The AI Podcast

Episode: "AI Education: Google’s Newest Tool"

Host: Jaden Schaefer
Date: January 22, 2026

Episode Overview

This episode explores Google’s latest move into AI-powered education with the announcement of free, Gemini-powered SAT practice exams. Host Jaden Schaefer discusses the broader implications for education, test prep, and the role of AI in student learning, providing both personal perspective and industry context. The episode covers the mechanics of the new tool, its potential impact on the educational landscape, and the ongoing debate about AI’s role in learning.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Google’s New AI-Powered SAT Practice Tests

• Announcement: Google now offers free SAT practice exams powered by its Gemini AI (02:03).
  • Students can ask Gemini for a practice SAT, which generates a full-length, fresh exam every time (“You can say something like, you know, I want to take a practice SAT test and the AI is going to generate a full practice exam at no cost.” — Jaden Schaefer, 02:23).
• Personalization: AI reviews results, highlights strengths and weaknesses, and provides detailed feedback and study plans (03:46).
• Partnerships: Google is working with major education brands like The Princeton Review to ensure question quality and realism (04:34).

2. The End of Paid Test Prep Materials?

• Access and Equity: Schaefer emphasizes the historic difficulty and expense of preparing for standardized tests, comparing physical books’ limitations to the new, unlimited practice made possible by AI (02:54).
  • “I remember how much pain it was to go... I had a textbook that had a bunch of practice exams... once you took those three... you basically would have to go and find a new book or a new source to buy...” (03:05)
  • “It is incredible that today... you’re going to be able to just automatically generate this, get a new one every single time. And this is going to be a huge help.” (03:43)
• Market Disruption: Recognizes the business impact on traditional test prep publishers and tutors, noting The Princeton Review’s necessary participation to stay relevant (04:48).

3. Personalized Learning and Study Plans

• AI Feedback: Gemini provides granular analysis, identifying not only what was wrong, but the reasoning leading to mistakes (04:06).
  • “You got this wrong, but you got it wrong in this number. So you probably were going down this line of reasoning to get there. And this is what it actually should have been. That is like so incredibly helpful and personalized.” (04:06)
• Leveling the Playing Field: Free, personalized prep tools could close gaps for students without access to private tutoring (05:01).
• Collaboration with Industry: Princeton Review and other education companies work with Google to ensure authenticity; recognition that working with AI is necessary for their survival (05:38).

4. The Debate: AI in Education—Boon or Bane?

• Concerns:
  • Some educators fear students will over-rely on AI, potentially weakening independent thinking skills (06:07).
  • Debate exists, but long-term effects remain unstudied: “Things haven’t been out for that long. So I think there is not like a huge long term study.” (06:55)
  • Nuanced stance: AI’s value is in balanced use, akin to calculators in math education (07:25).
    • “CHAT GPT has just become another calculator for text and for writing essays and articles…” (07:28)
    • “Most writing is going to have some sort of AI assistant and be creative, write your own stuff as well. I think that’s phenomenal. But I think AI is a great place to maybe start or to help you finish stuff.” (08:13)
• Universities and AI: Schaefer argues universities should fully embrace AI to prepare students for a future workplace where AI is ubiquitous (08:20).

5. Impact on Tutors and the Human Element

• Tutors Facing Change: AI tools threaten traditional tutoring roles, but Schaefer believes the accountability and personal connection with human tutors still has value (08:51).
  • "If you don't have a personal coach calling you on the phone... Like, if you know you're accountable to that person and it's a real human that's going to call you on the phone, it's a lot harder to say you didn't do it." (09:31)
• Long-term Outlook: AI can simulate some aspects of accountability, but motivation and support from humans remain hard to replace (09:48).
  • “There is some value to that and that's what you're paying for, right? Because that's how you're going to get results.” (09:52)

6. Google’s Broader Push in AI for Education

• Other Features: Google recently launched more Gemini-powered educational tools:
  • Tools for teachers to create podcast-style audio lessons to engage Gen Z (10:38).
  • Gemini-support for brainstorming and lesson plan customization (10:54).
• Strategic Move: Education is high usage for AI, helps Google’s brand, and positions it as a leader in this space (11:13).

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the fundamental shift in test prep:
  "It's incredible that today... you’re going to be able to just automatically generate this, get a new one every single time. And this is going to be a huge help for that test, the SAT. But I think for a lot of other things in education." — Jaden Schaefer (03:43)
• On the limitations of AI replacing tutors:
  "If you know you’re accountable to that person and it’s a real human that’s going to call you on the phone, it’s a lot harder to say you didn’t do it... there is some value to that and that’s what you’re paying for." — Jaden Schaefer (09:31)
• On AI and writing:
  "CHAT GPT has just become another calculator for text and for writing essays and articles the same way when the calculator was invented, we didn’t throw it out. Well, they probably did when it first was invented from school. But eventually we just learn how to use the calculator to do more complex math problems. I think CHAT GP is going to help us to do more complex reasoning and essays and articles and thinking." (07:28)
• On the future of AI in university education:
  "AI and education is incredibly important, especially once you get to a university level. Like, this is a no brainer. Universities should be preparing people for their careers and their career is going to be using AI for everything." (08:20)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [01:00] Episode Introduction & Topic Overview
• [02:03] Google Announces Free Gemini-Powered SAT Practice Exams
• [03:05] Personal Anecdotes and Comparison to Old Test Prep Methods
• [04:34] Google’s Partnership with The Princeton Review
• [06:07] Concerns About Over-Reliance on AI
• [07:28] Calculator Analogy and Balanced AI Use
• [08:20] University-Level AI Adoption Argument
• [08:51] Impact on Tutors and Human Element in Learning
• [10:38] Other Gemini Tools for Teachers (Podcast Lessons, Brainstorming)
• [11:13] Google’s Branding and Education Push

Tone and Style

• Conversational, personal, and candid
• Uses real-life anecdotes to illustrate points
• Open to nuance and competing perspectives while remaining optimistic about AI’s role in education

This summary provides a thorough overview of the episode, capturing the key technological news, industry context, debate, and the host’s engaging perspective—making it valuable for listeners and non-listeners alike.