AI Tools' Rise in Education -

Buckle up for a new cycle of tech updates, tidbits, and more:

🤖 Schools are integrating AI tools to empower students as creators, tackling real-world problems and shaping AI-driven learning.

📊 Lesson of the Week: Learn to decode charts and graphs to uncover patterns, interpret data, and make informed decisions.

🧠 Elon Musk’s xAI launches Grok 3 with enhanced reasoning, trained on a large dataset using AI tools and 200,000 GPUs, outperforming competitors.

❤️‍🩹 Weekly Tech Tip: Update your Mac for the latest features.

🚀 What’s New: You can now switch your narrative style between “Education” and “Business” contexts.

📗 Book of the Week: “The Sirens’ Call” by Chris Hayes.

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AI Empowering Students in Schools

Schools across the U.S. are joining forces to harness AI tools’ potential in education, turning students into creators rather than just consumers.

Through the School Teams AI Collaborative, educators from 19 schools are experimenting with AI-powered tools like Playlab and Claude to enhance learning, refine teaching strategies, and spark innovation.

Students are building custom chatbots, tackling real-world problems like mental health support, financial literacy, and voter engagement.

While excitement and skepticism coexist, the goal is clear: equip students with the skills to shape AI, not be shaped by it—because those who don’t understand AI risk being left behind.

Lesson of the Week

In this week’s lesson, learn all about decoding charts and graphs to uncover patterns, interpret data, and make informed decisions, sourced from our skill, “Introduction to reading charts.”

Question of the Week:

Jaden is training for an upcoming online game tournament. He has a chart with statistics of his and his opponents’ performances. After reading the chart, Jaden decides to focus more on his performance and strategies used during Game 4 to improve upon his weaknesses.

What does this scenario illustrate about the ability to read charts and graphs?

Select one:

A) The ability to read charts and graphs allows for data-driven decision-making in Jaden’s gaming strategy development.

B) Reading charts correctly will guarantee Jaden has a victory in future competitive gaming scenarios.

C) The primary benefit of chart reading is that Jaden will know the exact move his opponent will use in future games.

See if you’re right–the answer is at the bottom!

Musk’s Grok 3 Tops Current AI Models

Elon Musk’s AI company, xAI, has launched its latest AI model, Grok 3, with enhanced reasoning and problem-solving capabilities.

Trained on a large dataset using AI tools and 200,000 GPUs, Grok 3 outperforms competitors like OpenAI’s GPT-4o in specific benchmarks and introduces features such as DeepSearch for AI-powered research.

Premium users on Musk’s platform X will get early access, with future plans for voice mode, enterprise API integration, and an eventual open-source release of its predecessor, Grok 2.

Weekly Tech Tip

Update Your Mac for the Latest Features

If you haven’t updated your Mac yet, macOS Sequoia (15.3) brings powerful new features to boost productivity, security, and AI-powered capabilities. Here’s what you’re missing:

iPhone Mirroring – Control your iPhone from your Mac, including apps and notifications.
Safari Upgrades – Highlights for key webpage info, distraction-free Reader mode, and improved video playback.
Window Tiling – Easily organize windows for better multitasking, similar to Windows Snap.
Videoconferencing Tools – New presenter previews and customizable backgrounds in FaceTime and Zoom.
Passwords App – A standalone app for managing passwords, passkeys, and Wi-Fi credentials.
Smarter Messages – Text formatting, animated effects, and scheduled message sending.
Apple Intelligence (AI Features) – AI-powered writing tools, improved Siri, and image generation.
Other Enhancements – Updated Maps, improved Photos organization, a smarter Calculator, and better Game Mode performance.

What's New

Narrative style preference for simulation activities–available to select customers–can now be toggled between “Education” and “Business” contexts.

Book of the Week

Chris Hayes’ The Sirens’ Call explores the profound impact of attention capitalism on society, politics, and personal well-being.

He argues that technology firms have commodified human attention, leading to widespread distraction, disconnection, and a loss of focus.

Hayes presents a call to reclaim control over our lives and collective future from the grip of powerful corporations profiting from constant digital engagement.