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Dr. Magdalena H. Gross of Mercor is a Stanford-trained scholar and a leader in AI education. With a unique ability to understand how people think, she helps experts translate deep human knowledge into AI-ready systems. She designs AI curricula and training programs that empower individuals and organizations, while also leading in community arts and muralism. Learn more about her work at www.magdalenagross.com.

💡 5 Things You’ll Learn in This Episode:

1. How human experts actually train AI through structured thinking and feedback
2. Why making “invisible thinking visible” is key to both learning and AI development
3. The parallels between reinforcement learning in AI and how humans learn
4. How breaking down reasoning into steps improves both teaching and model performance
5. Why interdisciplinary thinking is essential for solving complex problems with AI

✨ Episode Highlights:
[00:02:48] What “human data” really means: experts training AI through deep domain knowledge
[00:05:30] From binary labeling to reinforcement learning: how AI training now mirrors human learning
[00:07:47] Spiral curriculum at scale: how experts and AI both improve through repetition and complexity
[00:10:44] Cognitive modeling: making expert thinking visible to accelerate learning
[00:13:28] Breaking down reasoning: categorizing how humans think across domains
[00:16:28] Why interdisciplinary thinking drives breakthroughs in humans and AI
[00:18:58] The future of human data work: expanding alongside the growth of human knowledge

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🎉 Presenting Sponsor/s:

Every year, K-12 districts and higher ed institutions spend over half a trillion dollars—but most sales teams miss the signals. Starbridge tracks early signs like board minutes, budget drafts, and strategic plans, then helps you turn them into personalized outreach—fast. Win the deal before it hits the RFP stage. That’s how top edtech teams stay ahead.

Innovation in preK to gray learning is powered by exceptional people. For over 15 years, EdTech companies of all sizes and stages have trusted HireEducation to find the talent that drives impact. When specific skills and experiences are mission-critical, HireEducation is a partner that delivers. Offering permanent, fractional, and executive recruitment, HireEducation knows the go-to-market talent you need. Learn more at HireEdu.com.

Cooley LLP is the go-to law firm for education and edtech innovators, offering industry-informed counsel across the 'pre-K to gray' spectrum. With a multidisciplinary approach and a powerful edtech ecosystem, Cooley helps shape the future of education.

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Join hosts Ben Kornell and special co-host Steve Shapiro, Founder of Finetune.AI, as they break down the biggest stories shaping AI, workforce disruption, K–12 policy, and the future of higher education.

✨ Episode Highlights:
[00:05:10] NVIDIA signals the shift from AI experimentation to a full-scale platform “land grab”
[00:08:19] Early signs of AI-driven productivity gains point to real workforce disruption
[00:13:16] Governments invest in AI retraining, labor upskilling, and workforce preparedness
[00:15:27] Apprenticeships emerge as a critical pathway as entry-level jobs decline
[00:17:17] AI “agent armies” could make one-person businesses more viable than ever
[00:19:23] Schools balance AI literacy initiatives with rising pressure for screen bans
[00:21:23] Debate grows over big tech’s responsibility in supporting education systems
[00:24:14] Media backlash questions edtech’s impact on student learning outcomes
[00:28:00] School choice expands rapidly, with mixed impacts across states
[00:32:09] ASU highlighted as a leading model for AI-ready higher education
[00:34:10] Edtech funding shifts to more deals with smaller check sizes
[00:36:01] Startups scale faster with less capital due to AI-powered development
[00:37:41] Optimism grows for edtech innovation over the next 12–24 months

Plus, special guests:
[00:38:59] Aaron Cuny, CEO of AI for Equity, on building AI leadership capacity in school systems
[01:06:39] Joshua Broggi, CEO and Founder of Woolf, on rethinking higher education with competency-based models

😎 Stay updated with Edtech Insiders!

Follow us on our podcast, newsletter & LinkedIn here.

🎉 Presenting Sponsor/s:

Every year, K-12 districts and higher ed institutions spend over half a trillion dollars—but most sales teams miss the signals. Starbridge tracks early signs like board minutes, budget drafts, and strategic plans, then helps you turn them into personalized o

Innovation in preK to gray learning is powered by exceptional people. For over 15 years, EdTech companies of all sizes and stages have trusted HireEducation to find the talent that drives impact. When specific skills and experiences are mission-critical, HireEducation is a partner that delivers. Offering permanent, fractional, and executive recruitment, HireEducation knows the go-to-market talent you need. Learn more at HireEdu.com.

Tuck Advisors was founded by entrepreneurs who built and sold their own companies, frustrated by other m and a firms, they created the one they wished they could have hired but couldn't find. One who understands what matters to founders and whose North Star KPI is the percentage of deals closed. If you're thinking of selling your ed tech company or buying one contact Tuck advisors now.

Cooley LLP is the go-to law firm for education and edtech innovators, offering industry-informed counsel across the 'pre-K to gray' spectrum. With a multidisciplinary approach and a powerful edtech ecosystem, Cooley helps shape the future of education.

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Mindy Sjoblom is the Founder and CEO of OnYourMark, a research-backed virtual tutoring organization serving thousands of elementary students nationwide. Catherine Tierney is Head of Product and Program at OnYourMark, bringing deep experience from Match Education, MyCoach, and ThinkCERCA to the design of human-centered, evidence-based learning technology.

💡 5 Things You’ll Learn in This Episode

1. Why AI works best as an insight layer rather than a replacement for human tutors
2. How OnYourMark scaled high-dosage tutoring while maintaining quality and consistency
3. What it takes to translate RCT-backed research into daily instructional practice
4. Where human judgment remains essential in AI-supported tutoring models
5. How the role of AI in learning may differ across age groups and contexts

✨ Episode Highlights
[00:02:38] Mindy Sjoblom on OnYourMark’s origins and scaling high-dosage tutoring post-pandemic
[00:05:59] Catherine Tierney on designing AI to strengthen—not replace—human relationships
[00:07:36] How RCT evidence and authentic learning data power OnYourMark’s AI tools
[00:12:04] Real-time feedback and why tutors want more visibility into their practice
[00:15:36] The tension between flexibility and fidelity when scaling tutoring across schools
[00:16:21] The future of AI-supported human tutoring and what the next five years may hold
[00:19:55] Why AI use in learning must look different for younger vs. older students
[00:22:20] What excites—and worries—Mindy and Catherine about AI in education today

😎 Stay updated with Edtech Insiders!

Follow us on our podcast, newsletter & LinkedIn here.

🎉 Presenting Sponsor/s:

Innovation in preK to gray learning is powered by exceptional people. For over 15 years, EdTech companies of all sizes and stages have trusted HireEducation to find the talent that drives impact. When specific skills and experiences are mission-critical, HireEducation is a partner that delivers. Offering permanent, fractional, and executive recruitment, HireEducation knows the go-to-market talent you need. Learn more at HireEdu.com.

Tuck Advisors was founded by entrepreneurs who built and sold their own companies, frustrated by other m and a firms, they created the one they wished they could have hired but couldn't find. One who understands what matters to founders and whose North Star KPI is the percentage of deals closed. If you're thinking of selling your ed tech company or buying one contact Tuck advisors now.

Cooley LLP is the go-to law firm for education and edtech innovators, offering industry-informed counsel across the 'pre-K to gray' spectrum. With a multidisciplinary approach and a powerful edtech ecosystem, Cooley helps shape the future of education.