Week in Edtech 9/15/26: Gates Commits $1B to Equitable AI, Low-Tech Tutoring Shows Learning Gains, AI Safety Under Scrutiny, and More! Feat. Dorka Horvath of BOOKR Kids & Nitesh Goel & Zareen Poonen Levien of Padlet

Join hosts Alex Sarlin and Ben Kornell as they break down the biggest stories shaping AI safety, tutoring research, equitable access to AI, and how educators are using AI in the classroom.

✨ Episode Highlights:
[00:07:16] AI safety concerns grow as Anthropic researchers and executives question the pace of frontier AI development
[00:12:42] AI alignment, self-improvement, and multi-agent systems raise new questions about control
[00:21:47] Randomized trial finds meaningful learning gains from consistent 20-minute phone tutoring across five countries
[00:25:23] Low-tech tutoring delivers results at an estimated $11 per child
[00:26:45] Gates Foundation commits $1B to advancing equitable AI across education, health, and agriculture
[00:34:18] Instruction Partners' AI in Action tour examines 20 AI tools across 16 school systems
[00:36:14] AI in schools works best when instructional goals come first and technology follows

Plus, special guests:
[00:38:29] Dorka Horvath, CEO and Co-founder of BOOKR Kids, on its $6.1M Series A, literacy, digital storytelling, and responsible AI
[00:59:38] Nitesh Goel, CEO and Founder and Zareen Poonen Levien, Principal Educator, of Padlet, on building an education company and creating meaningful classroom collaboration

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🎉 Presenting Sponsor/s:

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.

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