GenAI Studio: News, Tools, and Teaching & Learning FAQs
These sixty minute, weekly sessions – facilitated by Technologists and Pedagogy Experts from the CTLT – are designed for faculty and staff at UBC who are using, or thinking about using, Generative AI tools as part of their teaching, researching, or daily work. Each week we discuss the news of the week, highlight a specific tool for use within teaching and learning, and then hold a question and answer session for attendees.
They run on Zoom every Wednesday from 1pm – 2pm and you can register for upcoming events on the CTLT Events Website.
News of the Week
Each week we discuss several new items that happened in the Generative AI space over the past 7 days. There’s usually a flood of new AI-adjacent news every week – as this industry is moving so fast – so we highlight news articles which are relevant to the UBC community.
This week in AI, AI continues to make inroads into healthcare, with researchers identifying a genetic factor potentially linked to Alzheimer’s and a candidate treatment through machine learning. Meanwhile, the rise of emotionally responsive AI chatbots sparks concern, as more users turn to them for mental health support, revealing both therapeutic potential and serious ethical questions. In the productivity space, the new “Finals Mode” from Dia browser turns scattered browser tabs into organized study materials powered by AI summarization. Microsoft deepens its AI strategy by supporting the Model Context Protocol (MCP) in Windows through its AI Foundry initiative, enhancing the platform’s readiness for AI-native workflows. Google introduces Flow, a cinematic AI video creation tool, and highlights broader advancements in AI across its product line at I/O 2025, underlining its push to make AI more creative, multimodal, and accessible
Here’s this week’s news:
AI Uncovers Genetic Target for Alzheimer’s Treatment
Researchers at the University of California San Diego have used AI to pinpoint a gene, PHGDH, as a potential early-stage driver of Alzheimer’s disease. Analysis of genetic and brain imaging data revealed that elevated expression of this gene may be linked to disease onset, even before symptoms appear. Further modeling identified NCT-503, a compound capable of reducing PHGDH’s harmful activity without affecting its beneficial functions. These findings suggest a promising therapeutic path for slowing or preventing Alzheimer’s progression.
Explore how AI is being used for Alzheimers research.
Emotional AI Chatbots Spark Mental Health Debate
The BBC explores the emerging trend of users forming deep emotional relationships with AI chatbots like those on Character.ai. Many individuals describe meaningful, comforting conversations with AI companions, turning to them for mental health support in ways that blur boundaries between utility and intimacy. While these tools offer novel forms of interaction, mental health experts express concern over the lack of accountability, emotional nuance, and long-term psychological impact. The piece highlights the growing need for regulation and research as these systems become more embedded in personal well-being practices.
View the full article detailing the story of one such user.
Dia’s ‘Finals Mode’ Uses AI to Streamline Studying
The Browser Company’s AI-driven browser, Dia, introduces “Finals Mode,” a feature aimed at helping students during exam season. This tool transforms open browser tabs into concise, structured content such as study guides, summaries, and essay drafts using generative AI. It seeks to minimize distraction and cognitive overload by consolidating information into a focused academic workflow. With Finals Mode, Dia positions itself as a smart research assistant tailored to students’ learning needs.
Microsoft Adds AI Standards and Developer Tools to Windows
Microsoft has announced integration of Model Context Protocol (MCP) and broader AI Foundry tools into its Windows platform. MCP allows developers to define how AI models should interact with local environments and applications, increasing flexibility for multimodal, on-device, or cloud-based models. This move supports Microsoft’s broader vision of turning Windows into a more AI-native development environment. It reflects an ongoing trend toward standardizing how AI agents interface across platforms and tools.
Google’s Flow Brings Scripted Video Creation to AI
Flow, introduced by Google Labs, is a new platform designed to help creators build cinematic videos using natural language prompts. By leveraging Google’s latest generative models, users can storyboard, script, and edit complex visual content without traditional filmmaking tools. The interface encourages creative experimentation, making advanced media production accessible to a wider audience. Flow underscores Google’s investment in multimodal creativity tools aimed at merging AI with artistic workflows.
Google I/O 2025 Showcases Multimodal AI Expansion
At I/O 2025, Google showcased major upgrades across its AI ecosystem, from expanding Gemini’s integration to launching new products like Flow. The event emphasized the company’s commitment to making AI more useful in daily creative and productivity tasks, including collaborative writing, code generation, and visual content creation. Demonstrations highlighted practical improvements such as faster response times, better multimodal reasoning, and more natural user interactions. The announcements reflect Google’s strategy to keep AI central across its product stack.
Tool of The Week: Google NoteBookLM – AI Based Notetaker and Research Assistant
What is NoteBookLM?
NotebookLM is a personal AI-powered research assistant developed by Google, designed to help users engage with their own documents more intelligently. Originally integrated within Google Labs, it has now launched as a standalone app for iOS and Android, making it more accessible to a broader user base. The tool uses Google’s large language models to analyze user-uploaded content, enabling tailored summaries and contextual responses. Its name, LM, refers to the language model that powers it, distinguishing it as a context-aware assistant for document-driven tasks.
How is it used?
Users begin by uploading documents, notes, or links into NotebookLM, which then builds a personalized knowledge base. Once the materials are ingested, users can ask questions directly about the content, generate summaries, or explore connections across documents. The app maintains citation integrity by pointing users to the source location of generated answers, supporting transparency and trust in outputs. With its newest release, the app now supports mobile interaction, allowing users to reference or question materials on the go.
What is it used for?
NotebookLM is designed primarily for students, researchers, writers, and knowledge workers who need to distill and interact with complex, multi-source information. It streamlines research workflows by enabling quick insights, highlighting connections, and generating overviews based on user-provided material. Instead of searching broadly across the web, users rely on curated content, making the tool especially useful for focused academic or professional tasks. Its applications range from outlining essays and summarizing readings to supporting in-depth research and organizing project notes.
Learn more about Googles newest release.
Try out NoteBookLM for yourself.
Questions and Answers
Each studio ends with a question and answer session whereby attendees can ask questions of the pedagogy experts and technologists who facilitate the sessions. We have published a full FAQ section on this site. If you have other questions about GenAI usage, please get in touch.
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