Google is rolling out Guided Learning tools across Google Search and Google Classroom, aiming to help K-12 students build critical thinking skills through step-by-step coaching rather than direct answers. School administrators will have the ability to enable or disable AI products for student accounts. A pilot program for Search is set to begin in select U.S. schools later this month.
At the same time, Google is warning that K-12 schools using its software will lose access to Search and AI tools next year unless administrators actively opt in. Vice President Chris Phillips explained that the move gives schools more control, since search and AI tools are deeply connected and must be managed together. Antitrust critics, however, accused Google of leveraging its search dominance to push schools toward adopting AI.
In a separate development, researchers studied 22 large language models through 11 psychological inventories and found that these models display consistent personality traits but variable emotional patterns. Anxiety and neuroticism appeared most frequently, and the study also revealed that LLMs tend to reflect characteristics of the users they interact with regularly.
On the health and fitness front, AI fitness apps are gaining popularity by offering quick workout plans and instant feedback. A Planet Fitness trainer noted that these apps serve people who need basic structure or affordable guidance. Still, human trainers retain an edge by correcting form in real time, adjusting for injuries, and providing motivation that apps cannot replicate.
East African Community ministers approved both the EAC Artificial Intelligence Strategy and the EAC Digital Transformation Strategy. The council also greenlit a foundational AI module for universities across member states and agreed to establish Kiswahili AI certification benchmarks for all participating countries.
Guru Madhavan, a systems scholar and engineer, argues that AI should be understood as a new layer of civic infrastructure rather than simply an answer generator. He leads a multi-stakeholder initiative at NAE focused on understanding complex technical and social systems, noting that power grids and health infrastructure depend on invisible coordination regimes built by diverse groups.
LiveX has deployed AI-powered human-sized avatar kiosks at over 100 sites, including PUMA stores and San Jose Mineta International Airport. The kiosks use real-time discovery to see, hear, and respond to users with multilingual translation and interactive 3D maps. The company says the technology helps staff manage more customers and handle complex problems, running on proprietary models trained with real-world interaction data.
A Georgetown University scoping review found that only 22 of 166 articles on AI and health equity explicitly defined the concept. Most of those followed the World Health Organization definition, and 15 came from U.S.-based author teams. Lead author Caroline R. Efird cautioned that vague definitions risk directing resources to the most advantaged groups, while researchers called for specialists to work alongside programmers throughout AI model development.
Security experts are sounding the alarm that AI is supercharging cybercrime. Dr. Steven Weber at UC Berkeley describes AI in cybersecurity as a double-edged sword: it helps detect and respond to attacks faster but also enables hackers to launch more sophisticated and targeted strikes. The pace of innovation in both defenses and attacks is accelerating, and society must prepare for what comes next.
University of Maryland architecture students held a teach-in to protest the school's increasing AI integration into its curriculum. Student organizer Alexis Joseph said the school did not address concerns about AI's environmental impact and effects on people of color. Graduate student Asher Harcum called using AI for architectural designs lazy. Architecture program director Mohammad Gharipour acknowledged that student concerns are taken seriously and should shape how AI is taught.
Key Takeaways
- Google launches Guided Learning tools in Search and Classroom to coach students step by step rather than giving direct answers
- K-12 schools will lose access to Google Search and AI tools next year unless administrators opt in, according to Vice President Chris Phillips
- Antitrust critics accuse Google of using search dominance to push schools toward AI adoption
- Study of 22 large language models finds consistent personality traits but variable emotions, with anxiety and neuroticism most common
- AI fitness apps help users needing basic structure but cannot replace human trainers who correct form and provide motivation
- East African Community approves regional AI strategy, foundational AI module for universities, and Kiswahili AI certification benchmarks
- Guru Madhavan frames AI as civic infrastructure essential to power grids and health systems, not just an answer generator
- LiveX deploys AI avatar kiosks at over 100 sites including PUMA stores and San Jose Mineta International Airport
- Georgetown review finds only 22 of 166 AI health equity articles explicitly defined health equity, risking misdirected resources
- UMD architecture students protest AI curriculum integration over environmental and equity concerns
Google launches Guided Learning tools for students
Google is adding Guided Learning to Google Search and Google Classroom to help students think critically. Instead of giving direct answers, the tools coach students step by step. School administrators can now enable or disable AI products for K-12 student accounts. A pilot program for Search will start in select U.S. schools later this month.
