Coffeechug AI Update: Trends, Tools, and Reflections for July 2025
Hello my chaos navigating friends!
It’s been a minute since my last update and that pause was intentional.
Even in a world of code and circuits, sometimes it’s a yellow lily that reminds us what it means to be alive.
This summer I stepped away for live music, off-grid fishing, dirty hands in the garden.
Now I return to AI work more rooted in what matters: connection, wonder, and the joy of learning.
I went off the grid to recalibrate:
A fishing trip deep in the Boundary Waters of Canada
Soaking in live music and late summer nights with a goal of 10 concerts before summer ends
Rebuilding my yard and reconnecting with the land(and do you remember my AI garden design post)
Why? Because sometimes the most important kind of learning is unplugged. This time away reminded me what it means to feel human again. This is something I believe we desperately need to weave into our conversations about AI, education, and work. I have really tried to rethink my approach to my work and life.
With that being said the newsletter is back and is live with podcast updates, new workshops, and thoughts on staying human in the age of AI.
And by stepping away that doesn’t mean I have not been learning, building new connections, thinking up new ideas, and doing some incredible work I never thought I would be doing. So let’s get a taste of what has been happening and where things go from here.
I’m Back with a New Podcast Season
Living on the Edge of Chaos podcast is back and is live, and I’m thrilled to kick it off with Episode 212: “Authenticity, Education, and the Messy Middle” featuring Laura Williams. We explore how to stay true to ourselves while navigating systems that often push us to conform.
Tune in for a mix of vulnerability, laughter, and insights from one of education’s most thoughtful voices.
Behind the Scenes: 2(almost 3) New AI Workshops
I’ve been building and leading two different AI workshops starting in August, each offering a unique way to play with artificial intelligence in authentic settings:
The Stanley Center for Peace and Security
I’m experimenting with a slower, hands-on approach to help their team use generative AI as a tool for storytelling, public engagement, and curriculum design. I can often get excited and want to show all the things becuase I love it. This one I want to slow down and immerse ourselves in a new way.
Tools like ChatGPT, Claude, and NotebookLM will be featured along with demos of ChatGPT’s voice mode (my go-to for thinking out loud while driving).
We're are going to go deep beneath the surface using an iceberg model of AI—what you see vs. what powers the tech below.
A Three-Part Series with a Construction Company
I’m also leading a hands-on AI series with a construction firm, where we’re tackling real-world applications like:
Voice-to-email workflows
AI project planning and time estimation
Safety communication and training material creation
Project manager workflows and streamlining the tasks that sometimes get in the way of the work they really want to be doing.
This is AI in the wild and it’s been powerful to see mindsets shift once the tools meet real needs.
Almost new higher ed course
I have the outline and content ready to roll out for what was to be my third higher education course, but due to some logistics it is put on pause, but I am loving all these avenues of thinking about AI outside of the K-12 space and looking at patterns and ways in which it can help aid in the human process of thinking and work.
3 AI Updates You Might’ve Missed
Claude + Canva Integration – Create visuals directly in Claude!
Explore the updateChatGPT Voice Mode – With several unique voices (Juniper, Breeze, Ember, Cove, Sky), this is how I brainstorm ideas while driving or walking. This is not a new feature, but still one that I don’t think enough people leverage.
Learn how to enable itNotebookLM's Study Revolution – Google’s AI study tool now includes notebooks curated by experts on everything from Shakespeare to longevity.
Check them out
What’s Next?
In upcoming newsletters, I’ll be sharing:
My favorite prompts and tools from these sessions
Reflections on designing assignments AI can’t fake
Ways we can embrace AI without losing our humanity
And more ideas about learning and being human and not 100% AI all the time
And yes… there will be stories from the Boundary Waters too. I feel I have many life lessons gathered from this summer.
Question of the Week:
What’s one thing you’ve done recently that reminded you of what it means to be human?
Drop your answer in the comments as I’d love to hear your reflections.
Here’s to staying curious, staying grounded,
—Aaron aka Coffeechug