In this episode, Dr. Sabba Quidwai explores the deeper cultural implications of AI’s evolution from tools to teammates. Using OpenAI’s recent personalization shift and the OnlyFans origin story as parallels, she reflects on societal responsibility, educational challenges, and why banning AI is not a solution. Through candid insight and current research, Sabba calls for reflection, redesign, and a commitment to future-focused leadership.

Timestamps

[00:00:00] The Shift from Clicks to Conversations

• How AI browsers like Atlas signal a fundamental change in how we interact with technology.

[00:04:00] The OpenAI Controversy and Culture Clash

• Sabba analyzes the backlash around ChatGPT’s personality features and what it says about freedom and responsibility.

[00:06:00] Lessons from OnlyFans: When Users Redefine Platforms

• A surprising yet powerful comparison showing how user behavior—not company intent—shapes digital culture.

[00:14:00] Reports from the Field: The AI Literacy Gap in Schools

• Insights from Oxford University Press and the Center for Democracy and Technology highlighting students’ and teachers’ lack of AI confidence.

[00:24:00] What Bold Leaders Do Differently with AI

• Sabba shares leadership lessons from top-performing teams and introduces the Spark Prompting Framework for deeper AI integration.

Resources Mentioned

• Sam Altman Tweet on ChatGPT Updates
• Oxford University Press - Teaching the AI Native Generation
• Hand in Hand: Schools Embrace of AI Connected to Increased Risk for Students

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In this episode of Designing Schools, Dr. Sabba Quidwai breaks down OpenAI’s transformative Dev Day announcements and what they mean for the future of education, creativity, and digital life. Exploring the shift from clickable interfaces to conversational AI, she challenges educators and leaders to rethink skills, judgment, and imagination in the age of agents and apps.

⏱️ Timestamps

[00:53] From Apps to Agents

• OpenAI's 2025 Dev Day unveils a new digital world where apps like Canva and Spotify live inside conversations, not screens.

[03:00] Redefining Human Skills

• Sam Altman and Jony Ive discuss focus, speed, and why human creativity and design thinking are more vital than ever.

[07:26] Agents That Use Computers Like Humans

• Google’s Gemini 2.5 model introduces AI agents that can navigate and interact with digital environments autonomously.

[10:25] Sora and the Rise of Generative Imagination

• OpenAI’s video creation app Sora takes off—sparking excitement, ethical debates, and concerns over deepfakes.

[14:35] Deloitte's AI Report Scandal

• An AI-generated government report filled with fake citations reveals why discernment, not just tech skills, is critical today.

Resources Mentioned

• OpenAI Dev Day Announcements
• Update: Gemini 2.5 Computer Use Model
• Walmart Partnership With ChatGPT 
• New App from OpenAI - Sora2
• Deloitte Pays Money Back After Making AI Errors in Report
• Student Course Waitlist

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In this solo episode, Dr. Sabba Quidwai explores how leadership is evolving in the age of AI, not through technical mastery, but by cultivating clarity, trust, and shared intelligence. She introduces four transformative leadership personas, explains how AI is shifting from tool to teammate, and unpacks emerging research that paints a bold picture of what the world could look like in 2030.

⏱️ Timestamps

[00:00] The Leadership Shift in the AI Era

• Why your leadership identity—not your AI knowledge—is your greatest strategy during exponential change.

[04:00] What Makes a Super Leader?

• A breakdown of Kelly Jones' four leadership personas: The Technologist, The Empath, The Philosopher, and The Change Agent.

[13:00] AI Teammates and Workflow Redesign

• Insights from Anthropic and OpenAI on training AI to work with humans, not replace them.

[28:00] Safety, Skepticism, and the Human Cost of AI

• Reflections on Senate hearings, Pew data, and how leaders can prepare their communities with empathy and literacy.

Resources Mentioned

• Join the AI Power Circle
• The AI Era Demands a New Kind of Leader  | Cisco
• How Anthropic and OpenAI Are Developing AI Coworkers | The Information
• Center for Human Technology - Senate Hearing
• How Americans View AI and Its Impact on People and Society | Pew Research Center
• GDP Val - Looking at AI Capabilities

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• 🎓 Prepare Your Students for an AI Future: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Free Course – AI Skills for College and Career⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to equip your school community with future-ready skills.

For questions, email: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠hello@designingschools.org⁠

In this episode, Dr. Sabba Quidwai and Stefan Bauschard explore groundbreaking findings from a study released by OpenAI and Anthropic on how people are really using AI tools like ChatGPT. From tutoring and personalized learning to writing assistance and decision-making, they break down what 700 million weekly users reveal about how AI is transforming everyday life. With special focus on education, agency, and future-ready skills, this conversation is a wake-up call for schools, institutions, and leaders to move from committees to action.

