Google.org fellows and Gemini bring real-time interactive diagrams to Khanmigo for back-to-school 2026. The nonprofit Khan Academy is introducing new AI-powered learning tools in classrooms, just in time for back-to-school season, with help from Google. Built with Gemini models, these updates bring new capabilities to Khanmigo, Khan Academy's AI-powered student tutor and teaching assistant, including interactive diagrams that guide students through math and science concepts in the moment, and a reimagined practice tool that keeps teachers in control of their assignments. Six engineers, six months. Since March, a team of six Google engineers worked alongside Khan Academy's product and engineering organization through a six-month Google.org fellowship. Khan Academy has moved those features from early pilots to real classrooms in time for back-to-school 2026. The partnership also included a Google.org grant and gave Khan Academy's experts direct access to Gemini models in time for the 2026 school year. Sal Khan, founder and CEO of Khan Academy, credited the arrangement for accelerating delivery. "Google is a tremendous partner," he said. "The Google.org Fellows have supercharged our engineering effort, allowing us to produce several new AI-powered features in time for students and teachers to use these tools in the new school year." What students now see. Khanmigo now has new ways to help students learn. Where it previously offered text, Khanmigo now uses Gemini's advanced reasoning capabilities to generate interactive visual aids and diagrams. If Khanmigo detects that a visual could help a student with a math or science problem, it will create charts, geometric shapes, parallel coordinate plots, and more. And if a student drags a vertex or a line segment, Khanmigo recognizes the change and adjusts the lesson accordingly. The shift matters because Khanmigo had previously been limited to text-only responses. Students can now interact with these diagrams, and Khanmigo will respond to what students are doing. Adding manipulable geometry and data graphics closes a long-standing gap between what the AI tutor could explain in words and what a student could actually see and interact with. A new tool for teachers. In the past, teachers could use Khanmigo to generate practice questions, but they did not have a way to curate what was sent to students. Google engineers have now helped integrate Gemini models directly into Khan Academy's Practice My Knowledge teacher tool, which enables teachers to generate high-quality, targeted multiple-choice questions in seconds. Teachers remain in control: they can review, refine, and curate AI-generated questions before assigning them to students. Teachers can also assign scored or unscored practice and receive structured reporting, making it easier to understand where students are doing well and where they may need more support. The two new features sit inside Khanmigo, Khan Academy's AI-powered student tutor and teaching assistant, which Khan Academy and Google.org have developed with support from a Google.org Fellowship and Google's Gemini models, in time for back-to-school 2026. Google has also recently introduced new teacher-led tools in Google Classroom so teachers can tailor their students' AI experience to their specific curriculum and track progress in real time, and its connected Classroom app in Gemini lets educators draft lesson plans. A partnership scaling into literacy. The back-to-school launch builds on an announcement made at this year's British Educational Training and Technology (Bett) conference. Khan Academy is integrating Gemini's most capable models into a suite of tools focused on literacy and reading, starting with its Writing Coach tool, which actively guides students through the process of outlining, drafting, and refining their own ideas rather than simply generating answers. Writing Coach supports grades 7, 12 writing instruction, with broader availability for grades 7, 12 and U.S. beta access for grades 5, 6. Later this year, Khan Academy will launch a Reading Coach powered by Gemini for grades 5, 12. Reading Coach will offer interactive learning experiences with a variety of texts designed for grades 5, 12. Google's approach with Khan Academy pairs a hyperscaler's compute with a trusted nonprofit brand, a model that Google has also extended to college students through a one-year free offer of Google AI Pro for eligible college students in the U.S. For educators already inside the Khan Academy ecosystem, the Khanmigo features are available now. District administrators can explore the tools through Khan Academy's platform. The Reading Coach and additional Gemini integrations are expected to reach classrooms later this year. Hugo Rojas is the editor of GCN. With a Master of Science in Engineering, he specializes in technology, data, and science, and brings a human-centered perspective informed by psychology.

Khan Academy teams up with iteach on AI teacher training. Khan Academy is bringing its AI-powered teaching assistant, Khanmigo, to thousands of educators through a new partnership with iteach, a teacher certification program that operates outside traditional university pathways. The collaboration will embed AI training directly into the certification process, ensuring preservice teachers develop proficiency with the technology before they begin leading classrooms. The tool will be available to all preservice teachers enrolled in iteach's program, helping them integrate AI into lesson planning, curriculum development, and professional growth. Khanmigo remains in beta but has gained support from Microsoft, which provides cloud infrastructure through Azure OpenAI Service. iteach currently works across 1,550 districts and Local Education Agencies in the US and is the only non-university alternative teacher certification program that has earned accreditation from the CAEP. AI training for new teachers. Andrew Rozell, president of iteach, said the partnership will prepare new teachers to use AI ethically and reduce their workload. "Through iteach's partnership with Khan Academy, new teachers will enter the classroom with confidence, ready to educate students on the ethical use of AI and take advantage of this powerful technology to ease their own workloads, which we all know is often overwhelming." Khanmigo includes a feature called "refresh my knowledge," allowing certified teachers to revisit key concepts in subjects they teach. Kristen DiCerbo, Khan Academy's chief learning officer, said the partnership will give aspiring teachers "their own personal teaching assistant." "Through this partnership, Khanmigo will equip aspiring iteach educators with their own personal teaching assistant. When they enter the classroom as credentialed teachers, they'll be able to put AI to use to streamline prep and focus on spending quality time with students." Growing demand for AI in schools. AI adoption in classrooms is already rising, with around one-third of K-12 teachers saying that they have used the technology. Khan Academy expects Khanmigo to ease the workload of teachers and help them teach students what AI is and how to safely use it. A National 4-H Council survey found that 72% of students want more guidance on AI-powered tools. All preservice teachers with iteach will have access to Khanmigo throughout their certification process. While AI in education is still evolving, tools like Khanmigo could shift how teachers plan lessons and engage with students.

Macy's parade turns 100 with fashion, beauty tie-ins. 2026-08-19 Macy's will celebrate its 100th Thanksgiving Day Parade this year with exclusive holiday-themed products and collaborations from brands such as Disney, Estée Lauder and Levi's. Limited-edition keepsakes are available online now, with the full collection arriving in select stores nationwide for the fall season. The parade, set for Nov. 26, will feature a record 100 inflatable elements, including a new Disney's Sorcerer's Apprentice Mickey balloon and the return of Underdog. Macy's is also partnering with Khan Academy to create an interactive learning experience for the event. Full story: NRF SmartBrief News and trends about the U.S. Retail industry Designed specifically for retail professionals, NRF SmartBrief is a free, daily email newsletter. It provides the latest need-to-know news and industry information that maximizes your time, giving you an edge over your competition.