Alpha School students share how AI helps them learn

Everest Neblaumont, an 11-year-old student from Alpha School, recently appeared on America’s Newsroom. She spoke about her experience attending the State of the Union and discussed how artificial intelligence is benefiting her education.

Neblaumont, who hails from Texas, was a special guest at the event, invited by First Lady Melania Trump. She’s an advocate for integrating AI in educational settings and is eager to reshape perceptions about technology in the classroom.

At Alpha School in Austin, AI is a key component of the curriculum. Neblaumont noted that the introduction of new software has allowed the school to cut down on class time. She claims that with the help of AI, students are able to learn at a pace significantly quicker than what is typical, often achieving results at double the traditional rate.

“It was really great to be able to attend and advocate for AI-powered education for everyone,” Neblaumont shared during her interview on Wednesday.

This invitation was part of the First Lady’s initiative, “BE BEST Fostering the Future.” Alongside Neblaumont, Sierra Burns, a participant in the Melania Trump Foster Youth Independence Program, was also present.

Mackenzie Price, co-founder of Alpha School, explained that their teaching model enables students to absorb more information in less time, which allows them to develop additional skills. “What we’ve found is that just two hours of work a day lets our kids learn twice as much compared to kids in traditional schools,” she mentioned on a recent podcast.

AI is central to their educational philosophy. Price expressed a desire to cultivate a generation of children who are “smarter than AI,” stressing the importance of equipping students to navigate and create knowledge rather than just consuming it. In a statement, the First Lady commended the students for embodying her mission to widen educational opportunities through “education and technology.”

Neblaumont mentioned her conversation with the First Lady about the role of AI in education. She emphasized that AI should “enhance” creativity instead of being something to fear or rely on excessively.

“You shouldn’t cheat with AI,” Neblaumont advised. “You should use it to improve your learning, rather than just looking for quick answers. I think that’s really important.” In her accomplishments that were noted by the First Lady’s office, Neblaumont shared her achievements as a three-time Texas state champion and a member of the International History Bowl-winning team. She even delivered a TEDx talk on the use of AI in education.