Timestamps

00:01:00 – Inside the Data: 700 Million Weekly Users and What They're Doing with AI

• A look at the NBER study's key insights, showing a dramatic rise in personal, non-work AI use.

00:04:30 – Top 3 Use Cases: Tutoring, Information Seeking, and Writing Support

• A breakdown of the three most common AI usage themes and their significance in education.

00:13:00 – The Gender Gap Closes and the Myth of Coding-Centric AI

• Exploration of shifting demographics and the broader applications of AI beyond STEM.

00:20:00 – Why Agency is the New Literacy in the Age of AI

• Connecting data trends with the need for self-directed learning and decision-making skills.

00:32:00 – Brandeis University’s Bold Move to Reinvent Higher Ed for an AI Future

• A case study in institutional agility and what it means to act—not wait—in a rapidly evolving world.

Resources Mentioned

• How Are People Using ChatGPT
• Anthropic Economic Index
• Brandeis University: Reinventing the Liberal Arts

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This episode explores the evolving impact of AI on the job market, especially its disproportionate effects on younger workers and recent graduates. Dr. Sabba Quidwai and Stefan analyze the recent paper "Canaries in the Coal Mine", revealing how automation and augmentation are reshaping employment trends and urging educational leaders to rethink how students are being prepared for an AI-driven future.

Timestamps

[00:02:00] Rethinking the AI and Jobs Debate

• Sabba challenges the binary narrative of “AI taking jobs” and advocates for a more nuanced view focused on redesigning existing roles and preparing for emerging ones.

[00:05:00] Key Takeaways from ‘Canaries in the Coal Mine’

• Discussion of six major findings from the Stanford/Hi-Pact paper, highlighting declines in employment for young workers in AI-exposed jobs like coding and entry-level marketing.

[00:10:00] Disconnect Between Education and Workforce Needs

• Reflection on how high schools and colleges must pivot from traditional learning models to design thinking and durable skills to help students remain relevant.

[00:26:00] How to Be ‘AI Capable’ at Work

• Breakdown of Zapier’s model distinguishing AI-capable, adaptive, and transformative roles—with implications for what employers now expect from applicants.

[00:32:00] Notebook LM and Smarter Learning Workflows

• Introduction to Google's Notebook LM as a transformative educational tool, enabling students to better engage with readings and improve learning outcomes using AI.

Resources Mentioned

• 📄 Paper: Canaries in the Coal Mine: Six Facts About Recent Employment Effects of AI by Erik Brynjolfsson and colleagues
• 🗓️ Stanford Seminar (Sept 29): In-depth discussion of the Canaries in the Coal Mine findings

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• 🎓 Prepare Your Students for an AI Future: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Free Course – AI Skills for College and Career⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to equip your school community with future-ready skills.

For questions, email: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠hello@designingschools.org⁠

This week, Dr. Sabba Quidwai and Stefan explore the rapidly blurring boundaries between humans and machines, from emotional bonds with AI companions to the systemic divide between individual and institutional AI use. With thought-provoking stories, emerging research, and bold perspectives, they uncover how our emotional, educational, and professional systems are unprepared for the new AI-infused reality and what we can do about it.

Timestamps

[00:00:00] When AI Becomes a Friend: Mustafa Suleyman's Warning

• Sabba opens with reflections on AI's emotional mimicry and the psychological fallout when users felt they "lost a friend" with GPT model changes.

[00:03:00] Companions or Crutches? Emotional Overload and Mental Health

• Stefan shares data on AI addiction, time spent on Character.AI, hospitalizations, and the societal implications of simulated friendships.

[00:17:00] The GenAI Divide: Individual vs. Organizational Adoption

• MIT's study reveals how individuals thrive using AI, while institutions lag behind—highlighting why experimentation alone isn't enough.

[00:26:00] Microsoft’s 3 Phases of AI: Why Most Orgs Are Stuck in Phase 1

• Sabba introduces a powerful framework on AI integration—from assistants to teammates to agents—and why moving beyond Phase 1 is critical.

[00:32:00] The Real Divide: Education vs. Workforce and How Youth Must Adapt

• As college degrees lose value and entry-level jobs shrink, the hosts argue for design thinking and entrepreneurial mindsets in schools.

Resources Mentioned

• Mustafa Suleyman's blog: Seemingly Conscious AI
• SpiralBench: Benchmark testing AI models for delusional reinforcement
• New York Times article: "What My Daughter Told ChatGPT Before She Took Her Life"
• MIT study: The GenAI Divide led by Professor Nitin Nanda
• Microsoft Work Trend Index: Three Phases of AI Integration

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• 🎓 Prepare Your Students for an AI Future: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Free Course – AI Skills for College and Career⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to equip your school community with future-ready skills.