Google to disable search for schools skipping AI tools
Google announced that K-12 schools using its software will lose access to Search and AI tools next year unless administrators opt in. Vice President Chris Phillips said the move gives schools more control over AI use. The search function and AI tools are deeply connected, so they must be managed together. Antitrust critics accused Google of using its search dominance to push schools toward adopting AI.
Study examines psychological patterns in large language models
Researchers studied 22 large language models by having them complete 11 psychological inventories. The findings show that LLMs display consistent personality traits but more variable emotional patterns. Anxiety and neuroticism were the most common tendencies. The study also found that models reflect characteristics of the users they interact with regularly.
AI fitness apps vs human trainers: what to know
AI fitness apps are growing in popularity by offering quick workout plans and instant feedback. A trainer at Planet Fitness said these apps can help people who need basic structure or affordable guidance. However, human trainers can correct form in real time, adjust for injuries, and provide motivation that apps cannot match. The conclusion is that AI is a helpful supplement but not a full replacement for personal coaching.
East African ministers adopt regional AI strategy
Ministers from the East African Community approved the EAC Artificial Intelligence Strategy and the EAC Digital Transformation Strategy. The council also approved a foundational AI module for universities across member states. Additionally, the ministers agreed to create Kiswahili AI certification benchmarks for all participating countries.
Guru Madhavan highlights AI as civic infrastructure
Guru Madhavan, a systems scholar and engineer, views AI as a new layer of civic infrastructure rather than just an answer generator. He leads a multi-stakeholder initiative at NAE to better understand complex technical and social systems. Madhavan emphasizes that large engineering systems like power grids and health infrastructure rely on invisible coordination and maintenance regimes built by diverse groups.
LiveX deploys AI avatar kiosks at airports and stores
LiveX has launched AI-powered human-sized avatar kiosks deployed at more than 100 sites including PUMA stores and San Jose Mineta International Airport. The kiosks use real-time discovery to see, hear and respond to users in a personalized way with multilingual translation and interactive 3D maps. The company says the technology helps staff handle more customers while managing complex problems. The platform runs on proprietary models trained with real-world interaction data and includes a noise management model.
Georgetown review finds AI health equity guidance lacks focus
A Georgetown University scoping review found that only 22 of 166 articles on AI and health equity explicitly defined health equity. Most of the 22 articles followed the World Health Organization definition and 15 were from U.S.-based author teams. Lead author Caroline R. Efird warned that vague definitions risk directing resources to the most advantaged groups. The review also found 68% of articles discussed AI and health equity in general terms without focusing on specific diseases. Researchers called for specialists to work alongside programmers throughout AI model development.
AI is escalating cybercrime and security experts urge preparation
Security experts say AI is supercharging cybercrime and making the threat landscape change faster than before. Dr. Steven Weber, a cybersecurity expert at the University of California Berkeley, describes AI in cybersecurity as a double-edged sword. He explains that AI helps detect and respond to attacks more quickly but also lets hackers launch more sophisticated and targeted attacks. Experts stress that the pace of innovation in both defenses and attacks is accelerating and society must prepare for what is coming.
UMD architecture students protest AI curriculum plans
University of Maryland architecture students held a teach-in to protest the school's increasing AI integration into its curriculum. The protest followed the AI and Architecture Summit where speakers discussed benefits like faster renderings and proposal writing. Student organizer Alexis Joseph said the school did not address concerns about AI's environmental impact and effects on people of color. Graduate student Asher Harcum criticized using AI for architectural designs as lazy. Architecture program director Mohammad Gharipour said student concerns are taken seriously and should shape how AI is taught.
Sources
- Designing responsible AI for learning
- Google will turn off search feature next year for schools that opt out of its AI tools
- Is your LLM an Agressive Narcissist with Depression? Analyzing Psychological Portraits of Large Language Models
- Can AI fitness coaching replace human trainers? Pros, cons and where apps fall short
- EAC ministers adopt regional AI strategy and approve university AI curriculum
- Guru Madhavan on Engineering AI for the Public Good
- LiveX brings engaging, AI-powered intelligent human-sized avatar kiosks to retail and airport sites
- Most AI health equity guidance is general and U.S.-based, Georgetown review finds
- AI is supercharging cybercrime. Are we prepared for what’s coming?
- UMD architecture students protest program curriculum’s AI implementation
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