What I am observing in the various institutions I work with, research or coursework related, Is an emerging pattern I call the “automation loop” in education. Teachers are using AI to refine coursework, students are using AI to complete that coursework, and educational technology companies are selling AI products to detect student AI work and then give AI generated feedback. This creates a concerning scenario where authentic human learning interactions become increasingly less common. This shift raises an urgent question. Are we improving learning or removing the very struggle that makes it meaningful? Efficiency is not the same as understanding. Struggle, uncertainty, and effort build deep learning. AI-generated assignments remove the need for original thought. AI-powered grading tools reduce the role of human mentorship. Students may learn to use AI, but will they learn to think critically without it? This is the Automation Abyss. AI makes learning easier but weakens curiosity, creativity, and resilience. Without grappling with complex ideas or struggling through mistakes, students risk losing the ability to problem-solve and think independently. In my coursework, I’ve developed a framework that emphasizes three key components: Human Interaction, Critical Thinking About Automation, and Self-Awareness in Technology Use. Education must not fall into this trap. AI should not replace the learning process. It should challenge students, encourage exploration, and enhance critical thinking. The future of education depends on keeping humans in the loop, not cutting them out of it.

As the US grapples with a potential TikTok ban, users are turning to RedNote, a Chinese platform blending TikTok’s viral video style with Instagram’s aesthetics. Launched in 2013, RedNote, known as Xiaohongshu in Chinese, has grown to over 300 million monthly active users and now tops app store charts in the US. This migration reflects broader concerns about privacy and perceived double standards, as creators protest policies targeting TikTok while US platforms face similar criticisms. This moment highlights a collision of global digital cultures, underscoring the evolving dynamics of trust, governance, and user engagement in social media.

contributions, achieving personal milestones, and impacting global conversations about immersive technologies in education. Below is a comprehensive overview of my activities and accomplishments in 2024.

In the 1980s classic The Karate Kid, Miyagi-sensei teaches Daniel-san martial arts through seemingly mundane tasks: waxing cars, painting fences, and sanding floors. To Daniel, these chores appear unrelated to his goal of becoming a karate champion. But as the story unfolds, he discovers that these repetitive actions have been building muscle memory and discipline—essential skills for mastering karate.

This collaboration with UPOU and the introduction of FASTLearn are pivotal in our journey towards a future where education is more dynamic, accessible, and aligned with the needs of modern learners. I am enthusiastic about the prospects this partnership holds and am committed to continuing this exciting journey of educational innovation.

When pondering the future of artificial intelligence (AI), one might be tempted to invoke the imagery of Skynet from the Terminator films, a cautionary tale of technology spiraling out of human control. While our current technological landscape hardly mirrors the cataclysmic events of those movies, the analogy serves a functional purpose, illustrating the imperative need for robust safety protocols as AI continues to integrate deeply into the fabric of society. The saga of California’s Senate Bill 1047 (SB 1047) underscores this need with stark clarity, capturing a moment in legislative and technological evolution where fiction increasingly informs reality.