Learning Ecosystems

Sam Altman’s three nightmare AI scenarios

On 07/24/2025, in Artificial Intelligence/Agents/LLMs/and Related, emerging technologies, Europe, global / globalization, ideas, intelligent systems, psychology, society, the downsides of how people use tech, youth, by Daniel Christian

The US AI Action Plan, Explained — from theneurondaily.com by Grant Harvey
Sam’s 3 AI nightmares, Google hits 2B users, and Trump bans “woke” AI…

Meanwhile, at the Fed’s banking conference on Wednesday, Altman revealed his three nightmare AI scenarios. The first two were predictable: bad actors getting superintelligence first, and the classic “I’m afraid I can’t do that, Dave” situation.

But the third? AI accidentally steering us off course while we just…go along with it.

His example hit home: young people who can’t make decisions without ChatGPT (according to Sam, this is literally a thing). See, even when AI gives great advice, collectively handing over all decision-making feels “bad and dangerous” (even to Sam, who MADE this thing).

So yeah, Sam’s not really worried about the AI rebelling. He’s worried about AI becoming so good that we stop thinking for ourselves—and that might be scarier.

Also from The Neuron re: the environmental impacts of producing/offering AI:

Our contribution to a global environmental standard for AI — from mistral.ai
Powering the AI Era — from goldmansachs.com

$50 a week for 40 weeks: How no-strings cash changed the lives of teens [Morton]

On 07/24/2025, in education, engagement / engaging students, experimentation, face-to-face, ideas, innovation, instructional design, K-12 related, learning, learning ecosystem, Learning Experience Design, student-related, United States, youth, by Daniel Christian

$50 a week for 40 weeks: How no-strings cash changed the lives of teens — from hechingerreport.org by Neal Morton
A cash transfer program for high schoolers resulted in better attendance and more financial literacy, but no improvement in grades

“The $50 study,” as it’s known, began at Rooted School, a local charter school, as an experiment to increase attendance. The study has since grown to eight other high schools in the city, as well as Rooted’s sister campus in Indianapolis, with students randomly selected to receive $50 every week for 40 weeks, or $2,000 total. By comparing their spending and savings habits to a larger control group, researchers wanted to figure out whether the money improved a teen’s financial capability and perception of themselves. They also wanted to know: Could the cash boost their grade-point averages and reading scores?

From DSC:
An interesting experiment.

Building a learning ecosystem that drives business results — from chieflearningofficer.com by Nick Romanowski
How SAX combined adaptive e-learning and experiential workshops to accelerate capability development and impact the bottom line.

At SAX, we know that to succeed in today’s market, we need professionals who can learn quickly, apply that learning effectively and continuously adapt as client needs evolve.

Yet traditional training methods were no longer enough. Our firm faced familiar challenges: helping staff meet continuing professional education requirements efficiently, uncovering knowledge gaps to guide development and building a more capable, more client-ready workforce.

We found our solution in a flipped learning model that blends adaptive e-learning with live, experiential workshops. The results were transformative. We accelerated CPE credit completion by more than 50 percent, reclaimed 173 billable hours and equipped our people with deeper capabilities.

Here’s how we did it, and what we learned along the way.

Blend technology and human touch: Adaptive e-learning addresses individual knowledge gaps efficiently. Live workshops enable skill development through practice and feedback. Together, they drive both learning efficiency and behavior change.

[Gifted article from NY Times] I Teach Creative Writing. This Is What A.I. Is Doing to Students. [O’Rourke]

On 07/24/2025, in 21st century, 24x7x365 access, Artificial Intelligence/Agents/LLMs/and Related, career development, change, colleges, communications, community colleges, cost of getting a degree, creativity, digital learning, education, education technology, emerging technologies, expectations, experimentation, faculty/staff, future of higher education, game-changing environment, generational differences, higher education, human-computer interaction (HCI), ideas, innovation, instructional design, intelligent systems, IT in HE, K-12 related, learning, learning agents, learning ecosystem, Learning Experience Design, liberal arts, Open AI, pace of change, parents/guardians, skills, student-related, teachers, teaching & learning, technologies for your home, tools, United States, universities, vendors, writing, by Daniel Christian

I Teach Creative Writing. This Is What A.I. Is Doing to Students. — from nytimes.com by Meghan O’Rourke; this is a gifted article.