For questions, email: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠hello@designingschools.org⁠

In this episode, Dr. Sabba Quidwai and Stefan explore the evolving relationships people, especially students are forming with AI tools like ChatGPT-5 and other AI tools. From the surprising emotional reactions to AI model updates to the rise of AI-powered toys for children, they dissect what these developments mean for education, ethics, and the future of learning. This conversation challenges educators to reconsider how we define thinking, agency, and integrity in an AI-integrated world.

Timestamps

• [00:01:00] What AI Can Already Do – Sabba outlines the capabilities of the newest AI tools, setting the stage for a deeper conversation on mindset and systems change.
• [00:05:00] Emotional Attachments to ChatGPT – Stefan discusses the backlash to ChatGPT-5 and the unexpected grief users expressed over losing GPT-4.
• [00:13:00] Personalization, Vulnerability, and Ethics – The hosts explore how AI companies are leaning into emotional design and what this means for young people’s agency and decision-making.
• [00:20:00] AI-Powered Toys and the Future of Childhood – Sabba introduces the topic of AI toys like Curio and their implications for learning, imagination, and privacy.
• [00:31:00] Redefining Thinking in an AI World – A reflection on what it means to “think” today, featuring Des Hassabis’s definition and how educators can redesign learning for agency and depth.

Resources Mentioned

• ⁠ChatGPT-5 - updates + relationship⁠
• ⁠Chatbots + Toys⁠

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• 🎓 Prepare Your Students for an AI Future: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Free Course – AI Skills for College and Career⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to equip your school community with future-ready skills.

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This episode unpacks the viral claim, “AI won’t take your job, but someone who knows how to use it will,” exploring its deeper implications. Sabba and Stefan discuss how cultivating high-agency learners and leaders — who can adapt, make decisions, and build trust — is far more critical than simply learning AI tools. With practical strategies and thought-provoking insights, the conversation challenges educators, parents, and leaders to foster resilience and human connection in a world increasingly shaped by AI.

Timestamps

00:00 – The Viral Lie: “AI won’t take your job…”

• Sabba challenges the popular soundbite and introduces the real question: Who can lead and adapt when no one else comes to save them?

03:00 – Greg Eisenberg’s Perspective on AI and Jobs

• Exploring Greg Eisenberg’s viral post and its implications for the workforce, entrepreneurship, and education.

09:00 – Building High-Agency Learners vs. Teaching AI Tools

• Why persistence, curiosity, and decision-making matter more than ever — and why perfection and compliance no longer serve students or employees.

27:00 – The Rise of AI Companions and the Loneliness Crisis

• Discussing the concerning trend of kids (and adults) turning to AI for companionship, and what it says about human relationships.

36:00 – Practical Strategies: Frameworks and Tools to Cultivate Agency

• Concrete ways schools and organizations can foster high-agency environments, including examples from Desert Sands USD and Gemini AI.

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• 🎓 Prepare Your Students for an AI Future: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Free Course – AI Skills for College and Career⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to equip your school community with future-ready skills.

For questions, email: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠hello@designingschools.org⁠

Resources Mentioned

• Greg Eisenberg’s LinkedIn post - How Does AI Play Out
• AI Companions and Kids

In this episode of Designing Schools, Dr. Sabba Quidwai and Stefan Bauschard explore the transformative shift from individual AI use to organizational deployment. They discuss Google's LearnLM principles, Gemini's enterprise tools, and how AI agents are changing the skills and mindset needed for leadership and collaboration. Through reflections, real-world examples, and critical insights, they outline how to move beyond using AI as an assistant and start managing it as a teammate.⏱️

Timestamps

• [00:01:00] Resetting for Impact: Sabba reflects on the first half of the year and clarifies her focus on organizational AI deployment.
• [00:06:00] Students, Parents, and AI: Stefan shares insights from his AI & entrepreneurship class and reactions to AI tools.
• [00:07:00] Google's LearnLM & Gemini: Unpacking the five principles of LearnLM and their implications for education.
• [00:19:00] OECD AI Capability Review: What AI can and can’t do yet — and how it measures up on skills like creativity, metacognition, and problem-solving.
• [00:40:00] From AI Assistant to Teammate: Why managing AI agents is a leadership challenge and how to move from individual use to enterprise deployment.

