The Neuron: AI Explained

Headlines scream that AI is "breaking the classroom," but is the story that simple? In this episode we explore the real cracks in today's education system, how AI sometimes widens them, and—more importantly—how the same technology could personalize learning, free teachers to teach, and shift schools from rote memorization to true mastery. We discuss the UCLA "CheatGPT" controversy, MIT's brain study, Alpha School's 2-hour learning model, and OpenAI's new $10M teacher training initiative. Subscribe to The Neuron newsletter: https://theneuron.ai [https://theneuron.ai] WTF is going on with AI and education: https://www.theneuron.ai/explainer-articles/wtf-is-going-on-with-ai-and-education [https://www.theneuron.ai/explainer-articles/wtf-is-going-on-with-ai-and-education] One Useful Thing (Ethan Mollick) Post-apocalyptic education:  https://www.oneusefulthing.org/p/post-apocalyptic-education [https://www.oneusefulthing.org/p/post-apocalyptic-education]  MIT study: https://www.media.mit.edu/publications/your-brain-on-chatgpt/ [https://www.media.mit.edu/publications/your-brain-on-chatgpt/]  Ethan Mollick again, “Against brain damage”:  https://www.oneusefulthing.org/p/against-brain-damage [https://www.oneusefulthing.org/p/against-brain-damage]   OpenAI working with teachers union: https://openai.com/global-affairs/aft/ [https://openai.com/global-affairs/aft/]  Make it Stick book: https://www.makeitstick.com/ [https://www.makeitstick.com/]

Will AI turbocharge our output—or erode our standards in the rush to automate? In this episode, strategist Andreas Welsch (ex-SAP, author of The AI Leadership Handbook) joins Corey Noles and Grant Harvey to weigh the promise of higher productivity against the peril of slipping quality. Expect plain-language insights on agentic AI, governance that scales, and the human skills and metrics that reveal whether AI is lifting the bar—or lowering it. Guest: Andreas Welsch LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andreasmwelsch AI Leadership Handbook: https://www.aileadershiphandbook.com/order What's the BUZZ? Podcast: https://www.intelligence-briefing.com/podcast The AI MEMO Newsletter: https://www.intelligence-briefing.com/newsletter Work with Andreas (AI strategy, workshops, training): https://www.intelligence-briefing.com OWASP Top 10 LLMs: https://owasp.org/www-project-top-10-for-large-language-model-applications/ There are no new ideas in AI, only new datasets: https://blog.jxmo.io/p/there-are-no-new-ideas-in-ai-only N8N to start automating your own tasks (not a promo; this is just the best tool for the job): https://n8n.io/ or https://n8n.io/workflows for template workflows to try. The Neuron Newsletter: https://www.theneuron.ai

In Ep 3 we explore DeepSeek's open-source R-series models that claim GPT-4-level performance at a fraction of the cost. We unpack whether you can realistically run DeepSeek on a laptop, where it beats (and lags) OpenAI, and the serious security implications of using Chinese AI services. Listeners will learn the economics, hardware realities, and safe alternatives for using these powerful open-source models. How to pick the best AI for what you actually need: https://www.theneuron.ai/newsletter/how-to-pick-the-best-ai-model-for-what-you-actually-need Artificial Analysis to compare top AI models: https://artificialanalysis.ai/ Previous coverage of DeepSeek: https://www.theneuron.ai/newsletter/deepseek-returns https://www.theneuron.ai/newsletter/10-wild-deepseek-demos https://www.theneuron.ai/explainer-articles/deepseek-r2-could-crush-ai-economics-with-97-lower-costs-than-gpt-4 U.S. Military allegations against DeepSeek: https://www.reuters.com/world/china/deepseek-aids-chinas-military-evaded-export-controls-us-official-says-2025-06-23/ ChatGPT data privacy concerns: https://www.theneuron.ai/explainer-articles/your-chatgpt-logs-are-no-longer-private-and-everyones-freaking-out OpenAI’s response to NYT lawsuit demands: https://openai.com/index/response-to-nyt-data-demands/ How to run Open source models: Go to Hugging Face for the models: https://huggingface.co/ Use Ollama or LM Studio (our recommendation) to run the model locally: https://ollama.com/ https://lmstudio.ai/

In Ep 2 we ask: "Panic or Progress? Reading Between the Lines of AI Safety Tests." We unpack the recent Claude Opus 4 "blackmail" test result, OpenAI's new transparency pledge, and why safety evaluations sometimes sound scarier than they are. Listeners will leave with a clear framework for interpreting headline-grabbing safety reports—and practical advice on when to worry, when to wait, and how to separate red flags from red herrings.

Will AI really erase half of all white-collar jobs, as Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei warns? We unpack the numbers, the hype, and the hidden opportunities, then hand the mic to Microsoft's Alexia Cambon for fresh research on how to thrive in an AI-saturated workday. Listeners will learn how roles are shifting, which skills stay scarce, and concrete moves to keep their careers future-proof.