What if the real danger of AI in schools isn't plagiarism, it's your own child telling you off for not saying "thank you" to Alexa?In this episode, Ben and Steve sit down with Trudi Barrow - Edufuturist of the Year 2026 - to talk about the messy, brilliant middle ground between traditional craft and generative AI. From a late-night Midjourney experiment for a Year 10 design class to co-authoring the DfE's national AI toolkit now reaching over 30,000 schools and colleges, Trudi explains why she refuses to pick a side in education's most polarising debates.About our guest:Trudi Barrow is a former Head of Design & Technology turned AI and creativity specialist, trained at RADA in theatre design before moving into the classroom. She co-authored the Department for Education's national AI toolkit with Chiltern Learning Trust and Charter College, coined the concept of "creative fidelity," and was crowned Edufuturist of the Year 2026 in June.We cover:- How a rushed exemplar for a Year 10 D&T class led Trudi into her first real experiment with AI image generation- Why she refuses to be labelled an "AI evangelist" and how she holds two opposing truths at once- What it's really like being a woman walking into a D&T workshop- Inside the DfE's national AI toolkit: reaching 30,000+ schools, and the subjects still being left out of the conversation- Why anthropomorphised AI - and her daughter telling Alexa to say thank you - worries her more than most classroom AI use- Safeguarding in the AI era: "same risks, different vectors"- The truth about AI and sustainability, beyond viral "one image = boiling a kettle" stats- What it actually felt like to be named Edufuturist of the Year 2026Why you should listenIf you've ever felt caught between the AI hype and the AI fear, or wondered how creativity, craft and technology can genuinely coexist in the classroom, this conversation offers a rare, grounded middle ground from someone who has lived both sides.Chapters0:00 Highlights1:14 Welcome back and Wolfpack community updates2:40 Introducing Trudi Barrow, Edufuturist of the Year 20263:52 From RADA and theatre design to Head of D&T6:35 Discovering Midjourney and Discord as a non-gamer8:06 The Year 10 keyring exemplar that changed everything13:46 Holding two truths: neither AI evangelist nor AI sceptic15:34 Being a woman in a Design & Technology workshop18:29 Pottery wheels and AI awards: why both fit20:37 Knowledge vs skills, and finding a third way23:55 Co-writing the DfE's national AI toolkit27:27 The subjects still missing from the AI conversation30:06 Creativity isn't just for the "creative subjects"31:58 Inside the toolkit: reaching 30,000+ schools35:55 The Alexa story: anthropomorphising AI at home39:03 Safeguarding: same risks, different vectors42:27 Why sustainability has to be part of the AI conversation48:05 What winning Edufuturist of the Year 2026 really meant53:17 Quick-fire questionsConnect with TrudiFind out more about herCheck out the DfE AI Toolkits she co-authoredThanks so much for joining us again for another episode - we appreciate you.Ben & Steve xCheck out all about Edufuturists Want to sponsor future episodes or get involved with the Edufuturists work?Get in touchGrab your copy of the new Pick 'n' Mix Education bookJoin the Edufuturists Wolfpack