In this issue of Ideas in Action: Artificial intelligence is changing how we work, learn, and interact with technology. Explore debates over its impact on jobs, energy use, and the data centers behind it; discover practical ways to put AI to work and save time on lesson prep; and help students build stronger AI and critical-thinking skills through our AI Challenge.

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VIDEO LIBRARY

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Artificial Intelligence. Genuine Concerns?

Will AI drain water supplies, drive up electric bills, and eliminate jobs, or are some of those fears overstated? AI Hysteria: Fact or Fiction? examines concerns about data centers and energy use, compares today’s job-loss warnings with earlier predictions about new technologies, and asks how much government should be involved.

Concepts: artificial Intelligence, automation, government regulation, creative destruction

Resources: Teacher’s Guide, Quiz, Kahoot

Our Lessons in Lyrics series uses original songs in a variety of genres to bring core ideas to life through music. Use our Creative Destruction release to introduce this key concept to your students.

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BOTH SIDES OF THE ISSUE

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Powering AI. At What Cost?

As AI drives demand for more data centers, communities are weighing the benefits against the costs. Supporters point to jobs, investment, and the infrastructure needed to support AI, while critics raise concerns about electricity prices, noise, land use, and environmental impacts. Both Sides: Data Centers presents two perspectives on how those trade-offs should be addressed.

Concepts: infrastructure, energy policy, trade-offs

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EDUCATOR BLOG

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DIY for Your AI

A single lesson can quickly turn into hours of work when you’re adapting materials for different students. This step-by-step tutorial shows you how to build your own AI-powered tool to find recent articles, adapt them for different reading levels, and create tiered questions for your classroom, all with no coding required.

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STUDENT CONTESTS

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Raise Your Students’ AI-Q

Help your students build stronger AI skills while thinking critically about the information it provides. In our AI Challenge, they use an approved AI platform to explore one of four engaging topics, then question what it tells them, check for accuracy and potential biases, and reflect on what they learn along the way.

You can choose a topic for your class or let your students decide which they want to explore. The AI Challenge is open to students in grades 8–12 who are at least 13 years old. The Challenge typically takes an hour or two, and entries are due January 18. Your students can compete for more than $5,000 in cash prizes, and you can earn rewards too!

Two More Rewarding Contest Options

We also offer essay and video contests covering the same four topics, giving you more flexibility to choose the format that best fits your classroom and your students.

Essay Contest

Video Contest