To celebrate 500 episodes of Edtech Insiders, Alex Sarlin and Ben Kornell are joined by Reed Hastings for a special conversation about AI, education, and the future of learning. They explore the potential of AI-powered tutoring, the changing role of teachers, the future of assessment, and what schools could look like in the years ahead.

Reed Hastings is the co-founder of Netflix and Chairman of Powder in Utah. He served as Netflix CEO for 25 years and previously founded Pure Software. Reed serves on the boards of Bloomberg and Anthropic and is an active education philanthropist. He previously served as President of the California State Board of Education and currently supports organizations including KIPP, City Fund, and the Charter School Growth Fund.

💡 5 Things You’ll Learn in This Episode:

1. Reed Hastings’ vision for AI-powered tutoring.
2. How conversational AI could transform learning and assessment.
3. Why Hastings believes charter schools can drive education innovation.
4. How AI could expand access to personalized learning globally.
5. What the future of teachers and schools could look like.

✨ Episode Highlights:
[00:05:42] Reed Hastings joins EdTech Insiders' 500 episodes celebration.
[00:11:29] The case for AI-powered individualized tutoring.
[00:16:32] The future of AI tutors and conversational learning.
[00:22:21] How AI could reshape the role of teachers.
[00:30:31] AI and the growing “tech lash” in schools.
[00:34:00] Why learning and assessment could become conversational.
[00:38:00] AI’s potential to transform schools over the next decade.

😎 Stay updated with Edtech Insiders!

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🎉 Presenting Sponsor/s:

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.

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.

This season of Edtech Insiders is brought to you by Cooley LLP. Cooley 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.

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.

Dacia Toll is the Co-Founder and Co-CEO of Coursemojo, an AI teaching assistant designed to help students make meaningful reading gains. A former teacher and principal in New Haven and founder of Achievement First, Dacia brings a deep focus on instructional quality, student outcomes, and what it takes to improve learning at scale. Coursemojo has now expanded to more than 85 school districts, from large districts like Boston, Denver, and Duval County to 5 small districts in rural Wisconsin and 13 districts of all sizes in Texas.

💡 5 Things You’ll Learn in This Episode:

1. Why productive struggle matters for learning
2. How Coursemojo uses AI without giving away answers
3. The role of high-quality instructional materials
4. Supporting multilingual learners and students with IEPs
5. Using AI to strengthen teacher efficacy

✨ Episode Highlights:
[00:03:10] Dacia Toll’s journey from Edtech skeptic to founder
[00:04:58] Why outcomes drive Coursemojo’s approach
[00:06:29] Why high-quality instructional materials matter for reading achievement
[00:11:26] Designing AI around productive struggle
[00:18:58] Supporting multilingual learners and students with IEPs
[00:22:33] AI as a tool for teacher efficacy
[00:25:25] Coursemojo’s vision for a more coherent learning experience

Learn more: What It Looks Like to Build Educational AI Based on Cognitive Science – K12 Digest

😎 Stay updated with Edtech Insiders!

Follow us on our podcast, newsletter & LinkedIn here.

🎉 Presenting Sponsor/s:

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.

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.

George Siemens is a prominent learning theorist and digital education researcher serving as the Chief AI and Innovation Officer at Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU), he co-founded SNHU's AI-learning platform. He is widely known as the pioneer of the learning theory Connectivism and for creating the first Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs).

Hosted by Matthew Rascoff
This episode is part of the Edtech Insiders HigherEd Podcast Series, featuring conversations with leaders shaping the future of higher education.

💡 5 Things You’ll Learn in This Episode:

1. How MOOCs shaped online learning.
2. How AI can move education toward deeper thinking and human connection.
3. What universities should own vs. rent in AI.
4. Why student agency and data matter.
5. How SNHU is building an AI-ready culture.

✨ Episode Highlights:
[00:03:21] The origins and evolution of MOOCs.
[00:10:00] AI, human connection, and education.
[00:14:46] Lessons from learning analytics.
[00:20:20] Developing the “whole human.”
[00:23:32] What universities should own vs. rent.
[00:31:05] SNHU’s approach to AI and sovereignty.
[00:33:14] SNHU’s “forward deployed engineer” model.
[00:35:39] Sharing AI lessons across higher education.

Learn more: Explore the Chief AI Officer Network (CAION)

😎 Stay updated with Edtech Insiders!

Follow us on our podcast, newsletter & LinkedIn here.

🎉 Presenting Sponsor/s:

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.

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.

This season of Edtech Insiders is brought to you by Cooley LLP. Cooley 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.

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.

Jennie Magiera is the Global Head of Education Impact at Google, a bestselling author, and former teacher, coach, administrator, and professor.

Chanel Johnson is an educator with 15+ years in K–12, STEM, and EdTech. She is a Google Certified AI Educator and Innovator and currently teaches 8th grade science.

Hannah Ketteman is Senior Instructional Consultant for AI at Texas A&M University-Central Texas and a Google Faculty Fellow, focusing on human-first AI integration in education.

💡 5 Things You’ll Learn in This Episode:

1. Why AI should start with the learning goal.
2. How teachers can build AI confidence and fluency.
3. Using AI as a thought partner and co-planner.
4. Teaching students AI discernment.
5. What human-first AI looks like in education.

✨ Episode Highlights:
[00:01:17] Centering educator voices in AI
[00:08:30] AI in education: Promise vs. preparedness
[00:15:48] The importance of teacher mindset
[00:22:33] Teachers as “master builders” of AI
[00:24:21] Teaching AI discernment
[00:26:39] AI as a co-planner
[00:39:35] The future of AI in the classroom

This episode is produced in partnership with Google.