We need a coherent approach grounded in understanding how the technology works, where it is going and what it will be used for.

From DSC:
I almost feel like Meghan should right the words “this week” or “this month” after the above sentence. Whew! Things are moving fast.

For example, we’re now starting to see more agents hitting the scene — software that can DO things. But that can open up a can of worms too.

Students know the ground has shifted — and that the world outside the university expects them to shift with it. A.I. will be part of their lives regardless of whether we approve. Few issues expose the campus cultural gap as starkly as this one.ce

From DSC:
Universities and colleges have little choice but to integrate AI into their programs and offerings. There’s enough pressure on institutions of traditional higher education to prove their worth/value. Students and their families want solid ROI’s. Students know that they are going to need AI-related skills (see the link immediately below for example), or they are going to be left out of the competitive job search process.

A relevant resource here:

New Lightcast Report: AI Skills Command 28% Salary Premium as Demand Shifts Beyond Tech Industry — from lightcast.io; via Paul Fain
First-of-its-kind analysis reveals specific AI skills employers need most, enabling targeted workforce training strategies across all career areas

Firefly adds new video capabilities, industry leading AI models, and Generate Sound Effects feature — from blog.adobe.com

Today, we’re introducing powerful enhancements to our Firefly Video Model, including improved motion fidelity and advanced video controls that will accelerate your workflows and provide the precision and style you need to elevate your storytelling. We are also adding new generative AI partner models within Generate Video on Firefly, giving you the power to choose which model works best for your creative needs across image, video and sound.

Plus, our new workflow tools put you in control of your video’s composition and style. You can now layer in custom-generated sound effects right inside the Firefly web app — and start experimenting with AI-powered avatar-led videos.
…
Generate Sound Effects (beta)
Sound is a powerful storytelling tool that adds emotion and depth to your videos. Generate Sound Effects (beta) makes it easy to create custom sounds, like a lion’s roar or ambient nature sounds, that enhance your visuals. And like our other Firefly generative AI models, Generate Sound Effects (beta) is commercially safe, so you can create with confidence.

Just type a simple text prompt to generate the sound effect you need. Want even more control? Use your voice to guide the timing and intensity of the sound. Firefly listens to the energy and rhythm of your voice to place sound effects precisely where they belong — matching the action in your video with cinematic timing.

The type of functionality found in MyNextChapter.ai could work very well in a next-gen learning platform [Christian]

On 07/24/2025, in 21st century, 24x7x365 access, adult learning, Alternatives, apprenticeships, Artificial Intelligence/Agents/LLMs/and Related, bots, business, career development, change, cloud-based computing / apps / other cloud-related, colleges, communications, community colleges, corporate / business world, Daniel S. Christian, emerging technologies, experimentation, higher education, human-computer interaction (HCI), innovation, instructional design, intelligent systems, intelligent tutoring, learning ecosystem, Learning Experience Design, Learning from the Living [Class] Room, lifelong learning, passions, pathways, personalized/customized learning, platforms, professional development, reinvent, skills, social learning / networks, society, staying relevant, surviving, teachers, teaching & learning, teaching online, technologies for your home, tools, United States, universities, vendors, vision/possibilities, vocational / trades, by Daniel Christian

From DSC:
In looking at MyNextChapter.ai — THIS TYPE OF FUNCTIONALITY of an AI-based chatbot talking to you re: good fits for a future job — is the kind of thing that could work well in this type of vision/learning platform. The AI asks you relevant career-oriented questions, comes up with some potential job fits, and then gives you resources about how to gain those skills, who to talk with, organizations to join, next steps to get your foot in the door somewhere, etc.

