy, drawn-out days filled with chirping cicadas, dried grass, beating hot sun, dusty sports fields, stubbed toes, and those wonderfully boring afternoons with nothing to do.
Unfortunately, those days are long gone for us as adults, and I'm not sure our kids even experience summers the same way we did anyway. This year feels especially different, with growing anticipation around what AI will bring to the new school year and our workplaces as life returns to the autumn hustle.
So I thought I'd share an update on a few AI news items that have caught my attention over the past few weeks.
AI News to Keep on Your Radar
EDUCATION
White House Flurry of AI Activity
Two weeks ago, the White House released its “America's AI Action Plan.” The document serves as a roadmap that outlines activities following several AI Executive Orders released earlier this year, including “Advancing Artificial Intelligence Education for American Youth.” The Department of Education also released guidance with an opportunity for public comments. A few things to consider:
Even if these initiatives don't immediately impact your schools, they will shape investment in EdTech and industry growth, bringing AI into schools whether educators are ready or not.
UN Trade and Development estimates the AI industry will be worth $4.8 trillion by 2033. Unlike past innovations where we could be slow and deliberate in our consideration and adoption, AI is here and moving fast.
There's a great opportunity for families to participate in shaping policy at all levels of government and in schools. Your opinion matters and can impact how our kids learn about AI in the future.
Teachers are Preparing for an AI School Year
In July, the AFT and UFT announced a deal with OpenAI, Microsoft, and Anthropic. According to the press release:
“The groundbreaking $23 million education initiative will provide access to free AI training and curriculum for all 1.8 million members of the AFT, starting with K-12 educators. It will be based at a state-of-the-art bricks-and-mortar Manhattan facility designed to transform how artificial intelligence is taught and integrated into classrooms across the United States.”
While teachers absolutely need AI literacy support, there's reason to question whether it's wise for industry heavyweights to lock educators in from the start. What's also notable in this new age of AI: when teachers “learn” via these platforms, they simultaneously “train” the systems on what teachers think, need, and prioritize. Unlike partnerships of the past, AI companies get substantial value from their investment from the get-go.
Alpha School is coming to NYC this fall with its “two hours of learning” model. After its success in Austin, Miami, and a handful of other cities, Alpha School is now expanding to at least a dozen new locations, including Lower Manhattan this September. The school features two hours of personalized AI-driven learning, with the remainder of the day spent on team-building and skills-based activities with instructors and peers. The jury is still out on the long-term success of the model, the privacy implications, and whether this represents genuine innovation or just hype. The school's $65,000 price tag puts it out of reach for many families here in NYC as well.
ENERGY
While “energy” might not be your first choice of topic for catching up on kids and AI, that's exactly why I want to share these headlines with you. The reality is that many AI industry developments will impact families almost simultaneously, and the scale of these issues can be considerable. The growth and global expansion of data centers is one such issue. When you consider that just one ChatGPT query requires 10 times the electricity of a Google search, you can start to grasp the implications.
The Data Center Takeover
Here are several articles worth reading on the subject:
“Who Pays? AI Boom Sparks Fight Over Soaring Power Costs,” WSJ — Powering AI innovation requires data centers with hefty electricity bills, and some states are fighting with Big Tech over who foots the bill.
“If you live in one of these 13 states, you might have a higher electric bill next year. Blame data centers,” Business Insider — This is a significant issue, as data centers are moving into states where they compete directly with consumers for energy.
“As AI booms, data centers threaten energy grid and water supplies, expert says,” Virginia Tech News — Beyond cost concerns, there's the risk of blackouts and increased demand for water to cool the centers.
“Thirsty for power and water, AI-crunching data centers sprout across the west,” Stanford University — Data centers require substantial water resources in addition to electricity.
“How Big Tech's Data Centers Are Draining Water-Stressed Regions,” IMPAKTER — Low humidity locations with flat terrain, cheap land, and proximity to renewable energy are being claimed by Big Tech, stressing water availability for local communities.
AI IMAGE BOOM
Who Needs “Real”?
AI-generated images and videos are nearing the point where we might really struggle to detect what's real, so now is the time to have this conversation with our kids. The key is encouraging an open dialogue about what's happening, the implications, and making sure kids to always check in when they're unsure about whether something is real.
Think you can tell the difference? The New York Times created a quiz with recent videos and images that tests whether you can determine which are AI-generated. (I scored 40% 👎)
Expect to see many more headlines about fake content over the coming months:
“AI-generated animals in fake surveillance videos are fooling the internet,” Mashable
“Infinite Unreality: How an AI kangaroo tricked the internet,” Dazed
“These hyper-realistic AI generated news anchors are fooling the internet,” EuroNews
“AI influencer Mia Zelu goes viral after fooling Instagram with fake Wimbledon appearance,” Times of India
You get the picture. Literally.
What to do? For now, talk to your kids. Tell them that much of what seems compelling right now isn't real. It's going to be one of the biggest challenges we face in our AI-forward future.
What have you been reading? Thinking about?
In the next newsletter, I'll have big news to share. I hope you'll stay tuned…