WIRED Highlights: Alpha School, Grokipedia, and AI Videos in Real Estate

What really puzzles me, and I’m eager to hear your thoughts on this, Brian, especially as a parent, is how the guides who were brought in were physically present with students, assisting them with any tech issues or addressing real-world situations. While some had teaching backgrounds, many did not. In fact, Alpha frequently opted for individuals from the entrepreneurship realm over those with educational experience, as if Series A funding is the ultimate qualification for early childhood education. I’m left wondering what the actual intent behind this is.

Brian Barrett: It feels overly simplistic, doesn’t it? The notion that education focuses solely on grades, which are reduced to mere numbers, and that coding is the primary concern. However, education should foster social interactions; it’s as much about relationships as it is about achieving numerical success. Additionally, how do you assess the value of art classes or finger painting—activities beneficial for both social and mental development that aren’t focused on numerical skills? It seems like these essential elements are overlooked, which is unfortunate.

Leah Feiger: Plus, we haven’t even touched on a key area of concern for WIRED: surveillance. These children are under constant observation.

Brian Barrett: Absolutely. A report by our journalist, Todd, revealed the use of eye-tracking software in this situation. For some parents, that might seem beneficial, and Alpha School indeed has many parents expressing satisfaction, alongside positive reviews and media attention. However, what we encountered in Brownsville was quite different.

Leah Feiger: And speaking of surveillance, Todd shared a particularly alarming report about a student who received a notification at home indicating she had been flagged by the Alpha system for an anti-pattern or distraction while she was studying. Shockingly, the system sent her a video taken from her computer’s webcam showing her in her pajamas talking to her younger sister. This surveillance doesn’t stop once they leave the classroom; it extends into their homes. While some may argue that data collection creates a comprehensive learning experience, it still feels intrusive to me.