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• 🤝 Partner with Us: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Join the AI Power Circle⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and collaborate with forward-thinking educators building the future with AI.📘 Get the Book: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Designing Schools⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ — a practical blueprint to transform your campus with creativity, leadership, and innovation.
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For questions, email: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠hello@designingschools.org⁠

Resources Mentioned

• Google Updates from ISTE
• Goldman Sachs CIO - We Must Prepare AI Native sand Being a People First Organization
• OECD AI Capability Index
• Gemini + Canva Course - Join our mini course and learn how to build your AI Dream Team

This episode explores how the evolving job market prioritizes AI fluency, adaptability, and mindset over traditional qualifications. Sabba and Stefan dissect recent research and reports, highlighting how education must adapt to prepare learners for a future where AI is a collaborator, not a cheat code. They also spotlight real-world education leaders and systems successfully navigating this transformation.

Timestamps

[00:01:00] The Résumé is Out, AI Fluency is In

• Sabba unpacks a Fortune article on how companies now prioritize AI skills and mindset over experience or degrees.

[00:04:00] Refusing AI Isn’t an Option

• Stefan raises concerns about higher ed’s disconnect, especially around ethical objections to using AI in learning environments.

[00:10:00] Sandbox Interviews and Soft Skills Reimagined

• Discussion of new hiring practices including live AI collaborations and how soft skills like curiosity are redefined.

[00:23:00] Stanford’s Human-AI Collaboration Study

• Deep dive into new research from Stanford that maps out AI integration across roles, emphasizing shared human-AI agency.

[00:36:00] Barbie Gets AI: The Future Starts in the Toybox

• Insights on the Mattel–OpenAI partnership and how early AI exposure through toys will shape children’s perceptions and skills.

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• 🤝 Partner with Us: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Join the AI Power Circle⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and collaborate with forward-thinking educators building the future with AI.📘 Get the Book: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Designing Schools⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ — a practical blueprint to transform your campus with creativity, leadership, and innovation.
• 🎓 Prepare Your Students for an AI Future: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Free Course – AI Skills for College and Career⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to equip your school community with future-ready skills.

For questions, email: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠hello@designingschools.org⁠

Resources Mentioned

• Fortune Magazine article on AI hiring trends
• Stanford’s “Future of Work with AI Agents” study
• Diary of a CEO interview with Geoffrey Hinton
• Mattel and OpenAI partnership announcement
• AI Power Circle program: Join the AI Power Circle

This episode explores how emerging signals from viral LinkedIn posts to global entrepreneurship trends are revealing cracks in traditional education. Dr. Sabba Quidwai and Stefan discuss the urgent need to move from robotic, standardized systems toward cultivating creativity, curiosity, and entrepreneurial thinking, especially as AI reshapes what it means to learn, lead, and connect. They share stories that inspire a mindset shift, from kids in Nepal launching businesses to how companies like Zapier are reimagining onboarding with AI.

Timestamps

[00:00:00] Redefining Human vs. Robotic

• Kevin Scott’s insight: AI isn’t replacing people—it’s replacing people who act like machines.

[00:02:00] A Parent’s Frustration Goes Viral

• Matt Pier’s viral LinkedIn post sparks a discussion about how current education is misaligned with future needs.

[00:05:00] Building Future Entrepreneurs

• Stefan shares how AI-powered entrepreneurship camps can help kids generate revenue and creativity in weeks.

[00:12:00] Are AI Friends Real Friends?

• Exploring how AI companions are affecting school life, emotional wellbeing, and our concept of relationships.

[00:17:00] Kids Are Learning—Just Not in School

• OpenAI’s finals week data shows students using ChatGPT for deep learning—not cheating.

[00:25:00] From Tool to Teammate: Zapier’s Onboarding Shift

• How Zapier redesigned its onboarding to emphasize curiosity and AI-integrated workflows.

[00:33:00] OpenAI and the NYT Lawsuit: What Educators Should Know

• Key updates about data privacy, ChatGPT logs, and what’s excluded from court orders.

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• 🤝 Partner with Us: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Join the AI Power Circle⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and collaborate with forward-thinking educators building the future with AI.📘 Get the Book: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Designing Schools⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ — a practical blueprint to transform your campus with creativity, leadership, and innovation.
• 🎓 Prepare Your Students for an AI Future: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Free Course – AI Skills for College and Career⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to equip your school community with future-ready skills.

For questions, email: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠hello@designingschools.org⁠

In this powerful and provocative episode, Dr. Sabba Quidwai and Stefan explore the urgent implications of AI on education, employment, and democracy. They dissect recent comments by Anthropic's CEO, reflect on generational shifts in perceptions of higher education, and challenge educators to embrace change, not resist it. This is a call to action for reimagining learning, relevance, and agency in an AI-driven world.

