Microsoft has revealed a new quantum computing chip with quantum bits (qubits) it says are capable of maintaining their quantum state for 1,000 times longer than its predecessor — paving the way for more reliable quantum computers by 2029. But not all scientists believe the company's claims. The experimental quantum processing unit (QPU), dubbed Majorana 2, features a four-qubit array that offers a reported mean qubit lifetime of 20 seconds and, in some instances, up to a minute. This is a massive improvement in quantum coherence times — the time that qubits are entangled so that calculations can run in parallel — typically seen in QPUs. Normally, this lifetime is measured in milliseconds (thousandths of a second). The new chip could put scientists on the path to building a quantum computer that's commercially viable by 2029 — halving the timespan researchers initially expected — Microsoft representatives said in a statement.
Sunday, August 16, 2026
Employers everywhere are using AI – but business schools aren’t preparing students for the shift -Murugan Anandarajan, Stacy Kline, the Conversation
Artificial Intelligence has become part of routine business operations, as employers across most industries use AI for tasks ranging from drafting emails to answering customers’ calls. We are business professors at Drexel University who have spent the past year examining how AI is changing both the workplace and higher education. Much of the conversation in business education to date has centered on helping students learn how to use AI responsibly and effectively. Even so, our recent findings show that other qualities and skills still matter. This is especially true when it comes to helping entry-level workers succeed and advance in their careers.
Saturday, August 15, 2026
USC pushes to expand AI research with $200 million gift - Guarav Sukhatme, Stevens School of Computation and Artificial Intelligence
Universities everywhere have been struggling to figure out how AI fits into higher education. Is using these tools an essential skill or a shortcut that hinders learning? And can universities still even matter in AI research, when the frontier is moving so fast and requires resources only the world's richest companies can muster? The University of Southern California is betting more than $200 million on the question. With a grant from a venture capitalist alumnus, the school is reinventing its curriculum, recruiting researchers, and expanding AI education beyond engineering and computer science.
How to make your academic work visible to AI - Darshan Vigneswaran, Times Higher Education
Here is the brutal truth about AI discoverability: it is not replacing citation metrics. It is layering itself on top of them. So, work that is already cited, circulated and sitting inside recognisable debates is likely to become even more visible. The rich get richer, now with a chatbot assistant. If Google Scholar sometimes buries obscure work, AI tools might simply forget it was ever born. This is grim news for anyone who believes good research should glow naturally in the dark. It does not. Visibility is not a moral reward for intellectual virtue. It is a distribution problem.
Friday, August 14, 2026
AI is changing the classroom. Here's what students and parents need to know this school year - MCEC, University of South Carolina
AI is changing how students interact with course material and how educators design assignments and assessments, raising ongoing questions about academic integrity, digital literacy and responsible use.In a recent interview with WLTX, University of South Carolina Computer Science Assistant Professor Ramtin Zand discussed how AI is reshaping education and how students, educators and parents are adapting. He noted that as AI tools become more widely available in classrooms and everyday learning platforms, they should be viewed as learning aids that support instruction rather than replace core academic skills.
How an AI-integrated anonymous chatroom boosted AI literacy and inclusion - Fridolin Ting, Times Higher Ed
Two hot topics in higher education right now – embedding AI literacy in course design and designing inclusive learning environments – are often treated as separate problems with separate fixes. But they don’t have to be. The right AI tool, used the right way, can help with both issues at once – as a side effect of how students use it, rather than an extra unit bolted on to the syllabus. For the past two years, we’ve been developing YoChatGPT!, a platform that lets a class share a single live chatroom integrated with large language models, instead of each student opening a private chat on their own device. That one design choice – putting AI to use in public, in front of peers – turns out to do useful work on both fronts.
Thursday, August 13, 2026
Improving GPT‑5.6 Sol in ChatGPT—and expanding access to GPT‑5.6 Luna for free users - OpenAI
Our mission is to ensure that artificial general intelligence benefits all of humanity. We’re introducing updates to ChatGPT that improve everyday conversations while expanding access for Free users. For Plus and Pro users, we’re updating GPT‑5.6 Sol in Chat to be more reliable with facts and provide more focused answers. A new slider lets you choose how much thought ChatGPT puts into each response. For Free users, we're updating the default model to GPT‑5.6 Luna and expanding access with unlimited text chats. For questions that need more thought, a new Think button lets you access higher reasoning for harder questions.
AI transformations: Views from AMD, Dell, Liquid AI, and Mercedes-Benz - McKinsey
Artificial intelligence is no longer a side initiative. It’s becoming the operating system of the enterprise. Dell Technologies has used AI to transform how its teams work, enabling it to decouple revenue and cost while improving customer outcomes. Mercedes-Benz is redefining personalization through AI-powered conversational interfaces and software-defined vehicles. AMD is building AI fluency company-wide through mandatory training and responsible governance. And Liquid AI is pushing intelligence beyond centralized data centers and onto the edge—into vehicles, devices, factories, and industrial systems. The question these leaders are answering is no longer whether AI will transform the enterprise, but how fast and how deeply.
