Teens don’t treat AI like magic. They treat it like a wrench — something that's useful, but only as good as the person using it.

On this episode, we sat down with students who’ve put AI tools to work in surprising ways. Between all their experiences, we saw a grounded view of AI as a study aid, a creative partner, and sometimes a risky shortcut that demands stronger digital literacy.

Jeremy’s experience highlighted accessibility and caution in the same breath. He told us how AI helped him while recovering from a concussion by simplifying textbook passages, but also mentioned being fed inaccurate weightlifting advice by a chatbot. His fact-checking routine for AI (ask for links, check dates, consider the consensus, and talk to a human expert) could be a model for any family to use.

Julia pushed the limits of AI tutoring by attempting seven AP exams. She passed the exams where she already had background knowledge, but stumbled in subjects where she didn't. Her story showed how AI can accelerate learning but still can't replace it.

If you care about raising capable, critical-thinking teens in an AI-saturated world, this conversation will offer helpful insight and practical advice.

aiEDU: The AI Education Project

• aiEDU.org
• linkedin.com/company/aiedu/

Dr. Aliza Pressman

• DrAliza.com
• linkedin.com/in/aliza-pressman-ph-d-279b7125/

Are you worried your teen is spending more time with a chatbot than with real friends?

On this episode, we spoke with child/adolescent psychiatrists Dr. Jeremy Chapman and Dr. Ashvin Sood to learn how AI shows up in teens’ social lives and schoolwork, and how parents can respond with clarity instead of panic. Together we map out a simple framework: curiosity first, judgment last, and functionality as the North Star for family decisions.

We explored why adolescence depends on honest, sometimes uncomfortable feedback — the kind you don’t get when a bot always agrees. You’ll hear practical ways to ask better questions about prompts, privacy, and purpose:

• "What do you ask your chatbot?"
• "How does it make you feel afterward?"
• "Did it help you prepare for a real conversation, or replace one?"

Both clinicians outlined red flags of AI overuse (falling grades, dropped activities, hostility when access is limited, and late‑night screen time pushing sleep off a cliff) and they offer calm, early interventions that will rebuild routines without power struggles.

We also got specific about safety in a world where parental controls lag behind fast‑moving features. You’ll learn why young people should avoid using AI for companionship, how to set clear boundaries on data-sharing, and how to implement reasonable guardrails like teaching teens to verify information and keep real relationships at the center.

By the end of the episode, you’ll have conversation scripts, monitoring cues, and a balanced mindset to make AI a helpful coach rather than a stand‑in for human connection.

aiEDU: The AI Education Project

• aiEDU.org
• linkedin.com/company/aiedu/

Dr. Aliza Pressman

• DrAliza.com
• linkedin.com/in/aliza-pressman-ph-d-279b7125/

AI can sound human, but it isn’t — and that difference changes how we teach, parent, and prepare kids for a future shaped by AI.

On this episode, we dive into AI readiness: the blend of skills, ethics, and technical insight that young people need to question, adapt, and lead in an AI-powered world.

We sit down with Philip Colligan of the Raspberry Pi Foundation to unpack layered AI literacy, including what students should know about data, large language models, bias, and the social impact of automation. He shares how Experience AI (co-created with Google DeepMind) equips teachers with free classroom resources so every student can get hands-on practice with training AI models, diagnosing bias, and interpreting results. From “tomato vs. apple” misclassification to image-generation blind spots, Phil shows how simple activities can spark important conversations about fairness, accuracy, and accountability.

We also hear from Kenyan teacher Mr. Monyancha Isena, whose students crowd around limited computers yet light up as they test AI models and ask why accuracy never hits 100%. Their curiosity illustrates a bigger point of how access and equity determine who benefits from AI.

If you’re a parent, teacher, or curious listener, you’ll leave with concrete ideas on how to build AI-ready habits: teach students how AI systems learn, demonstrate model bias through classroom activities, keep privacy guardrails in place, and emphasize student agency in using AI technology.

aiEDU: The AI Education Project

• aiEDU.org
• linkedin.com/company/aiedu/

Dr. Aliza Pressman

• DrAliza.com
• linkedin.com/in/aliza-pressman-ph-d-279b7125/