😎 Stay updated with Edtech Insiders!

Follow us on our podcast, newsletter & LinkedIn here.

🎉 Presenting Sponsor/s:

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.

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.

This season of Edtech Insiders is brought to you by Cooley LLP. Cooley 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.

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.

In this episode, Alex Sarlin speaks with leaders and finalists from the Global EdTech Prize about expanding access to education, supporting underserved learners, and using technology and AI to drive meaningful impact around the world.

💡 5 Things You’ll Learn in This Episode:

1. How Edtech is expanding access for underserved and displaced learners.
2. New approaches to assessment, literacy, and learning outcomes.
3. How AI is enabling more personalized learning experiences.
4. How technology can support educators rather than replace them.
5. Why collaboration across the global Edtech ecosystem matters.

✨ Episode Highlights:
[00:02:38] Vikas Pota, Founder and CEO of T4 Education and Global EdTech Prize on the mission behind the prize and its focus on discovering and scaling Edtech innovations with global impact.

Finalist Interviews:
[00:13:16] Abdullahi Dahir Mire, Founder, Refugee Youth Education Hub (RYEH)
[00:28:59] Alina A. von Davier, PhD, Chief of Assessment, Duolingo
[00:43:34] Edan Shahar, Founder & CEO, Wild Zebra
[00:58:22] Dania Bush, International Educational Consultant, Renaissance Learning
[01:06:54] Gabi Immelman, Founder, Mindjoy
[01:18:21] Ami Shah, Co-Founder & CEO, Peekapak
[01:31:39] Quinn O’Brien, Chief Marketing Officer, Carnegie Learning

Watch the full Global EdTech Prize 2026 Top 10 announcement here.

😎 Stay updated with Edtech Insiders!

Follow us on our podcast, newsletter & LinkedIn here.

🎉 Presenting Sponsor/s:

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.

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.

This season of Edtech Insiders is brought to you by Cooley LLP. Cooley 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.

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.

Join hosts Alex Sarlin and Ben Kornell as they interview leaders from Flint, AskSia, and 2U about AI literacy, personalized learning, responsible AI adoption, and the future of higher education.

✨ Episode Highlights:
[00:01:15] Sohan Choudhury, Founder of Flint, on AI literacy for teachers and responsible AI adoption in schools
[00:15:10] Celine Xu, Co-founder and COO of AskSia, on personalized AI learning and student independence
[00:43:03] Adam Fein, VP of Academic Innovation and Strategic Partnerships at 2U, on the future of higher education, AI, and assessment

😎 Stay updated with Edtech Insiders!

Follow us on our podcast, newsletter & LinkedIn here.

🎉 Presenting Sponsor/s:

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.

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.

This season of Edtech Insiders is brought to you by Cooley LLP. Cooley 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.

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.

This episode is produced in partnership with Microsoft.

Deirdre Quarnstrom leads Microsoft’s AI-enhanced learning product portfolio and strategy. She started her work in education bringing Minecraft Education to students and educators around the world. Deirdre also serves as a Director on the board of the Block by Block Foundation and is a founding partner and advisor at Reaction, a social impact VC fund.

💡 5 Things You’ll Learn in This Episode:

1. How Microsoft is approaching AI in education.
2. Why AI tutors should guide students rather than give them answers.
3. How learning science shapes AI-powered learning tools.
4. How AI can reduce teacher workload.
5. The future of AI-powered game-based learning.

✨ Episode Highlights:
[00:05:38] Minecraft Education and the impact of the Hour of Code
[00:10:46] Microsoft’s approach to AI in education
[00:20:48] How AI can help reduce teacher workload
[00:25:52] Building AI tools around learning science
[00:29:20] “The magic is when the student figures something out for themselves.”
[00:30:37] The potential renaissance of game-based learning
[00:37:15] AI safety, privacy, and educator involvement
[00:53:27] Why AI should be a “power up” for educators and students

😎 Stay updated with Edtech Insiders!

Follow us on our podcast, newsletter & LinkedIn here.

🎉 Presenting Sponsor/s:

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.

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.

This season of Edtech Insiders is brought to you by Cooley LLP. Cooley 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.

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.

Sal Khan is the founder and CEO of Khan Academy and Vision Steward and board member of TED, two global nonprofits that provide free education to 200+ million people worldwide.

Sal is the author of The One World Schoolhouse and Brave New Words, and the co-author of Teaching Students to Use AI Ethically & Responsibly. His forthcoming book, Job Shock, examines how AI will transform the future of work and how societies can build learning systems that help people adapt, learn, and thrive.

Co-Hosted by Matthew Rascoff
This episode is part of the Edtech Insiders HigherEd Podcast Series, featuring conversations with leaders shaping the future of higher education.

💡 5 Things You’ll Learn in This Episode

1. Why AI is forcing higher education to rethink its value.
2. The vision behind the Khan TED Institute.
3. Why durable skills like communication and collaboration matter.
4. How portfolios and authentic projects could improve hiring signals.
5. What lifelong learning could look like in an AI-driven workforce.

✨ Episode Highlights
[00:02:52] The vision behind the Khan TED Institute
[00:04:30] How AI is reshaping higher education
[00:10:01] Rethinking how employers identify talent
[00:15:46] Moving from informal learning to credentials
[00:20:48] Creating better signals of learner skills
[00:31:23] Learning through authentic work experiences
[00:35:58] The future of the Khan TED Institute

😎 Stay updated with Edtech Insiders!

Follow us on our podcast, newsletter & LinkedIn here.

🎉 Presenting Sponsor/s:

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.

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.