Week In EdTech 7/16/2025: ChatGPT Agents, AI Companions For Teens, Google’s Gemini Push, Windsurf Talent Wars, Scale AI Layoffs And More! Feat. Writer Matthew Gasda & Marc Graham Of Spark Education AI Edtech Insiders podcast

Week in EdTech 7/16/2025: ChatGPT Agents, AI Companions for Teens, Google’s Gemini Push, Windsurf Talent Wars, Scale AI Layoffs and More! Feat. Writer Matthew Gasda & Marc Graham of Spark Education AI

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Join hosts Alex Sarlin and Claire Zau, a Partner and AI Lead at GSV Ventures as they explores the latest developments in education technology, from AI agents to teacher co-pilots, talent wars, and shifts in global AI strategies.

✨ Episode Highlights

[00:00:00] AI teacher co-pilots evolve into agentic workflows.
[00:02:15] OpenAI launches ChatGPT Agent for autonomous tasks.
[00:04:24] Meta, Google, and OpenAI escalate AI talent wars.
[00:07:38] Privacy guardrails emerge for AI agent actions.
[00:10:20] ChatGPT pilots “Study Together” learning mode.
[00:14:40] Teens use AI as companions, sparking debate.
[00:19:58] AI multiplies both positive and negative behaviors.
[00:29:11] Windsurf acquisition saga shows coding disruption.
[00:37:18] Teacher AI tools gain value through workflow data.
[00:42:48] DeepMind’s rise positions Demis Hassabis as key leader.
[00:45:32] Google offers free Gemini AI plan to Indian students.
[00:49:39] Meta builds massive AI data centers for digital labor.

Plus, special guests:
[00:52:42] Matthew Gasda, a writer and director, on how educators can rethink writing and grading in the AI era.
[01:13:30] Marc Graham, founder of Spark Education AI, on using AI to personalize reading and engage reluctant readers.

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🎉 Presenting Sponsor/s:

This season of Edtech Insiders is once again brought to you by Tuck Advisors, the M&A firm for EdTech companies. Run by serial entrepreneurs with over 30 years of experience founding, investing in, and selling companies, Tuck believes you deserve M&A advisors who work as hard as you do.

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