The next gen learning platform would provide links to online-based courses, blogs, peoples’ names on LinkedIn, courses from L&D organizations or from institutions of higher education or from other entities/places to obtain those skills (similar to the ” Action Plan” below from MyNextChapter.ai).

Check out these enormous icebergs!

On 07/21/2025, in digital photography, Emotion, photography, by Daniel Christian

Dennis Lehtonen Documents a Pair of Immense Icebergs Paying a Visit to a Small Greenland Village — from thisiscolossal.com by Dennis Lehtonen and Kate Mothes

How is making a mockery of our justice/legal system making America great again?!? [Christian]

On 07/21/2025, in Access to Justice (A2J), change, dangers of the status quo, Daniel S. Christian, legislatures / government / legal, policy, political science, United States, by Daniel Christian

Trump officials accused of defying 1 in 3 judges who ruled against him — from washingtonpost.com by Justin Jouvenal
A comprehensive analysis of hundreds of lawsuits against Trump policies shows dozens of examples of defiance, delay and dishonesty, which experts say pose an unprecedented threat to the U.S. legal system.

President Donald Trump and his appointees have been accused of flouting courts in a third of the more than 160 lawsuits against the administration in which a judge has issued a substantive ruling, a Washington Post analysis has found, suggesting widespread noncompliance with America’s legal system.

Plaintiffs say Justice Department lawyers and the agencies they represent are snubbing rulings, providing false information, failing to turn over evidence, quietly working around court orders and inventing pretexts to carry out actions that have been blocked.

.

The Post examined 337 lawsuits filed against the administration since Trump returned to the White House and began a rapid-fire effort to reshape government programs and policy. As of mid-July, courts had ruled against the administration in 165 of the lawsuits. The Post found that the administration is accused of defying or frustrating court oversight in 57 of those cases — almost 35 percent.

DC: How is making a mockery of the justice system making America great again? I don’t think any one of us would benefit from living in a land with no laws. It would be absolute chaos.

Some wisdom for us

On 07/20/2025, in faith, future, global / globalization, hearts -- matters of the heart, relationships, religion, by Daniel Christian

Philippians 2:9-11

9 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place
and gave him the name that is above every name,
10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
11 and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.

Psalm 25:4-6

4 Show me your ways, Lord,
teach me your paths.
5 Guide me in your truth and teach me,
for you are God my Savior,
and my hope is in you all day long.
6 Remember, Lord, your great mercy and love,
for they are from of old.

Psalm 25:11-12

11 For the sake of your name, Lord,
forgive my iniquity, though it is great.
12 Who, then, are those who fear the Lord?
He will instruct them in the ways they should choose.[a]

A great example of a learning ecosystem!!! [Christian]

On 07/19/2025, in adult learning, career development, collaboration, communications, communities of practice, experimentation, heutagogy, ideas, instructional design, learning, learning ecosystem, Learning Experience Design, learning preferences, play, by Daniel Christian

From DSC:
Read through the article below. It’s an excellent example of a learning ecosystem, one that has been developed and practiced by Tiago Forte.

My 4-Stage System for Learning Anything New — from fortelabs.com by Tiago Forte

Stage 1: Immersion – Get Maximum Exposure
Stage 2: Building – Make Something Real
Stage 3: Structured Learning – Find Your Mentors
Stage 4: Connection – Build Real Relationships
The Secret Ingredient: Cultivating Play in Learning

Introducing ChatGPT agent: bridging research and action [OpenAI]

On 07/19/2025, in corporate / business world, emerging technologies, experimentation, innovation, intelligent systems, learning agents, Open AI, platforms, productivity / tips and tricks, research, tools, vendors, by Daniel Christian

Introducing ChatGPT agent: bridging research and action — from openai.com
ChatGPT now thinks and acts, proactively choosing from a toolbox of agentic skills to complete tasks for you using its own computer.

ChatGPT can now do work for you using its own computer, handling complex tasks from start to finish.