Wednesday, August 12, 2026
Teachers Forge Ahead on Integrating AI - Ed Finkel, EdSurge
A new report highlights teacher-led adoption, student demand for feedback, and a growing push for tools tailored specifically to the classroom. New findings from Turnitin highlight the growing leadership role of teachers integrating artificial intelligence into the classroom, the demand for education-specific AI solutions, and the importance of guiding students toward using AI as a tool for learning rather than a substitute for thinking. Based on data gathered during the first half of 2026 and an analysis of how students use the Turnitin Clarity AI writing transparency tool, the “Learning Integrity Insights Report Q2” revealed 48% of respondents reported that teachers and administrators take primary responsibility for AI implementation at their schools and districts, far more than do technology leaders (17%) and cross-functional committees (16%).
https://www.edsurge.com/news/teachers-forge-ahead-on-integrating-ai
The next employability crisis won't be about jobs; it'll be about learning - Sheeba Chauhan, IndiaTimes
Indian universities are undergoing a significant metamorphosis to align with the rapidly changing workforce needs, particularly in AI-centric careers. By incorporating artificial intelligence into various fields of study, academic leaders are restructuring programs to emphasize hands-on experience. This partnership with industries fosters essential practical skills, enabling students to evolve into innovative thinkers and lifelong learners ready for the challenges of tomorrow's job market.
Tuesday, August 11, 2026
Differential engagement with generative artificial intelligence in higher education: Gender, motivation, and achievement trajectories - uan-Hsuan Lee & Jiun-Yu Wu, International Journal of Educational Technology in Higher Education
Engagement frequency was shaped by learner differences: female students, those with stronger autonomous motivation, lower prior knowledge, and higher course performance interacted more frequently, while higher-performing students were less likely to abstain from use. Importantly, engagement was not merely a matter of frequency but of inquiry quality and diversity. Growing Achievers (students who began with weaker achievement but demonstrated substantial performance gains) posed more diverse and conceptually oriented questions. In contrast, Declining Performers engaged minimally and focused on narrower, procedural inquiries despite stronger initial knowledge.
Nearly three in five students say they turn to AI when sad, stressed, or lonely, JED research finds - Emma Thompson, EdTech Innovation Hub
Four in five middle and high school students have used some form of AI, and nearly three in five have turned to it while feeling sad, stressed, or lonely, according to preliminary findings previewed by The Jed Foundation (JED) at a congressional briefing in Washington, D.C. The suicide prevention nonprofit, which partners with high schools, colleges, school districts, and community organizations, gathered the data between October 2025 and April 2026 from more than 5,500 students at 21 U.S. schools and school districts already enrolled in its programs. Dr. Kayla Anderson, JED's vice president of research and evaluation, led the work. Full results are expected in the fall. Academic use dominates, but it is not the whole picture. More than half of students reported using AI for schoolwork. Nearly one third used it for relationship or problem-solving advice, and more than one in ten talked to AI for companionship.
Monday, August 10, 2026
A $40,000-Per-Year AI School With No Teachers Is Opening in Oklahoma - Maya Henry, Good Men Project
An AI-powered, billionaire-backed chain of private schools promises to educate students with two hours of virtual learning a day and entrepreneurship workshops. There are no teachers, and tuition is nearly double the most expensive private school in the state. This is Alpha School and, come August, it’s touching down in Oklahoma. Here’s how it works, according to Alpha: Students start each morning on a laptop, with two hours on Alpha’s adaptive, AI learning platform. Half an hour is allotted to each core subject: math, reading, science and social studies. Then, in the afternoon, students learn through projects and workshops that build life skills. Alpha’s rejection of tradition is its draw; for one soon-to-be Alpha parent, whose son will start eighth grade at the Tulsa location, the workshops and highly personalized learning convinced her family to commit.
AI and SMEs: From Automation to Growth - The AI Professor Luca
In this episode of The AI Professor, host Professor Luca highlights artificial intelligence as a major competitive equalizer for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) [00:00]. Drawing from an MIT Technology Review report, he explains that AI helps small teams manage multi-disciplinary roles—such as administration, marketing, and finance—freeing up the entrepreneur’s time to focus on strategic growth and innovation rather than simple task automation [00:26]. Data from a Goldman Sachs study reveals that while 76% of surveyed small businesses already use AI and 84% report increased productivity, only 14% have fully integrated AI into core workflows, citing key hurdles in cybersecurity, tool selection, and technical skill gaps [01:24]. Expanding the scope to medium-sized businesses, insights from the World Economic Forum indicate that generative AI holds over $2 trillion in potential value for the sector, though pilot projects often fail when organizations try to automate indiscriminately without updating underlying skills and processes [02:19]. Luca concludes that long-term competitive advantage will not come from standard chatbots, but from thoughtfully integrating AI into core workflows alongside human oversight and expertise [02:45]. Summary by Gemini Flash
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