10 Biggest Updates in AI and Education This Week – August 18th Edition

Here are the top 10 things you need to know to stay up-to-date in AI in Education today:

1️⃣ OpenAI recently rolled out their GPT-5 model on August 7th, and reactions have been pretty mixed. Instead of letting people choose which model to use, GPT-5 comes with a built-in “router” that automatically decides whether to give you a quick response or a deeper, more thoughtful one based on your prompt. It also brings stronger performance in coding, writing, complex research, and even health-related queries, showing greater accuracy and fewer factual errors compared to GPT-4o.

The main backlash, however, came from the way it was launched: GPT-5 instantly became the default model for all users, and OpenAI initially removed access to its older models. Many users felt GPT-5’s answers were colder and less creative than GPT-4o’s, which had a warmer, more expressive style. Some even described it as losing the “personality” they liked about ChatGPT. After a wave of complaints, OpenAI admitted the rollout was bumpy, brought GPT-4o back (at least for paid users), and promised not to remove legacy models without warning again.

2️⃣ Google DeepMind released Genie 3, a general-purpose world model that can generate an unprecedented diversity of interactive environments. Now with a single text prompt, you can create an interactive simulation that lets students explore different environments and moments in history in real-time.

3️⃣ Common Sense published a report on AI Teacher Assistants, taking a close look at popular platforms like Google Classroom’s Gemini, Khanmigo’s Teacher Assistant, Curipod, and MagicSchool. They explored both the opportunities these tools offer and the potential risks, covering areas like effectiveness, content accuracy, bias, and student safety.

4️⃣ Ian Bogost, in The Atlantic, explores how College Students Have Already Changed Forever. He highlights interviews with students, especially this year’s graduates who have had access to ChatGPT since their freshman year, showing how they use AI daily, not just for assignments, but to manage responsibilities, pursue side projects, and navigate high expectations. Their experiences reveal how AI is reshaping both student priorities and the college experience itself.

5️⃣ South Korea’s plan to revolutionize classrooms with AI-powered textbooks just ran into major roadblocks. Despite a $70 million investment and promises to boost learning in math, English, and computer science, usage rates remained below 30%, and teachers and parents raised concerns