In this episode, I reconnect with my former Stanford classmate, Mike Taubman, nearly 20 years after our graduate school days. Mike has spent his career teaching English and later pioneering purpose and career exploration programs for high school students in Newark, New Jersey. Most recently, he’s been at the forefront of bringing AI literacy into the classroom.

Mike introduces his innovative AI Driver’s License Framework, a practical, empowering way to help students (and adults) engage with AI responsibly. His approach draws on the metaphor of cars—tools we designed, tools we can operate, and tools that require both personal skill and shared rules of the road.

We explore:

Mike’s journey from English teacher to AI literacy leader.
Why metaphors matter in how we talk to students about AI.
The four-part AI Driver’s License framework:
1. Learn to drive – Operating AI tools effectively.
2. Look under the hood – Understanding how AI actually works.
3. Know the rules of the road – Exploring ethics, norms, and policies.
4. Pick your destination – Using AI to achieve goals, then stepping away to live life.
How high schoolers are experimenting with AI in projects ranging from architecture to medicine.
The risks of anthropomorphizing AI and why it’s essential to “break the spell” for students.
Balancing AI use with human wisdom, mentorship, and critical thinking.
Why banning AI in schools misses the opportunity to model transparency and teach responsible use.

Mike’s classroom stories bring the theory to life—showing us how students respond when they not only use AI but also question it, challenge it, and integrate it with human expertise.

This is a rich, hopeful conversation about preparing young people not just to survive in an AI-powered world, but to drive it with confidence, agency, and purpose