Timestamps

[00:01:00] The AI Wake-Up Call

• Discussion of Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei’s prediction that AI could eliminate half of all entry-level white-collar jobs within five years and its implications for students and educators.

[00:06:00] Rethinking Entry-Level Work

• Stefan unpacks how companies are prioritizing AI fluency over traditional hiring, and why entry-level positions may be disappearing.

[00:14:00] College Regret and the ROI Crisis

• Sabba cites a Fortune article on how over half of Gen Z feel college was a waste of money and explores how this sentiment is reshaping higher education.

[00:26:00] Why Faculty Must Try, Not Defend

• A candid critique of higher ed’s resistance to AI innovation and a call for professors to collaborate with students in navigating an evolving academic and professional landscape.

[00:32:00] Sinek, Struggle, and Staying Human

• Insights from Simon Sinek on the importance of struggle in maintaining humanity and creativity amid AI’s rise.

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• 🤝 Partner with Us: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Join the AI Power Circle⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and collaborate with forward-thinking educators building the future with AI.📘 Get the Book: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Designing Schools⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ — a practical blueprint to transform your campus with creativity, leadership, and innovation.
• 🎓 Prepare Your Students for an AI Future: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Free Course – AI Skills for College and Career⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to equip your school community with future-ready skills.

For questions, email: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠hello@designingschools.org⁠

Resources Mentioned

• CNN Interview with Dario Amodei
• Simon Sinek on Diary of a CEO Podcast
• Turning AI Tools into Teammates Mini-Course: Course Link

In this week’s special episode, Sabba and Stefan dive into the newly released AI literacy framework from the European Commission and OECD. Highlighting its student-centered vision, they explore how this document finally sets a compelling standard for empowering learners with durable skills, agency, and real-world decision-making tools for an AI-driven future.

Timestamps

[00:00:00] Introducing the OECD AI Literacy Framework

• Sabba shares why this episode is different and introduces the newly released, game-changing AI literacy framework.

[00:03:00] Why Students Learn More from Screens than Schools

• Eye-opening statistics from the framework spark a conversation about reclaiming the educator's role in AI learning.

[00:08:00] Personas and Real-World Scenarios for AI Use

• The team explores how scenarios like Sophia’s story-writing journey with AI help model responsible use for students.

[00:18:00] RISE vs. Traffic Lights: Rethinking AI Decision Models

• Sabba and Stefan unveil the RISE framework as a more human-centered alternative to the often-used traffic light system.

[00:27:00] A Look at Desert Sands’ Leading AI Guidance

• Celebrating Desert Sands Unified School District's visionary leadership, the hosts showcase a real-world model of actionable and future-ready AI integration.

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• 🤝 Partner with Us: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Join the AI Power Circle⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and collaborate with forward-thinking educators building the future with AI.
• 📘 Get the Book: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Designing Schools⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ — a practical blueprint to transform your campus with creativity, leadership, and innovation.
• 🎓 Prepare Your Students for an AI Future: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Free Course – AI Skills for College and Career⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to equip your school community with future-ready skills.

For questions, email: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠hello@designingschools.org⁠

Resources Mentioned

• OECD AI Literacy Framework — “Empowering Learners for the Age of AI”
• AI Skills for College and Career (Free Course): Access here
• Desert Sands AI Guidance 

In this episode, Dr. Sabba Quidwai and Stefan discuss the surprising fears at the top of organizations, CEOs worried about their lack of AI strategy and technical confidence. Drawing from the latest research from Day Taku, Microsoft, and the OECD, they unpack how leadership, education, and AI integration intersect, revealing why successful change depends more on mindset and management than on tools alone. From workplace strategies to the classroom crisis, they explore what’s needed to empower both leaders and learners in this AI-driven world.

[00:00:00] CEOs' Hidden Fears About AI Leadership

• Why 70% of global CEOs feel unprepared to lead AI transformation and the risks of lacking a strategy.

[00:04:00] The AI Power Circle: A New Model for Executive Learning

• Introducing a hybrid learning framework helping leaders align AI adoption with organizational change management.

[00:12:00] Google's Alpha Evolve: AI’s Leap into Novel Problem-Solving

• What Alpha Evolve means for coding, innovation, and why this shift demands a leadership mindset reboot.

[00:19:00] Microsoft’s Four Lessons for AI Adoption in Teams

• Key takeaways on why enablement beats access, the role of feedback loops, and why everyone is already an AI user.

[00:28:00] The Broken Model of Education Exposed by AI Cheating

• Reflecting on the viral "Everyone is Cheating Their Way Through College" article and the urgent call for instructional redesign.

