In this episode, Alex sits down with Victoria Hedlund—better known as “Bias Girl”—to explore one of the most urgent challenges in education today: how do we confront bias in AI before it reshapes teaching and learning in ways we can’t undo?
From lightbulb analogies that turn into “sparkle fairies” and “racetracks” to the dangers of students using chatbots as uncritical tutors, Victoria reveals how bias creeps into classrooms at the student, teacher, and leadership levels. Together, Alex and Victoria dig into the risks of leaving teachers and learners to “just get started” with AI, why oversight and safe experimentation are essential, and how new roles like Bias Officers could soon become standard in schools.
Discover why “personalization” may limit choice while “customization” empowers it, how AI can fail neurodiverse learners, and why the real future of teaching lies in human relationships, trust, and critical thinking.
Bias in Action: From sparkle fairies to racetrack metaphors, AI reveals its hidden stereotypes when given vague prompts.
Oversight is Everything: Leaving students or teachers unsupervised with AI is a recipe for inequity.
Customize, Don’t Personalize: True equity comes from giving learners choice, not narrowing their paths.
Neuro-Normative Blind Spots: Many AI tools assume linear, neurotypical thinking—leaving others behind.
Future Roles: Schools may soon need Bias & Equity Officers to track and manage AI use.
Relationships Matter: AI can support, but it can’t replace the motivation and trust teachers provide.
Best Moments
💡 “Critical oversight is my thing.”
💡 “Comfort is the enemy of progress.”
💡 “AI is another voice in the room.”
💡 “Personalization takes away choice—customization empowers it.”
💡 “Teachers don’t just deliver content—they manage motivation and identity.”
About the Guest
Victoria Hedlund is an educator, researcher, and advocate known as “Bias Girl” for her pioneering work on uncovering and mitigating bias in AI systems. She is the co-creator of LessonInspector.ai and founder of GenEd Labs, where she helps educators critically engage with AI tools and rethink teacher training for the AI era.
Connect and Contact
The International Classroom:
📸 Instagram: https://instagram.com/theinternationalclassroom
💻 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexandergray84/
🌐 Website: https://deepprofessional.com/
Victoria Hedlund:
💻 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/victoriahedlund/
🌐 Website: https://genedlabs.ai