You can now ask ChatGPT to handle requests like “look at my calendar and brief me on upcoming client meetings based on recent news,” “plan and buy ingredients to make Japanese breakfast for four,” and “analyze three competitors and create a slide deck.” ChatGPT will intelligently navigate websites, filter results, prompt you to log in securely when needed, run code, conduct analysis, and even deliver editable slideshows and spreadsheets that summarize its findings.

Teach business students to write like executives — from timeshighereducation.com by José Ignacio Sordo Galarza
Many business students struggle to communicate with impact. Teach them to pitch ideas on a single page to build clarity, confidence and work-ready communication skills

Many undergraduate business students transition into the workforce equipped with communication habits that, while effective in academic settings, prove ineffective in professional environments. At university, students are trained to write for professors, not executives. This becomes problematic in the workplace where lengthy reports and academic jargon often obscure rather than clarify intent. Employers seek ideas they can absorb in seconds. This is where the one-pager – a single-page, high-impact document that helps students develop clarity of thought, concise expression and strategic communication – proves effective.

Also from Times Higher Education, see:

Is the dissertation dead? If so, what are the alternatives? — from timeshighereducation.com by Rushana Khusainova, Sarah Sholl, & Patrick Harte
Dissertation alternatives, such as capstone projects and applied group-based projects, could better prepare graduates for their future careers. Discover what these might look like

The traditional dissertation, a longstanding pillar of higher education, is facing increasing scrutiny. Concerns about its relevance to contemporary career paths, limitations in fostering practical skills and the changing nature of knowledge production in the GenAI age have fuelled discussions about its continued efficacy. So, is the dissertation dead?

The dissertation is facing a number of challenges. It can be perceived as having little relevance to career aspirations in increasingly competitive job markets. According to The Future of Jobs Report 2025 by the World Economic Forum, employers demand and indeed prioritise skills such as collaborative problem-solving in diverse and complex contexts, which a dissertation might not demonstrate.

PODCAST: Did AI “break” school? Or will it “fix” it? …and if so, what can we do about it? [Noles & Harvey]

On 07/19/2025, in 21st century, 24x7x365 access, Artificial Intelligence/Agents/LLMs/and Related, change, content development, aggregation, repositories, digital learning, education, education reform, education technology, emerging technologies, experimentation, higher education, human-computer interaction (HCI), innovation, instructional design, intelligent systems, intelligent tutoring, IT in HE, K-12 related, learning, learning agents, learning ecosystem, Learning Experience Design, Learning from the Living [Class] Room, Open AI, pedagogy, platforms, podcasting, productivity / tips and tricks, skills, society, student-related, teachers, teaching & learning, technologies for your home, the downsides of how people use tech, tools, training / L&D, trends, United States, universities, by Daniel Christian

PODCAST: Did AI “break” school? Or will it “fix” it? …and if so, what can we do about it? — from theneurondaily.com by Grant Harvey, Corey Noles, Grant Harvey, & Matthew Robinson

In Episode 5 of The Neuron Podcast, Corey Noles and Grant Harvey tackle the education crisis head-on. We explore the viral UCLA “CheatGPT” controversy, MIT’s concerning brain study, and innovative solutions like Alpha School’s 2-hour learning model. Plus, we break down OpenAI’s new $10M teacher training initiative and share practical tips for using AI to enhance learning rather than shortcut it. Whether you’re a student, teacher, or parent, you’ll leave with actionable insights on the future of education.

NotebookLM is one of my favorite AI tools for reading scholarly articles. — from linkedin.com by Med Kharbach, PhD

A 20% decline in new international student enrollment could cost U.S. colleges & universities over $1.7 billion in annual tuition revenue [Paxton Riter]

On 07/19/2025, in change, changing business models, colleges, faculty/staff, future of higher education, game-changing environment, global / globalization, higher education, learning ecosystem, United States, universities, by Daniel Christian

A 20% decline in new international student enrollment could cost U.S. colleges & universities over $1.7 billion in annual tuition revenue — from linkedin.com by Paxton Riter
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Learning Ecosystems

Building a learning ecosystem that drives business results [Romanowski]