[00:41:00] OECD’s Warning on the Digital Well-Being of Children

• Why today's always-on digital world is failing young people and how educators can reclaim their role as mentors in the AI era.

Explore More from Designing Schools

• 🤝 Partner with Us: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Join the AI Power Circle⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and collaborate with forward-thinking educators building the future with AI.
• 📘 Get the Book: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Designing Schools⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ — a practical blueprint to transform your campus with creativity, leadership, and innovation.
• 🎓 Prepare Your Students for an AI Future: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Free Course – AI Skills for College and Career⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to equip your school community with future-ready skills.

For questions, email: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠hello@designingschools.org⁠

Resources Mentioned

• Daitaku Global CEO Report
• AI Power Circle
• A hybrid leadership learning experience. Join the AI Power Circle
• OECD Report: "How’s Life for Children in the Digital Age"

This episode unpacks the viral claims that AI leadership doesn't exist yet and challenges that view by highlighting the real issue our resistance to change management and leadership development. Sabba and Stefan discuss how organizations can unlock real transformation by focusing on people, teams, and culture rather than just tools, while raising urgent questions about AI’s expanding role in social and professional life.

Timestamps

[00:01:00] Rethinking AI Leadership

• Sabba and Stefan critique viral LinkedIn posts claiming AI leadership doesn’t exist, arguing that this is more about change management than technological gaps.

[00:03:00] Defining What AI Leaders Actually Do

• They break down what true AI leadership looks like—navigating ambiguity, redesigning workflows, and building learning cultures.

[00:08:00] The Career Question Everyone Should Be Asking

• Stefan introduces a provocative reflection: What can you do better without AI than with it? This sparks a conversation about job security, workplace dynamics, and productivity.

[00:22:00] Microsoft’s Game-Changing People Skills Tool

• Sabba highlights Microsoft's new AI-powered employee skills mapping, pushing organizations to prioritize collaboration, visibility, and culture.

[00:34:00] AI Social Companions: The New Mental Health Crisis?

• The episode wraps by dissecting Mark Zuckerberg's push for AI companions, exploring the blurred lines between tech-driven connection and human relationships.

Explore More from Designing Schools

• 🤝 Partner with Us: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Join the AI Power Circle⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and collaborate with forward-thinking educators building the future with AI.
• 📘 Get the Book: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Designing Schools⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ — a practical blueprint to transform your campus with creativity, leadership, and innovation.
• 🎓 Prepare Your Students for an AI Future: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Free Course – AI Skills for College and Career⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to equip your school community with future-ready skills.

For questions, email: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠hello@designingschools.org⁠

Resources Mentioned

• Sparketype Assessment
• Canva AI Webinar Replay
• Microsoft Work Trend Index
• Common Sense Media AI Companions Report
• Amy Edmondson's Research on Psychological Safety

This week, Sabba and Stefan explore the increasingly blurred lines between AI as a companion, and AI as chatbot, and what's at stake for today's young people. With urgent reports from Common Sense Media and bold visions from tech giants like Microsoft, Google, and Visa, the conversation uncovers the stark contrasts and underlying truths shaping our AI-driven future. This episode is a call to leadership, urging schools, parents, and communities to move beyond fear and into thoughtful engagement.

Timestamps

[00:00] Competing Visions of AI’s Future

• Sabba introduces the episode's central theme: AI's dual identity as a supportive teammate and a dangerous emotional influence, especially on youth.

[02:00] Common Sense Media vs. Microsoft AI

• A deep dive into the recent Common Sense Media report flagging AI companions as unsafe for minors and contrasting it with Mustafa Suleyman’s optimistic view of AI as a digital species.

[14:00] The Inconsistency of AI Ratings in Education

• Exploring contradictions in Common Sense Media’s app evaluations, highlighting the blurred lines between chatbots and AI companions used in educational settings

[20:00] Corporate AI First Strategies & Education’s Outdated Response

• Discussion of bold AI-first declarations by companies like Duolingo and Shopify and the disconnect with education's cautious or regressive stance.

[37:00] Orbs, World ID, and AI Shoppers

• Introduction to Worldcoin’s biometric ID system and Visa’s vision of AI-powered financial agents—spotlighting how AI is rapidly embedding itself into everyday life.

Explore More from Designing Schools

• 🤝 Partner with Us: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Join the AI Power Circle⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and collaborate with forward-thinking educators building the future with AI.
• 📘 Get the Book: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Designing Schools⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ — a practical blueprint to transform your campus with creativity, leadership, and innovation.
• 🎓 Prepare Your Students for an AI Future: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Free Course – AI Skills for College and Career⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to equip your school community with future-ready skills.

