Tools & Platforms
Educators learn about AI usage as part of McAllen ISD technology conference
McAllen ISD will be embracing technology in the new school year.
On Wednesday, more than 800 educators participated in McAllen ISD’s TECHnovate conference. As part of the conference, teachers learned how they can use artificial intelligence to their advantage.
The annual conference shows teachers how to integrate technology in the classroom, and educators learned how to use artificial intelligence, or AI, for lesson design and planning.
“They gave us a lot of tools on what we can use and how to use them and how to use them in the classroom,” Brown Middle School teacher Brenda Richey said. “There is not one tool that works and is perfect for every single student or classroom. Finding the perfect tool is inevitable.”
McAllen ISD said teachers will have access to AI platforms such as Google Gemini and Microsoft Copilot.
Teachers will also show students how to use the new technology.
“[We’ll] be showing them how to use it and how to use it properly, how not to copy and paste and use it in their benefit because it is out in the real world,” Richey said.
McAllen ISD Rebecca Vincent said she knows technology is changing the game, but she hopes students won’t forget the old school way of learning.
“They learn a lot better with a pencil, I think they learn more by writing it down,” Vincent said.
Channel 5 News was told teachers will run student assignments through AI detection software to ensure expectations are being met.
McAllen ISD students will head back to school on Thursday. Aug. 14.
Watch the video above for the full story.
OpenAI board chair Bret Taylor believes AI is in a bubble. Yet he insists this is not cause for alarm.
In a recent interview with The Verge, Taylor supported earlier remarks by OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, who warned that “someone is going to lose a phenomenal amount of money in AI.”
Taylor agreed with the statement. However, he also emphasized the long-term potential of the technology.
The Dot-Com Bubble
Taylor drew a direct line between today’s AI boom and the dot-com bubble of the late 1990s.
During that period, numerous internet startups rose quickly but collapsed once the bubble burst. But despite those failures, the internet itself reshaped the global economy.
According to Taylor, “all the people in 1999 were kind of right.” While many businesses failed, the vision of a connected digital age proved accurate.
He argued that AI may follow the same pattern. Several companies may not survive, yet the technology will endure and transform industries.
Also read: AI Bubble Burst: Is It Coming, and What Would It Mean?
Bubble
Taylor pointed to clear signs of a bubble in the AI sector: Capital inflows are immense; startups are attracting billions of dollars in funding.
Companies are valued far above their proven earnings, and the hype is intense; public attention is growing faster than practical results.
Taylor acknowledged these risks. Still, he described them as common features of periods of rapid innovation.
Historical Precedent
History supports his view.
- The dot-com bubble produced failures but also gave rise to Amazon and Google.
- The railroad boom in the 1800s caused investor losses, yet railroads became vital to commerce.
- The housing crisis in 2008 triggered financial reform and new oversight.
These examples suggest that bubbles can destroy capital but also lay the foundation for lasting change. Taylor argued that AI is on the same trajectory.
Long-term Implications
The bubble will affect markets more than daily life. Chatbots, design tools, and AI-driven assistants will continue to appear. But investors and startups will bear the greatest risk.
Over time, however, consumers may benefit most. Just as the internet brought online banking, e-commerce, and digital entertainment, AI may deliver personal health tools, adaptive tutors, and advanced workplace assistants.
Duality
Taylor’s perspective is measured. He accepts the risks but underscores the promise. AI may be overvalued in the short term.
At the same time, it may also become one of the most significant technologies of the century. This dual reality reflects his central point.
A bubble can exist without undermining the long-term value of the technology itself. For Taylor, the turbulence is temporary.
augustachronicle.com wants to ensure the best experience for all of our readers, so we built our site to take advantage of the latest technology, making it faster and easier to use.
Unfortunately, your browser is not supported. Please download one of these browsers for the best experience on augustachronicle.com
-
Business2 weeks agoThe Guardian view on Trump and the Fed: independence is no substitute for accountability | Editorial
-
Tools & Platforms1 month ago
Building Trust in Military AI Starts with Opening the Black Box – War on the Rocks
-
Ethics & Policy2 months agoSDAIA Supports Saudi Arabia’s Leadership in Shaping Global AI Ethics, Policy, and Research – وكالة الأنباء السعودية
-
Events & Conferences4 months agoJourney to 1000 models: Scaling Instagram’s recommendation system
-
Jobs & Careers3 months agoMumbai-based Perplexity Alternative Has 60k+ Users Without Funding
-
Podcasts & Talks2 months agoHappy 4th of July! 🎆 Made with Veo 3 in Gemini
-
Education3 months agoVEX Robotics launches AI-powered classroom robotics system
-
Education2 months agoMacron says UK and France have duty to tackle illegal migration ‘with humanity, solidarity and firmness’ – UK politics live | Politics
-
Funding & Business3 months agoKayak and Expedia race to build AI travel agents that turn social posts into itineraries
-
Podcasts & Talks2 months agoOpenAI 🤝 @teamganassi