WSJ Tech News Briefing: Why Schools Are Using a New Chatbot to Help Support Students
Hosted by: Charlotte Gartenberg, The Wall Street Journal
Release Date: February 26, 2025
1. Green Aviation in the Trump Era
Overview:
In the current political climate, President Trump's endorsement of Electric Vertical Takeoff and Landing (EVTOL) vehicles has injected momentum into the green aviation sector, particularly benefiting air taxi companies. However, the broader landscape of zero-emission aircraft development faces significant challenges, including technological hurdles and shifting industry sentiments.
Key Discussions:
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EVTOL Momentum:
Charlotte Gartenberg opens the discussion by highlighting President Trump's advocacy for EVTOLs, aiming to outpace China in this emerging market. This political support has led to a notable rally in air taxi stocks, although these have since stabilized after peaking during the 2021 SPAC boom. -
Major Players and Challenges:
John Cindreou, Herd on the Street columnist, provides an in-depth analysis of the current state of green aviation. He identifies Jovi Aviation and Archer Aviation as the two leading US companies successfully navigating the market despite recent setbacks in the sector."The fact that the administration seems friendly to them has made these stocks skyrocket recently."
— John Cindreou [02:15]Despite their progress, these companies still face rigorous FAA certification processes. Cindreou notes,
"We're talking about aircraft that have to fly no matter what the weather is... It's very complex."
— John Cindreou [03:39] -
Setbacks and Industry Sentiment:
The optimism around EVTOLs contrasts with the decline in broader zero-emission aircraft initiatives. Cindreou points to failures like Germany's Lilium and Volocopter, attributing these to technological limitations and waning industry enthusiasm."Battery technology is still in its infancy and it's progressing very linearly."
— John Cindreou [04:28]Additionally, major aerospace players like Airbus and Boeing are retracting their support for EVTOL projects, signaling a shift in focus away from green vertical flight solutions.
Insights and Conclusions:
While political backing has temporarily buoyed certain segments of the green aviation industry, widespread adoption of EVTOLs remains uncertain. Technological challenges, coupled with a retreat from green initiatives by key industry players, suggest that the future of zero-emission aviation may be less bright than initial enthusiasm indicates.
2. AI-Powered Chatbots Supporting Student Mental Health
Overview:
Facing a shortage of school counselors, particularly in low-income and rural districts, schools are increasingly turning to AI-powered chatbots to provide mental health support to students. Sonar Mental Health's chatbot, Sunny, represents a hybrid model combining artificial intelligence with human oversight to address this critical need.
Key Discussions:
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Functionality of Sunny:
Julie Jargan, WSJ Family and Tech columnist, explains that Sunny operates as a hybrid system where AI interacts with students while human professionals monitor and guide these interactions."It's part AI, part human... humans have learned from that how to tailor their responses to the teenagers."
— Julie Jargan [06:51]The chatbot is designed to resonate with teens by using appropriate language and emojis, such as preferring the melting face emoji over smiley faces.
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Development and Deployment:
Sunny was developed by Drew Barvier, a Stanford Graduate School of Business alumnus, aiming to bridge the gap in mental health services for young people. The system utilizes large language models trained in cognitive behavioral therapy techniques to effectively engage with students."They built it on several different large language models... to understand when a teen might be in crisis."
— Julie Jargan [08:13] -
Current Adoption:
As of the episode's release, Sunny is deployed in nine school districts, serving approximately 4,500 students. These districts often lack adequate mental health resources, making Sunny a crucial tool for early intervention. -
User Feedback and Impact:
Feedback from students indicates that Sunny provides a non-judgmental space for sharing personal thoughts, which may contribute to reductions in disciplinary issues and improvements in academic performance, though causality remains to be fully established."Students feel like this is a sort of a judgment free zone... some schools have seen a drop in student disciplinary problems."
— Julie Jargan [10:13] -
Potential Risks and Concerns:
Despite its benefits, concerns persist regarding data privacy and the adequacy of AI in handling complex mental health issues. Privacy policies state that data is deleted after 60 days, but the risk of data breaches remains a critical issue."Data privacy is always something that's a concern... having personal information out there is always a risk."
— Julie Jargan [09:37]Additionally, there is apprehension that reliance on chatbots might deter students from seeking professional therapy, potentially overlooking deeper mental health challenges that require human intervention.
"Therapists say that can an AI really understand if a student is experiencing depression, anxiety or other mental health issues?"
— Julie Jargan [10:57]
Insights and Conclusions:
Sunny represents a promising solution to the mental health support gap in schools, offering accessible and immediate assistance to students. However, the effectiveness of such AI-human hybrid models hinges on addressing privacy concerns and ensuring that the chatbot complements rather than replaces professional mental health services.
Final Thoughts:
The episode of WSJ Tech News Briefing delves into two significant areas of technology's impact on society: the evolving dynamics of green aviation amidst political and technological challenges, and the innovative use of AI to support student mental health in educational institutions. Both topics underscore the complex interplay between technological advancement, human oversight, and societal needs.