For questions, email: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠hello@designingschools.org

Resources Mentioned

• Common Sense Media Report on AI Companions
• Applied AI Podcast featuring Mustafa Suleyman
• Worldcoin  by Tools for Humanity
• Visa CEO Interview on AI Shopping Agents
• Desert Sands Unified School District AI Guidance

In this week’s episode, Sabba Quidwai and Stefan Bauschard dive deep into the implications of the latest U.S. executive orders on artificial intelligence, particularly in education. They explore how policy is setting a new tone for AI integration from K–12 to workforce development and highlight actionable guidance from states like Nevada. The conversation emphasizes the urgent need for leadership, literacy, and learning design to keep pace with the AI revolution.

Timestamps

[00:02:00] Executive Orders on AI

• Sabba and Stefan explore the language and implications of newly issued executive orders focused on AI innovation, particularly their impact on education systems from K–12 through university accreditation.

[00:06:00] Breaking Down K–12 AI Integration

• Stefan discusses the specifics of how executive orders support AI literacy, including funding strategies, competitions, apprenticeships, and cross-subject integration of AI.

[00:18:00] Urgency in Innovation: Lessons from the Book "Click"

• Sabba shares an excerpt from the book Click by Jake Knapp and John Zeratsky, stressing the importance of focus, momentum, and mindset in organizational change.

[00:25:00] Nevada’s Stellar AI Guidance

• A spotlight on Nevada’s forward-thinking AI education framework, “STELLAR,” emphasizing transparency, empowerment, and critical thinking as core components

[00:33:00] Enterprise Trends and AI ROI Reports

• The hosts break down the latest insights from Microsoft's Work Trend Index and Google’s GenAI ROI report, illustrating how AI is transforming workflows, leadership roles, and job readiness across industries.

Explore More from Designing Schools

• 🤝 Partner with Us: ⁠⁠⁠⁠Join the AI Power Circle⁠⁠⁠⁠ and collaborate with forward-thinking educators building the future with AI.
• 📘 Get the Book: ⁠⁠⁠⁠Designing Schools⁠⁠⁠⁠ — a practical blueprint to transform your campus with creativity, leadership, and innovation.
• 🎓 Prepare Your Students for an AI Future: ⁠⁠⁠⁠Free Course – AI Skills for College and Career⁠⁠⁠⁠ to equip your school community with future-ready skills.

For questions, email: ⁠⁠⁠⁠hello@designingschools.org

Resources Mentioned

• Nevada Department of Education’s STELLAR AI Guidance
• Click by Jake Knapp and John Zeratsky
• Microsoft Work Trend Index (2025)
• Google GenAI ROI Report (2025)
• AI Literacy Framework
• Upcoming AI Readiness Webinar - Register Here

In this week's episode, Dr. Sabba Quidwai and Stefan Bauschard discuss the significant shifts AI is causing across education, particularly higher education. With the release of OpenAI’s latest models, they explore provocative scenarios, including whether universities can survive without radically reimagining their structures, curricula, and roles. Through candid conversations and real-world examples, they challenge the traditional pace of change and advocate for preparing learners, and educators, for an unpredictable, AI-driven world.

Timestamps

[00:00:00] The $68 Billion Question: California's Higher Ed Crisis

• Sabba opens with a compelling budget scenario that sparks a major rethink of the cost and delivery of general education courses.

[00:02:00] Can Universities Survive AI? Stefan's Perspective

• Discussion on how universities must adapt—or risk obsolescence—by focusing less on content delivery and more on mentorship and hands-on learning.

[00:05:00] Why O3 is a Game Changer: Understanding OpenAI's Newest Model

• Sabba explains the groundbreaking capabilities of the new O3 model, including agentic reasoning and dynamic tool use, and why it's leaving experts stunned.

[00:13:00] The Problem with "Traffic Light" AI Policies in K–12

• Sabba critiques the oversimplified red-yellow-green frameworks for student AI use, urging for deeper decision-making frameworks instead.

[00:29:00] Google AI Tools for Education: A Wake-up Call

• A powerful segment where Sabba highlights the new, free AI tools in Google Workspace for Education and discusses why educators urgently need to shift their mindsets and skillsets.

Explore More from Designing Schools

• 🤝 Partner with Us: ⁠⁠⁠Join the AI Power Circle⁠⁠⁠ and collaborate with forward-thinking educators building the future with AI.
• 📘 Get the Book: ⁠⁠⁠Designing Schools⁠⁠⁠ — a practical blueprint to transform your campus with creativity, leadership, and innovation.
• 🎓 Prepare Your Students for an AI Future: ⁠⁠⁠Free Course – AI Skills for College and Career⁠⁠⁠ to equip your school community with future-ready skills.

