#159: AI is profound like electricity.

Education Next- Hundred and Fifty eighth Edition

Author

Priyanka Modi
May 31, 2025

Issue #159 | May 54, 2025

Hello,

Welcome to the 159th edition of Education Next! This week, we dive into transformative insights from tech visionaries like Sundar Pichai, Demis Hassabis, Samir Vasavada, Satya Nadella, and Sam Altman. From AI agents reshaping workflows to reimagining education in an AI-driven world, here’s what’s shaping the future.

1. Sundar Pichai on AI Agents: A New Intelligence Paradigm

Sundar Pichai, CEO of Google, recently shared a bold vision for AI agents—autonomous digital assistants that can write code, generate insights, and improve themselves recursively. “We so underestimate the potential of this technology… It’s more profound than fire or electricity,” Pichai said.

Key Points:

  • AI Agents’ Power: These systems chain tasks, analyze data, and enhance code, paving the way for self-improving, independent systems.

  • A2A and MCP: Agent-to-Agent communication (A2A) and Model context Protocol (MCP) enable seamless collaboration and complex workflows.

  • Challenges: High costs and latency in chaining models remain hurdles, but the trajectory is clear—AI agents will redefine how we work and create.

  • Platform Shift: Pichai compares AI’s impact to the mobile revolution, emphasizing natural language interactions and a self-improving platform. “This is the only platform… capable of creating and self-improving,” he noted.

  • Web Development: AI tools like Google’s VEO 3 and Replit enable “vibe coding,” making app development intuitive. “The power you’re gonna be able to create on the web… we haven’t given that to developers in 25 years,” Pichai said.

2. Demis Hassabis: AI and the Future of Education

Demis Hassabis, CEO of DeepMind, emphasized equipping students for an AI-native world. “I wouldn’t dramatically change… basic advice on STEM,” he said, urging mastery of fundamentals alongside AI tools to achieve “superhuman” capabilities.

Key Points:

  • STEM and Meta-Skills: Proficiency in science, technology, engineering, and math, combined with creativity, adaptability, and resilience, is crucial.

  • “The only thing we know for sure is there’s going to be a lot of change,” Hassabis noted.

  • AI in Education: AI-powered tutors can democratize learning, especially in underserved regions. “I’m very excited about bringing [AI] to education in a big way,” he said.

  • Personalized Learning: AI can deliver tailored educational experiences, leveling the playing field globally.

3. Claude Code: The Terminal-Powered AI Revolution

Claude Code, developed by Anthropic, brings AI to the terminal, enabling developers to automate workflows and execute tasks autonomously. “We wanted to learn how people use agents,” a developer explained, highlighting its roots as a “crazy research project.”

Key Points:

  • What It Does: Claude Code accesses files, runs bash commands, and operates agentically, streamlining coding tasks.

  • Accidental Origins: Born from an engineer’s experiments with Anthropic’s API, it gained traction after proving indispensable internally. “I was using it every day,” the developer recalled.

  • Team Effort: From a solo project to a team led by Boris, Sid, Ben, and PM Cat, Claude Code’s lean design reflects Anthropic’s “do the simple thing first” philosophy.

  • Impact: Its near-vertical growth in daily active users signals strong demand, making it a go-to tool for developers.

4. Samir Vasavada: Rethinking Education in the AI Era

At just 20 years old, Samir Vasavada became the youngest founder of a billion-dollar company, Vice, a platform revolutionising automated and personalised portfolio management for financial advisors.

Growing up in a traditional Indian immigrant family in Cleveland, Samir defied expectations by dropping out of high school at 16 to pursue entrepreneurship.

“College has kind of started to lose its credibility,” he asserts, advocating for real-world learning through mentorship and experience.

Key Points:

  • Practical Learning: “The best way to grow yourself is to find someone… impressive [and] shadow that person,” Vasavada advises, emphasising hustle and thoughtful outreach.

  • Entrepreneurship: Classroom-based entrepreneurship courses are ineffective. “The only way to be an entrepreneur is to go be an entrepreneur,” he says.

  • Superpower Mindset: Success lies in identifying and honing your unique strength. “All of the alpha comes from sticking at one thing for a long period,” he explains, estimating 7–10 years for mastery.

  • Long-Term Vision: Vasavada’s success stems from introspection and goal-setting, like his list of goals at 15, nearly all achieved by 20.

5. Satya Nadella and Sam Altman: The Future of Knowledge Workers

Microsoft’s Satya Nadella and OpenAI’s Sam Altman discussed the evolution of coding tools, spotlighting the Coding Agent—a “real agentic coding experience” that acts as a virtual teammate.

Key Points:

  • Coding Agent: Capable of fixing bugs, implementing features, and handling complex projects, it streamlines workflows. “Developers can issue many requests in parallel,” Altman said.

  • Simpler Models: Future AI models will be intuitive and reliable, reducing complexity. “The models will get simpler to use,” Altman predicted.

  • Agentic Apps: Stateful, autonomous apps like ChatGPT and Codex are transforming development. “We haven’t seen many technological shifts like this in history,” Altman noted.

  • Developer Empowerment: Nadella emphasized keeping developers “in the flow,” with AI accelerating the software development life cycle.

The insights this week underscore a seismic shift in education and work. From AI agents redefining productivity to calls for rethinking traditional learning, the message is clear: adaptability, mastery, and leveraging AI tools are key to thriving in this new era.

As Pichai said, “We’re gonna interact with computers in natural language… and everything will change.” Let’s embrace the change and shape the future together.

Stay Curious, Stay Ahead!
Priyanka

Automations are coming for us.

🔥 Stay Ahead of the Curve

The future is happening NOW. The question is—are you evolving with it?

👉 Subscribe to stay ahead → educationnext.beehiiv.com

🎯 Please share this with someone who needs to hear it.

Let’s Stay Connected!