Fresh Air: Best Of – Education & A.I. / Having A Child In The Digital Age Hosted by Tonya Moseley, NPR's Fresh Air Weekend
Release Date: May 24, 2025

1. The Intersection of Education and Generative AI

Guests:

• Kashmir Hill – Tech Reporter, The New York Times

Overview:
The episode kicks off with a deep dive into the evolving role of artificial intelligence in education. Initially met with resistance as educators attempted to curb student use of tools like ChatGPT for assignments, AI is now becoming an integral part of teaching methodologies. Professors are leveraging generative AI to design lesson plans, create quizzes, and even grade student work, transforming the educational landscape in unexpected ways.

Key Discussions:

• Widespread Use of AI Among Students and Educators:
  "Students are using ChatGPT a lot, to ask IT questions, to answer problems, to help write essays." (05:20)

• Uniformity in Student Work:
  "It all starts to sound the same... They are seeing that model coming from all of these students instead of hearing their distinct voices." (06:03)

• Professors' Motivations for Using AI:
  Many educators, especially adjunct professors handling large classes, find AI tools essential for managing overwhelming workloads. AI assistance allows them to dedicate more time to student interactions and support. Additionally, some professors aim to integrate AI into their curriculum to prepare students for future technological landscapes.

  "He's now been able to have more office hours for students." (10:04)

• Challenges and Student Pushback:
  Students express frustration over the perceived inaccuracy of AI detection tools, feeling that their genuine work is being unfairly flagged. This skepticism extends to the reliability of AI grading systems, leading to a trust deficit between students and institutions.

  "The systems... tend to be a little discriminatory for students for whom English is a second language." (15:03)

• Institutional Responses and Guidelines:
  Institutions like Ohio University are pioneering flexible, principle-based approaches to AI integration, emphasizing transparency and the necessity for professors to vet AI-generated content for accuracy.

  "Professors should be transparent with students about how they're using AI." (14:36)

Notable Quotes:

• "ChatGPT is a calculator on steroids." – Academic (05:54)
• "It feels like class is being taught by an outdated robot." – Student on Rate My Professors (09:42)
• "These systems are not very good at kind of rendering pictures of text." – Kashmir Hill (08:15)

2. Motherhood in the Digital Age

Guests:

• Amanda Hess – Journalist, Cultural Critic, Author of Second Life: Having a Child in the Digital Age

Overview:
The second segment transitions to the intimate challenges of modern motherhood intertwined with pervasive technology. Amanda Hess explores how digital tools—from pregnancy apps to baby monitors—shape the experiences and anxieties of contemporary parents. Her memoir delves into the balance between leveraging technology for support and the ensuing surveillance culture that accompanies it.

Key Discussions:

• Personal Experience with Prenatal Technology:
  Hess recounts a pivotal moment during her pregnancy when routine ultrasound results led to a cascade of medical tests and online research, highlighting the intersection of personal anxiety and technological reliance.

  "I lay on the table as the doctor stood in his chamber, rewinding the tape of my life." (36:50)

• Impact of Constant Connectivity:
  Unlike traditional pregnancy books, digital apps are always accessible, fostering a continuous, almost intrusive, presence in the expectant mother's life. This constant access provides reassurance but also breeds dependency.

  "I was looking for reassurance that I was doing okay." (42:38)

• Reproductive Technology Divide:
  Hess discusses the socioeconomic disparities in access to advanced reproductive technologies, such as AI-powered embryo screening, which are financially out of reach for many, thus exacerbating existing inequalities in prenatal care.

  "There seems to be so much interest and investment in understanding what certain children will be like... very little investment in the care for those children." (43:30)

• Surveillance Culture in Parenting:
  The use of baby monitors and smart nursery devices introduces a layer of surveillance that extends parental oversight beyond physical presence. Hess reflects on the psychological implications for both parents and children, questioning the long-term effects of such technologies on parenting and child development.

  "Surveillance can become confused with care and attention and love." (47:06)

• Emotional Disconnect:
  Hess shares personal anecdotes illustrating how technology, while designed to assist, can sometimes create emotional distance. For instance, reliance on AI for decision-making in daily tasks led her to feel disconnected from her personal choices and her child’s needs.

  "It made me feel like a mediocre version of myself." (23:01)

Notable Quotes:

• "It's working in my life to tell me a certain story about my role as a parent and the expectations for my child." – Amanda Hess (40:00)
• "It wasn't until one night when the camera was set up and I sensed this presence... that I really understood." – Amanda Hess (48:27)
• "We're not even giving ourselves a chance to really understand what it is we're getting and whether we actually need it." – Amanda Hess (49:22)

3. Documentary Feature: One to One – John Lennon and Yoko Ono

Guest:

• David B. Cooley – TV Critic

Overview:
The episode also features a review of One to One, a documentary that chronicles John Lennon and Yoko Ono's activist efforts in the early 1970s, particularly focusing on their benefit concert for Willowbrook. The film examines their use of television as a medium to amplify their political messages and personal lives, providing a nuanced look at their legacy beyond music.

Key Highlights:

• Television as a Tool for Activism:
  The documentary illustrates how Lennon and Ono harnessed television’s reach to advocate for social causes, mirroring their creative and political reinvention during this era.

  "They used TV to tell their story... Incendiary times, inspirational artists, amazing music." (31:55)

• Personal Insights and Re-creations:
  Through reenactments and archival footage, viewers gain insight into the couple's daily lives, their interactions with media, and the challenges they faced from both the public and the government.

  "I can't believe I'm speaking to a myth." – Recreated John Lennon (28:50)

Notable Quotes:

• "A window on the world, whatever it is. That's that image of ourselves that we're portraying." – Yoko Ono (28:21)
• "For Lennon, it was a time of reinvention, both musically and in terms of his political involvement." – Host (28:57)

Conclusion

This episode of Fresh Air navigates the complex interplay between technology and human experiences in education and parenthood. Through insightful conversations with experts like Kashmir Hill and Amanda Hess, listeners are invited to ponder the benefits and drawbacks of AI and digital tools in shaping our personal and professional lives. Additionally, the feature on John Lennon and Yoko Ono’s documentary underscores the enduring influence of media in activism and personal narratives.

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This summary provides a comprehensive overview of the key discussions and insights from the May 24, 2025, episode of Fresh Air.