Based on a Scott Carlson LinkedIn post, it sounds like during the Chronicle's session, Goldie Blumenstyk called out edtech vendors for their silence in the face of Trump's attacks on higher ed. Don't suppose that created any kind of buzz? What about Dan Meyer talking about the church of AI?
To their credit, the organizers had a few people there to speak truth to money and influence. Doesn't sound like anyone was listening. Speaking of, looking forward to listening to your talk.
The Leah Belsky quote about AI knowing your "hopes and dreams" while democracy crumbles felt like satire — but it’s the real horror show: techno-utopianism weaponized as opiate. The fact that OpenAI’s educational evangelism is being paraded while actual educators are protesting outside says it all.
This line especially stayed with me: “What the fuck is actually going on?” That’s the question more people need to be brave enough to ask — out loud, on stage, in boardrooms, and at dinner tables.
Grateful for your rage, clarity, and refusal to “move on to more pleasant subjects.” More of us need to start screaming in these echo chambers of polite complicity.
Good for you for speaking out. I am hopeful that the idea of the more people who speak out will lead to even more who do, and so on, and so on. We, the people, have actual flexibility, organization, and intelligence to put to use. There really is no other way to overcome this entrenched power that is both as smart as, and as stupid, as AI.
I am stealing “the Death Star of education technology gatherings” whenever I talk about this conference. Am awaiting video of your talk with bated breath.
Based on a Scott Carlson LinkedIn post, it sounds like during the Chronicle's session, Goldie Blumenstyk called out edtech vendors for their silence in the face of Trump's attacks on higher ed. Don't suppose that created any kind of buzz? What about Dan Meyer talking about the church of AI?
To their credit, the organizers had a few people there to speak truth to money and influence. Doesn't sound like anyone was listening. Speaking of, looking forward to listening to your talk.
The Leah Belsky quote about AI knowing your "hopes and dreams" while democracy crumbles felt like satire — but it’s the real horror show: techno-utopianism weaponized as opiate. The fact that OpenAI’s educational evangelism is being paraded while actual educators are protesting outside says it all.
This line especially stayed with me: “What the fuck is actually going on?” That’s the question more people need to be brave enough to ask — out loud, on stage, in boardrooms, and at dinner tables.
Grateful for your rage, clarity, and refusal to “move on to more pleasant subjects.” More of us need to start screaming in these echo chambers of polite complicity.
Really grateful for this comment. Let's scream in unison!
Hi Ben,
I'm one of the organizers that helped coordinating the event, sending the press release out to local news stations.
Photo's videos of the event are available here if you would like to use them
https://drive.proton.me/urls/3KX26PHQE4#DfAPY7GTYmrQ
Right on, thank you Richard!
Thank you for this post. We're in a bleak situation.
Fascism is bleak but also hard to sustain. Courage!
Good for you for speaking out. I am hopeful that the idea of the more people who speak out will lead to even more who do, and so on, and so on. We, the people, have actual flexibility, organization, and intelligence to put to use. There really is no other way to overcome this entrenched power that is both as smart as, and as stupid, as AI.
I am stealing “the Death Star of education technology gatherings” whenever I talk about this conference. Am awaiting video of your talk with bated breath.
When it come to efforts to tame the beast, or at least confront it, here is what some group of Microsoft workers are doing.
Microsoft action Microsoft workers oppose ties with Israel.
Take action with us — and support the Microsoft workers organizing to cut the company’s ties with Israel’s military
https://act.mpowerchange.org/go/71588?t=3&akid=10199%2E809623%2EH7UcG5
Microsoft and other tech partners, like Google and Amazon, are helping redefine the ugly underbelly of U.S. technology’s use in war.
We’ve set up a digital action where you can send emails to Microsoft leadership, including AI CEO Mustafa Suleyman, with just a few clicks.