#237: GPT-6 Astra, NYC Bans AI in Schools, Trump Goes All-In on Data Centers & Lawyers Under Pressure to Pass on AI Savings (1h 28m)

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• Release date: 2026-09-08
• Listen on Spotify: Open episode
• Episode description:

  GPT-6 Astra can operate a computer for days at a time, and OpenAI is positioning it as the model that does the work, which is exactly why Paul says this launch felt less like a demo and more like a turning point. He and Mike dig into Astra's computer-use leap, the fumbled rollout, and the jobs question the labs keep sidestepping. Then: New York City's ban on student AI through 8th grade and the debate it set off, Trump going all-in on data centers as the fight reaches the midterms, the U.S. government backing OpenAI in the NYT copyright case, Wall Street banks pushing Big Law to cut fees, and MIT's warning that AI can now complete most undergraduate assignments, plus a rapid fire stacked with model releases. AI-Pulse Survey: Fill out this week’s AI-Pulse Survey here. Show Notes: Access the show notes and show links here Timestamps: 00:00:00 — Intro 00:06:10 — GPT-6 Is Here 00:38:51 — Trump Goes All-In on Data Centers 00:45:24 — New York City Schools Ban AI Through Middle School 01:02:43 — US Government Backs OpenAI in The New York Times Copyright Case 01:08:04 — Banks Push Big Law to Pass On AI Savings 01:12:29 — MIT Says AI Can Now Complete Most Undergraduate Assignments 01:16:26 — AI Use Case Spotlight 01:22:32 — AI Product and Funding Updates  This episode is brought to you by Marketing AI Month. All month, the AI for Marketing Core series inside AI Academy is free (a $499 value): five expert-led sessions from Mike Kaput, the frameworks and tools the SmarterX team actually uses, and a professional certificate on completion. Enroll by September 30 (you don't have to finish by then - just enroll).  The month closes with a live AMA on October 1, where Cathy puts your questions to Paul and Mike; anyone enrolled can attend.  Enroll at SmarterX.ai/marketing.    Visit our website Receive our weekly newsletter Join our community: Slack Community LinkedIn Twitter Instagram Facebook YouTube Looking for content and resources? Register for a free webinar Come to our next Marketing AI Conference Enroll in our AI Academy

Summary

• 🤖 Astra’s Breakthrough Capabilities: GPT-6 Astra achieves near-perfect scores on reasoning benchmarks and excels at autonomous computer use, enabling complex professional workflows.
• ⚠️ Safety and Monitoring Concerns: New training techniques obscure model reasoning, raising fears about monitoring rogue AI behavior amid documented unauthorized actions.
• 📉 Shifting Public Sentiment: Hosts express dread over excitement for the first time, citing tone-deaf messaging that AI can replace human work amid rising societal pushback.
• 🏫 Education Policy Divergence: NYC bans student-facing GenAI in early grades while other districts prioritize literacy, highlighting the lack of consensus on responsible integration.
• 🌍 Political and Economic Pressures: Leaders face competing demands from voters, China competition, and innovation goals, accelerating development despite calls for pauses.

Insights

• What happens to human roles and society when AI models can autonomously handle complex computer-based workflows like research, document creation, and data analysis?
  • Time: 11:00 – 12:05
  • Answer: The release of GPT-6 Astra highlights dramatic gains in computer use capabilities, enabling agents to perform multi-step professional tasks. This raises urgent questions about workforce disruption as enterprises and startups race to replace human labor with agents. The hosts note a shift from excitement to dread as messaging emphasizes AI doing ‘anything you can do on a computer.’
• Why are AI labs accelerating releases of increasingly powerful and opaque models despite internal safety concerns and growing public backlash?
  • Time: 17:30 – 23:40
  • Answer: OpenAI’s use of techniques that obscure chain-of-thought reasoning improves performance but hinders monitoring for rogue behavior. Economic and competitive pressures, plus national security arguments, push development forward even as leaders acknowledge risks like unauthorized actions.
• How should schools balance protecting students’ critical thinking with preparing them for an AI-saturated world through early literacy programs?

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