Last week, I had the chance to attend Google’s “Learning in the AI Era” event, and it was one of those moments that reminded me why I do what I do. As someone who works directly with educators and focuses on preparing people for the workforce of tomorrow, seeing the intersection of AI, education, and technology so clearly laid out was incredibly inspiring. This event wasn’t just another conference for me—it was a space where I could reflect on the work we do at Miami EdTech and how it aligns with these emerging trends. It also gave me the opportunity to explore new ways to collaborate with Norbert, my AI apprentice, in creating impactful learning experiences.
AI Meets the Classroom: A Game Changer
One of the biggest highlights for me was learning about AI tools like Learn About and NotebookLM. These tools take something as simple as curiosity and turn it into a deeper, more interactive learning experience. At Miami EdTech, we’re always looking for ways to help educators harness technology to create those “aha” moments for their students. Seeing tools designed to help learners explore, understand, and retain knowledge was like seeing the future of education unfold right before my eyes.
Here’s how Learn About works: you ask it about something you’re curious about—anything from ancient history to advanced biology—and it guides you on a journey of discovery. It’s not just about answers; it’s about understanding. Personally, I’ve been geeking out over how it breaks down complex topics like geology. It takes big ideas and makes them digestible, which is exactly what we strive to do with the educators we support. Imagine giving students a tool that helps them see the connections between ideas in a way that sticks with them long after the lesson is over.
NotebookLM: Your Personal AI Study Buddy
The introduction of NotebookLM felt like a moment where AI became personal. It lets you upload your own materials and then helps you dive deeper, offering summaries, study guides, and even suggested questions to spark more thinking. For educators, this tool could be transformative. It’s like having a co-teacher that helps you prep lessons, create materials, and support your students in ways you never thought possible.
For our work at Miami EdTech, NotebookLM is a perfect fit for workforce development. Imagine job seekers using it to organize notes, create study plans, or even draft project proposals for a new career. The potential is huge.
AI and Workforce Readiness
One thing that struck me during the event was how AI can play a role beyond the classroom—especially in workforce development. One tool in particular that blew me away was the Career Dreamer platform (which will be available to the public this Spring), designed to help people navigate their careers based on their interests and skills, be it from baking to fashion – this tool is able to assess the skills you’ve gained from your hobbies and design a profile and potential careers to explore.
This aligns so closely with what we do at Miami EdTech: bridging the skills gap and preparing people for a world where technology touches every aspect of work. Tools like these can help learners build confidence in technical skills while fostering creativity and critical thinking. With the official launch of Workforce.Miami – we’re excited to see how job seekers can advance their job search.
One of my favorite parts of the event was hearing about Google’s partnership with Digital Promise, which is creating standards to evaluate AI tools for education. This is a big deal because, right now, there’s no clear way to measure how effective these tools really are.
Curiosity is the Future
At the event, someone said, “Curiosity is just another word for our instinct to learn.” That really stuck with me. Whether it’s a fifth-grader exploring outer space or an adult learning to code, curiosity is what drives us to grow. What excites me most about AI is how it can nurture that spark. It doesn’t just give us answers—it creates an experience where learning feels dynamic, personal, and fun.
Tools like these can help learners build confidence in technical skills while fostering creativity and critical thinking. We’re especially excited about embarking on our Google Pathways to AI Jobs grant. This initiative will enable us to bring these cutting-edge tools and strategies to the communities we serve, opening doors to meaningful opportunities in tech-driven industries.
This event left me more motivated than ever. AI isn’t just the future—it’s here, and it’s opening up a world of possibilities for learning, growing, and succeeding. We’re excited to not only provide valuable feedback but also what we’ll do with it together.
For more information please contact info@miamiedtech.com
