Do Chatbots Really Belong in Schools? w/ Tom Mullaney
Podcast:Tech Won't Save Us Published On: Thu May 28 2026 Description: Generative AI is making its way into many parts of society, and schools are no different. Tom Mullaney joins Paris Marx to discuss how generative AI has been adopted in K-12 education and the many concerns it presents for students and teachers.Tom Mullaney is a high school social studies teacher in the suburbs of Philadelphia.Tech Won’t Save Us offers a critical perspective on tech, its worldview, and wider society with the goal of inspiring people to demand better tech and a better world. Support the show on Patreon.The podcast is made in partnership with The Nation. Production is by Kyla Hewson.Also mentioned in this episode:Here is the New Yorker article on AI in schools.For those looking for a refresher on Weizenbaum and ELIZA.Here is the paper “On the Dangers of Stochastic Parrots: Can Language Models Be Too Big”.For those curious about the Canvas breach.Students have been booing pro-AI speeches and AI presence in graduation ceremonies.xAI is facing a lawsuit for polluting Black neighborhoods.Support the show