Artificial intelligence is revolutionizing education, but at what cost? That’s the big question we tackled in this live podcast session at TCEA 2025 with our incredible guests, Brianna Hodges and Carl Hooker. In a world where AI tools are becoming classroom staples, are we equipping students with AI literacy—or simply creating a generation that leans too hard on automation? And as educators, how do we balance AI’s benefits with the risk of diminishing creativity?
We explored these critical questions with the help of a lively audience, diving into real-world scenarios where AI enhances learning—and where it might be holding us back. But because we believe learning should be fun (and a little unpredictable), we also spiced things up with a hot sauce challenge and food trivia. Let’s just say some of us left the stage with a newfound respect for mild salsa.
Throughout the episode, we discuss:
- What AI literacy really means for educators and students
- The potential dangers of over-relying on AI
- Whether AI is killing creativity or simply changing how we define it
- Audience insights on how they use (or avoid) AI in their teaching
- The great hot sauce debate—how much heat is too much?
This episode is packed with engaging discussions, thought-provoking insights, and some hilarious audience participation. Whether you’re an AI skeptic or an enthusiast, you’ll walk away with new perspectives—and maybe even a craving for some spicy snacks.
Tune in and join the conversation! What do you think is the real cost of AI? Buen provecho!
Connect With Gabriel Carrillo
- EdTech Bites Website: https://edtechbites.com
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About Brianna Hodges
Learner. Listener. Leader. Storyteller. Texas EdTech of the Year (2017). K12 Administrator to Watch (2018). National Advisor and Spokesperson for Future Ready Instructional Coaches. An experienced school and district leader with a superpower for storytelling (Bri spent 10+ years as a PR exec) and developing capacity, Brianna works with school districts across the country to transform learning for all ages and stages. Let’s rewrite the story of what school has been and provide purpose to practice, and institute innovative change together.
Connect With Brianna Hodges
- Brianna’s Website: https://www.briannahodges.com
- Brianna On Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/bhodgesedu.bsky.social
- Brianna On X: https://www.x.com/bhodgesEDU
- Brianna On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bhodgesedu/
About Carl Hooker
Carl Hooker is a 25-year educator from Austin, TX. He’s an 8-time author, 5-time podcast host, 2-time bar owner, 3-time father, and 1-time husband. His latest book, Learning Evolution tackles the challenges of AI-enhanced learning and empowers teachers to leverage this new technology in creative ways for learning. He identifies as a pizza-lover, with a regular household debate between Detroit-style and New York-style.
Connect With Carl Hooker
- Carl’s Website: https://CarlHooker.com
- Carl’s Blog: https://hookedoninnovation.com/
- Carl On Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/hookertech.bsky.social
- Carl On X: https://twitter.com/mrhooker
- Carl On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hookertech/
