Hey {{ first_name | human }},
There’s plenty to catch-up on this week. From model releases through to updated feature releases. Grab a drink and let’s get stuck in.
TL;DR: The 60 Second briefing
⚡️NotebookLM Updates: Google rolled out two major features to the NotebookLM app for Android and iOS this week, bringing mobile capabilities closer to the desktop version
⚡️EduGems: Custom Gemini models for nearly any situation.
🧪Stepping Stones to self improvement: a significant technical breakthrough in how AI models improve their own "intelligence" without human help.
🚨Model Updates: There were new releases from both Claude and ChatGPT this week announced within twenty minutes of each other.
📚 AI+education news
⚡️ EduGems > What it is: Created by Eric Curtis, this is a depository of custom Gemini models that have been instructed to perform certain tasks.
Why this matters: Creating prompts is hard work (I should know!). By creating and crowdsourcing this depository, educators now have a sophisticated set of ‘gems’ that they can turn to to support their work.
Do this next: Check out the EduGems site and try one out. If you think you can improve the model’s instructions, click the ‘Make your own copy’ and edit the custom instructions.
Why this works: By creating a depository of custom tools, it improves the reliability of the outputs by containing the model’s outputs to fit a particularly tasks.
🚨Google Gemini Drops the "Add-On" Fee > What it is: Google officially moved its premium "Gemini for Workspace" features into the base Education Plus and Teaching & Learning Upgrade licenses this week (Feb 3, 2026).
Why it matters: Previously, schools had to pay an extra ~$20/user/month for the AI side-panels in Docs and Slides. Now, those features, including "Help me write," AI-generated images in Slides, and automated Form summaries, are included at no additional cost for existing license holders.
Do this next: If you are an Education Plus user, check the top right of your Google Docs or Gmail for the Gemini icon.
🌍 Wider AI updates
⚡️NotebookLM Updates: Google rolled out two major features to the NotebookLM app for Android and iOS this week, bringing mobile capabilities closer to the desktop version. Users can click a pencil icon next to Infographics and Slide Decks to customise them before generation.
Why it matters: Previously, mobile users were stuck with "default" configurations. Now, you can specify if a slide deck is a "Detailed Deck" (full text for emails) or "Presenter Slides" (clean visuals and talking points for the classroom).
Do this next: Open your most recent lesson research notebook on your phone. Tap the pencil icon next to "Slide Decks," select "Presenter Slides," and add a custom prompt: "Create a deck for Year 9 with a focus on step-by-step visual instructions".
Safeguard: AI-generated visuals can contain factual glitches; always swipe through the deck on your desktop before projecting it to students.
🧪The Stepping Stone Breakthrough > What it is: A research paper introducing SOAR, a system where an AI "Teacher" creates synthetic problems to help an AI "Student" learn to solve math problems it previously found impossible (0% success rate).
Why it matters: It provides a technical proof that the most effective way to gain intelligence—for both humans and AI—is through a carefully sequenced, scaffolded curriculum rather than just "brute force" practice.
Why this works: It does the human equivalent of breaking complex tasks into smaller, manageable "stepping stones," ensuring students build the necessary schema before tackling the final problem.
🚨Claude 4.6 vs. GPT-5.3-Codex > What it is: This week marked a massive shift from "chatbots" to "autonomous agents" with the dual release of Anthropic’s Claude Opus 4.6 and OpenAI’s GPT-5.3-Codex. Claude now features "Adaptive Thinking" and a world-first 1-million-token context window (beta), while OpenAI’s latest model offers a 25% speed boost
Why it matters: For most teachers, this simply means the AI is becoming less likely to "forget" the start of a long PDF and will be more responsive when drafting resources. You need a payed account to access these particular models, but features tend to trickle down to free or lower-paying tiers within months.
🎯Prompt: Socratic Stepping Stone
Teacher Use: Anticipate student queries and include them in this this to generate "un-stucking" hints.
Leader Use: Use this to demonstrate "Grounding" in staff CPD sessions.
FE/HE Use: Apply this to complex coding or math problems to prevent "AI delegation" decay.
Act as a highly experienced [YEAR GROUP] teacher in [TOPIC]. I am a student who is stuck on [CONTEXT]. Do not give me the answer. Instead, identify the 3 most likely 'stepping stone' concepts I might be missing. Provide one check-for-understanding question for the first concept. Format your output as a dialogue. Safety line: Do not ask for or store any of my personal information or student identifiers.‘Till next week.
Mr A 🦾
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Safety & Privacy Notice
The tools and workflows mentioned are intended for professional productivity and educational enhancement. Users must ensure that any AI implementation remains compliant with their local data protection regulations and institutional safeguarding policies.
Data Privacy: Do not enter personally identifiable information (PII), sensitive student records, or confidential institutional data into public AI models.
Verification Required: AI-generated content can be inaccurate, biased, or out of date. Always maintain a "human-in-the-loop" approach by reviewing and fact-checking all outputs before use.
Professional Judgement: These suggestions do not substitute for formal legal, clinical, or safeguarding advice. Final responsibility for accuracy and appropriateness remains with the professional user.
