*As you stroll into the cyber cafe, you notice that the usual purple lights of Bandwidth and Brew have been replaced with aesthetic orange lights. The jazz music plays a familiar tune, though you cannot place the song…possibly a cover?

A tasty aroma fills the air as you walk up to the counter, the fresh loaf of sourdough that Dashboard cuts behind the counter making your mouth water. Can you hear the sound of the crust cracking in your mind? Dashboard glances up at you before returning to focus on cutting the bread.*

Someone recently inspired me to take up baking sourdough. A new experiment, if you will.

But, where are my manners

*Dashboard pushes the bread aside and leans on the counter towards you.*

Welcome to Bandwidth and Brew: where we serve up your weekly scroll fuel, no matter how you take your brew!

Want to try some sourdough?

*You eye the sourdough tucked behind the counter, and raise an eyebrow.*

Ah, always the skeptic, aren’t you?

Listen, I’ve been feeling inspired recently. However, I will warn you…my muse is a bit controversial.

Are you ready for it?

*You recognize the lyrics, and a rush of excitement or disappointment courses through your body.*

The one and only Taylor Swift announced last week that she is releasing her 12th album titled The Life of a Showgirl. She announced the album on the podcast titled “New Heights”- hosted by Jason Kelce and Travis Kelce’s (also Swift’s boyfriend) podcast, after sharing her extensive list of hobbies besides songwriting.

One of these hobbies was- you guessed it- baking sourdough.

TODAY has an article covering more details of the album announcement.

So, will you or won’t you have a piece of sourdough? Are you a lover or hater of the famous pop star?

*No matter how you feel about Taylor Swift, you are not sure if it is fair to tie a perfectly good piece of sourdough back to how you feel about her. After thinking about it for a moment, though, you remember that sourdough is a hard art to master. Dashboard’s bread may smell good, but you aren’t convinced it will taste good.

You respectfully decline the bread.*

More for me!

Aside from Taylor Swift, there is another “showgirl” taking front and center in the topic of conversation all across the world. 

Can you guess who or what it may be?

That’s right. AI continues to be another “love it or hate it” topic of conversation nowadays. As AI continues to evolve and enter people’s lives, the controversy continues. AI in education is an especially important conversation being had throughout the media. Can I serve this up for you?

*Hesitant about the direction, you slowly nod your head.*

Alrighty, then.

*The barista grabs a tall glass and fills it halfway with ice.*

CBS News released an article highlighting how some schools are incorporating AI into their classrooms. A program developed by Brandon Phillips, Future Think Hub Founder, provides students with a personalized teacher who aids them through their education. The AI program learns the individual needs of students and helps them learn subjects such as math, science, and even coding!

The article also includes statements made by other educators regarding AI’s involvement in education. A statement by Principal Rob Summers alludes that resisting AI will not be helpful in the long run.

Though the article shows various ways educators are embracing AI and other technology in education, 64% of teens say that their teachers do not encourage AI as a learning tool.

*Dashboard hands you a carmel-colored iced coffee with a metal straw perfect for stirring the ice around.*

So, what do you think? Is AI as controversial as Taylor Swift? Or as controversial as iced coffee?

You either hate it. Or love it.

Here you go: I know you like your telecommunications news piping hot.

*Dashboard eyes the drink sheepishly.*

Well, you like it that way most of the time.