Rebecca Holmes, President and CEO of the Colorado Education Initiative, joins The Bear Roars for a thoughtful conversation on how artificial intelligence is transforming K–12 education and what it will take to prepare the next generation for an AI-powered future.

Rebecca shares how Colorado is helping school districts responsibly integrate AI into classrooms, why she’s optimistic about teachers embracing new technology, and how AI can free educators to focus on the deeply human aspects of teaching. Together, her and Dan explore the growing AI divide, the importance of equitable access across urban and rural communities, and the role philanthropy, innovation, and leadership will play in shaping the future of public education.

They also discuss why today’s education system must evolve beyond traditional instruction, how robotics, project-based learning, and career-connected education can better prepare students for tomorrow’s workforce, and why balancing technological advancement with critical thinking, creativity, and human connection will be one of education’s greatest challenges in the years ahead.

Learn more about the Colorado Education Initiative: https://coloradoedinitiative.org/

Order Dan’s Book – Bandwidth: The Untold Story of Ambition, Deception, and Innovation that Shaped the Internet Age and Dot-Com Boom: https://dan-caruso.com/book

Listen to Dan’s song Stretch: https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/dancaruso/stretch

Check out music by Jason Mendelson (Jace Allen): https://www.youtube.com/@jaceallen

To nominate a founder or yourself as a future guest speaker, email: contact@loudbearproductions.com