To the White House: Compete in the Presidential AI challenge

This week I was discussing with a college professor how our learning platform at Flintolabs teaches by having students interact with AI. We explored how AI has incredible benefits, but when misused, it can be detrimental to learning. Using ChatGPT to write your assignment? That's the wrong approach. But using AI as your brainstorming buddy? Total game changer.

Educators are getting creative about teaching with AI and embracing student AI use, but the tools still haven't caught up to what we really need.

A new MIT study has found concerning results about increased ChatGPT usage leading to what researchers are calling "brain rot." Meanwhile, there's a new AI tool launching every single day. The answer isn't to lock our kids in a room away from AI - it's to teach them how to use AI as an assistant safely, helping them understand AI's limitations and that everything it generates may not be accurate.

Here's what excites me: AI has democratized innovation. You no longer need an Ivy League degree or years of specialized training to bring your idea to life. With the right framework, grit, and curiosity to experiment and learn, anyone can create a business today.

AI has made access to information limitless, but it's up to us to decide how we process that information and put it together meaningfully.

We think through all of this when designing curriculum at Flintolabs. We know it's non-negotiable for high schoolers to learn practical AI use. They need real-world experience, not internships doing data entry or low-skill busywork. They need to understand how and where to use AI to be ready for the world they'll enter in 3-5 years. They need to grasp AI's ethical implications, sustainability impact, and not just specific tools, but how to adapt to the right tool at the right time.

-Janani

An amazing opportunity to stand out! The Presidential AI challenge is First Lady Melania Trump’s nationwide challenge inviting K-12 students and educators to "unleash their imagination and showcase the spirit of American innovation"

🇺🇸 Presidential AI Challenge

Enroll for the October Flintolabs Innovator cohort to build the foundations needed to develop your idea for the January submission.

🎮 The Gamification Trap: When "Fun" Learning Backfires

Classrooms are flooded with badges, points, and leaderboards promising engagement. But research shows when external rewards replace intrinsic motivation, natural curiosity withers. Students become reward-chasers, not learners.

The real danger? When the points disappear—in college, internships, or careers—engagement collapses. Students who've learned to chase digital gold stars struggle with challenges that require sustained effort without instant gratification.

True learning isn't always fun. It's meaningful, challenging, and builds the persistence your teenager needs for real-world success.

Read about how AI can help with deep learning approaches

💼 The Experience Paradox: Entry-Level Jobs Require 3+ Years

The job market paradox is real: 35% of "entry-level" positions now require 3 years of experience. As one analysis notes, "everyone can access the same knowledge, but what truly sets you apart isn't just what you know, it's what you've done."

Students who graduate high school with verified internships and real project portfolios solve this paradox before it starts.

Learn why experience is the new differentiator

This week, we're highlighting Nitheesh Manigandan, a 10th grader from North Carolina and a student of Flintolabs who built "Side Questz" - an innovative app that transforms how teens approach online browsing.

"Teens already spend 2+ hours daily online, often scrolling through TikTok. What if we could transform screen time into earning time through flipping and fixing items," Nitheesh opened his pitch.

Instead of mindless scrolling, Nitheesh created a solution. Side Questz is both a web app and Android app that allows teens to browse listings, see profit potential of flips, purchase items, and then apply level-appropriate DIY skills to "flip" and sell for a profit.

The concept is brilliant: take the time teens are already spending online and redirect it toward entrepreneurial learning and actual income generation. Nitheesh has developed both the platform and identified skill-appropriate opportunities for different experience levels.

Check out Nitheesh's Side Questz app and pitch

While their peers memorize textbooks, Flintolabs students build real solutions, work with professional mentors, and create verifiable portfolios that colleges and employers actually want to see.

The next cohort starts on October 4. Sign up today and do not hesitate to reach out to us at [email protected] if you have questions before you subscribe.

Give Your Student Real-World Experience →

Student testimonial: "This summer, I interned at Flintolabs as a researcher in Blockchain and it was an amazing learning experience. I conducted in-depth research on a blockchain platform which I presented every Friday in the form of a 'weekly pitch' allowing me to enhance my public speaking and creative skills in the process. The team was extremely flexible, supportive and knowledgeable. I am excited to take what I learned with me to college and beyond." - Tanish Pai, Student

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Found this valuable? Forward this newsletter to other high schoolers who want to be informed about AI trends and parents who want their high schoolers prepared for an AI-driven future. Every student deserves the chance to build real skills before college.

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