Author: Steve Alcorn
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Mastering a Text with AI-Powered Study Tools
by BrainStream CEO Steve Alcorn AI is revolutionizing the way students engage with specific texts—whether it’s a Shakespearean play, a history textbook, or a science manual. Unlike generic study aids, AI-powered tools can guide learners through the entire content of a particular text, offering a personalized and structured path to mastery. These tools break the…
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AI Lesson Planners Need Improvement
A recent preprint titled Pedagogical Biases in AI-Powered Educational Tools: The Case of Lesson Plan Generators critically examines how AI-driven platforms like MagicSchool, SchoolAI, and GPT-4 generate lesson plans that often reinforce outdated, teacher-centered pedagogies. Analyzing 90 AI-generated lesson plans, the study found a consistent pattern: these tools tend to produce structured, predictable lessons that prioritize…
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AI Education Startups: Navigating 2025’s Evolving Revenue Landscape
by Chief Financial Officer Chia-Hua (Phyllis) Chen In 2025, AI-driven education startups are at the forefront of a dynamic and challenging market. The average revenue multiple for EdTech companies has declined to 8.1x, a significant drop from 17.6x in 2024, indicating a recalibration in market expectations post-pandemic. Despite this contraction, the AI education sector remains…
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Power to the People: How AI LLMs Benefit Regular People
by BrainStream Chief Marketing Officer Ya-Hui (Laura) Kao Throughout history, transformative technologies have trickled down from governments and corporations to individuals—think GPS, flight, or the internet. But large language models (LLMs) like ChatGPT have turned that script on its head. For the first time, a groundbreaking technology is giving individuals the biggest boost. LLMs are…
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Building from the Ground Up: Starting a New Company in Vancouver
in Managementby Chief Operating Officer Tzu-Ying (Kimberley) Chen Launching a new company is equal parts thrilling and humbling. As the Chief Operating Officer of our new venture headquartered in Vancouver, Canada, I’ve spent the last year working on foundational decision-making, crafting the organizational structure that will support our long-term vision. Here’s a behind-the-scenes look at the…
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Empowering Canadian Education: A Marketing Plan for BrainStream
by BrainStream Chief Marketing Officer Ya-Hui (Laura) Kao Empowering Canadian Education: A Marketing Plan for BrainStream In today’s fast-paced, information-saturated world, students need more than just answers—they need understanding. That’s why we built BrainStream, an AI-powered learning companion that does more than tutor—it transforms textbooks into intelligent learning environments. With a unique focus on real course…
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Startup Finances
in Investorsby BrainStream Chief Financial Officer Chia-Hua (Phyllis) Chen As a technology startup in Canada, BrainStream has been careful to navigate the financial landscape to ensure success. Implementing sound financial practices not only ensures sustainability but also positions our venture for growth and investment opportunities. Here are some key financial strategies we’ve followed, and that will…
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Why BrainStream?
ChatGPT: Educational Tool or Threat? One of the first places ChatGPT made its impact was in the field of education, specifically students using ChatGPT to complete assignment assignments. Schools and teachers did not embrace this idea, to say the least. The Purpose of Education This cuts to the central purpose of education: for students to…
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Best Practices for Privacy-Compliant Apps and Websites in Canada
in Programmingby BrainStream Chief User Experience Officer Yung-Wen Cheng Developers creating apps and websites for Canadian users must align with the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA), Canada’s federal privacy law. Compliance begins with privacy by design—embedding data protection into the architecture of digital products from the outset. This includes collecting only necessary data, clearly communicating privacy…
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AI-Powered Interactive Textbooks: The Future of Learning
by Steve Alcorn, BrainStream Ltd. CEO Artificial Intelligence (AI) is transforming traditional textbooks into dynamic, interactive learning experiences. Instead of static pages, AI-powered textbooks can adapt to each learner’s pace, provide instant feedback, and offer personalized explanations. These innovations make learning more engaging and effective, catering to diverse student needs. How AI Enhances Interactive Textbooks…