For questions, email: ⁠⁠⁠hello@designingschools.org

Resources Mentioned

Webinar: Free Designing Schools webinar covering how to leverage new AI tools from Google and Canva. Click here to sign up and be notified of the details.

In this episode hosts Dr. Sabba Quidwai and Stefan Bauschard explore the cultural and strategic implications of the Shopify CEO’s provocative memo: “Before you ask for headcount, tell me why AI can't do it.” They unpack major updates from Google and OpenAI, offering a compelling case for why AI is redefining collaboration, creativity, and leadership. This isn’t just about new tools, it’s a call to reimagine how we learn, lead, and live in a world where AI is now a baseline expectation.

Timestamps

[00:00:00] The Shopify Challenge: A Culture Memo, Not a Tech Memo

• Sabba introduces the CEO’s powerful statement and frames it as a leadership challenge rather than a technological one.

[00:05:00] Google's Vision for Collaborative AI Workflows

• A deep dive into Google's new Workspace Flows, writing coaches, and AI-powered video/audio tools that reshape how schools and teams operate.

[00:16:00] From Tools to Teammates: Shifting Mindsets in Education

• Stefan and Sabba discuss the transformational potential of AI when viewed as a teammate and explore implications for student learning and entrepreneurship.

[00:26:00] Gen Z’s AI Literacy Gap and the Urgency for Action

• A new Gallup and Walton Family Foundation report highlights the mismatch between Gen Z’s usage and understanding of AI—and what schools must do now.

[00:35:00] OpenAI’s Memory Update: The Future of Personalized Intelligence

• What it means to have AI remember your interactions—and why this seemingly small update is a massive step toward hyper-personalized experiences.

Explore More from Designing Schools

• 🤝 Partner with Us: ⁠⁠Join the AI Power Circle⁠⁠ and collaborate with forward-thinking educators building the future with AI.
• 📘 Get the Book: ⁠⁠Designing Schools⁠⁠ — a practical blueprint to transform your campus with creativity, leadership, and innovation.
• 🎓 Prepare Your Students for an AI Future: ⁠⁠Free Course – AI Skills for College and Career⁠⁠ to equip your school community with future-ready skills.

For questions, email: ⁠⁠hello@designingschools.org

Resources Mentioned

• Shopify CEO Memo
• Gallup and Walton Family Foundation Gen Z Report
• Free Chapter from the Book: From Tools to Teammates 

In this episode, Sabba and Stefan dive into the rapid acceleration of AI technologies, spotlighting how tools like ChatGPT and Claude are transforming the educational landscape. They explore groundbreaking developments like agentic platforms, transparency in AI reasoning, and what it means for today’s students to be the “Class of AGI.” This is a forward-thinking conversation that challenges leaders to rethink how we prepare people for a world led by intelligent systems.

Timestamps

[00:01:00] The Center of Gravity is Shifting

• OpenAI's user explosion in India signals a global shift in AI adoption and influence.

[00:10:00] The Class of AGI: Redefining Higher Education

• Anthropic and OpenAI unveil initiatives aimed at transforming learning and literacy through AI-powered experiences.

[00:22:00] Enter the Age of Agents: Digital Workers in the Enterprise

• Deloitte and others launch digital coworkers to automate tasks, revealing how organizations must restructure around AI.

[00:32:00] Inside the Mind of Claude: Anthropic’s Breakthrough in AI Transparency

• A look at how Claude forms ideas and the effort to audit AI behavior through model interpretability research.

[00:41:00] Passing the Turing Test and Redefining Human Identity

• ChatGPT-4.5 convinces users it’s human 73% of the time—raising deep questions about identity, agency, and digital discernment.

Explore More from Designing Schools

• 🤝 Partner with Us: ⁠Join the AI Power Circle⁠ and collaborate with forward-thinking educators building the future with AI.
• 📘 Get the Book: ⁠Designing Schools⁠ — a practical blueprint to transform your campus with creativity, leadership, and innovation.
• 🎓 Prepare Your Students for an AI Future: ⁠Free Course – AI Skills for College and Career⁠ to equip your school community with future-ready skills.

For questions, email: ⁠hello@designingschools.org

Resources Mentioned

• 📘 "Careless People" by Sarah Wynn Williams — A whistleblower’s account of Meta's internal culture and its impact on youth and society.
• 🎥 Anthropic’s “Tracing the Thoughts of a Large Language Model” video — A visual explanation of AI interpretability breakthroughs.
• 🎓 Free Course: AI Skills for College and Career — Explore the WISE Framework for balanced, ethical innovation.