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Gen Alpha Can’t Read—But It’s Okay, Because We Have AI Now

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A New Generation Faces Old Problems—With New Tools

The rise of Generation Alpha—kids born from 2010 onwards—has been marked by a constant presence of technology. For many, screens and smart devices have been a part of daily life since birth. Yet, despite this digital immersion, a troubling trend has emerged: literacy and foundational academic skills are in decline.

The Reading Crisis: Alarming Numbers and Real Stories

Across the United States, literacy rates among young students have plummeted. In 2020, 40% of first graders were well below grade level in reading, up from 27% in 2019. Teachers report that many students cannot recognize letters or their sounds, and some fifth graders are reading at a second or third grade level. The problem persists through middle school, with nearly 70% of eighth graders scoring below proficient in reading in 2022, and 30% scoring below basic.

Anecdotes from classrooms and everyday encounters underscore the severity. One teacher describes students unable to identify what letter comes after “C” in the alphabet—even in sixth, seventh, and eighth grade. Another recounts an eight-year-old unable to read a simple menu at a restaurant.

Math and More: A Broader Academic Slide

It’s not just reading. Math scores have also dropped: in 2023, only 56% of fourth graders were performing at grade level, down from 69% in 2019. The pandemic exacerbated these problems, but the decline began before remote learning, indicating deeper, systemic issues.

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Why Is This Happening?

Several factors contribute to this crisis:

  • Overreliance on Technology: Kids often use devices for entertainment rather than learning, and many now rely on tools like ChatGPT to do their homework, reducing opportunities to develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
  • Educational Shifts: Decades ago, schools moved away from phonics-based reading instruction to a “three cueing” system, which encourages guessing words from context rather than decoding them. This has left many students without the skills to sound out unfamiliar words.
  • Teacher Shortages and Overcrowded Classrooms: The pandemic led to a mass exodus of teachers, resulting in larger class sizes and less individual attention for students.
  • Parental Involvement: Many parents are less hands-on with academics, assuming technology or schools will fill the gap.

The Role of AI: Problem or Solution?

Artificial intelligence is both a challenge and an opportunity. On one hand, students can use AI to bypass learning—having it write essays or solve problems for them. On the other, AI-powered educational tools can personalize learning, fill gaps, and provide interactive practice across subjects. Programs designed by educational experts can help children catch up, especially when parents are proactive about supplementing schoolwork.

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What Can Be Done?

  • Re-emphasize Foundational Skills: Schools need to return to evidence-based methods like phonics for reading instruction and ensure mastery of basic math skills.
  • Smaller Class Sizes and More Support: Addressing teacher shortages and providing more individualized attention can help struggling students catch up.
  • Parental Engagement: Parents should supplement classroom learning with activities at home and use trusted online resources to reinforce skills.
  • Responsible Use of Technology: Teach children to use AI as a learning tool, not a shortcut, and encourage critical thinking and problem-solving.

Conclusion: The Future Is Still Unwritten

Gen Alpha faces unprecedented academic challenges, but with the right interventions—combining human teaching, parental involvement, and responsible use of AI—there is hope for a turnaround. The key is not to abandon technology, but to harness its power for learning, ensuring that the next generation is not only tech-savvy but truly educated.

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Apple’s Liquid Glass: A Bold New Look at WWDC 2025

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Apple’s WWDC 2025: A Stunning Visual Overhaul and Meaningful Upgrades Across All Devices

Apple’s WWDC 2025 keynote delivered a major shift in design and user experience across its entire ecosystem. While much of the tech world buzzes about flashy AI breakthroughs, Apple took a different path, unveiling the sleek new “Liquid Glass” design and a range of practical improvements for iOS, macOS, iPadOS, watchOS, tvOS, and visionOS.

Unified OS Versions and the New “Liquid Glass” Look

Apple simplified its software naming by unifying all operating systems under version 26. The star of the show was the “Liquid Glass” aesthetic—a transparent, glass-like effect applied across apps, icons, widgets, and even the lock screen. This design refresh creates a modern, cohesive feel but has raised some early concerns about readability when text overlays complex backgrounds.

What’s New in iOS 26?

  • Camera App Redesign: The first major update to the camera interface in years hides advanced controls behind swipe gestures, streamlining the experience but possibly confusing some users.
  • Smart Call Features: Borrowing ideas from Google’s Pixel, iOS 26 introduces call screening and hold assist, allowing the phone to answer unknown calls or wait on hold for you.
  • iMessage Enhancements: Native polls, group typing indicators, and customizable chat backgrounds add welcome, though not revolutionary, improvements.
  • Live Translation: AI powers real-time translation in FaceTime, Messages, and calls, offering seamless communication across languages despite some lag.

iPadOS 26: Finally, True Multitasking

The iPad takes a giant leap toward laptop-level productivity with resizable windows, floating stacks, and a Mac-like menu bar. The Files app also gains significant upgrades, making iPadOS 26 a game changer for power users who want a real alternative to a traditional computer.

macOS 26 “Tahoe”: Smarter Spotlight and Sleek Transparency

Mac users get a productivity boost with an enhanced Spotlight search that rivals popular third-party tools, enabling app launching, file management, and shortcuts from the keyboard. A fully transparent menu bar and clear widgets offer a more immersive desktop experience.

watchOS, tvOS, and visionOS: Small but Smart Updates

  • watchOS 26: New wrist-flick gesture for dismissing notifications and a high-energy workout voice boost motivation.
  • tvOS 26: Minor visual tweaks with shimmering icons.
  • visionOS 26: Allows widgets to be pinned anywhere in virtual space and remembers window placement after reboot, improving the Vision Pro experience.

Apple’s AI Strategy: Quietly Powerful, Privacy-Focused

Unlike competitors showcasing flashy AI demos, Apple’s AI advancements are subtle, embedded deep in the system, and prioritize user privacy. The anticipated major upgrade to Siri has been pushed to 2026, but foundational AI features like live translation and on-device intelligence signal Apple’s steady commitment to smart, private AI.


Final Thoughts

Apple’s WWDC 2025 emphasized thoughtful user experience improvements and a bold visual identity with “Liquid Glass.” While it may not grab headlines like generative AI breakthroughs, this approach could set a new standard in design, usability, and privacy. The iPad’s multitasking finally inches it closer to a laptop replacement, and Apple’s understated AI strategy may prove to be its smartest move yet.

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Is Apple setting the pace quietly while others chase hype? Share your thoughts on the new glassy future.


Key Takeaways

  • The “Liquid Glass” design refreshes the entire Apple ecosystem visually but raises some readability concerns.
  • iPadOS 26’s multitasking upgrades are a major win for productivity.
  • Apple’s AI is powerful yet discreet, focusing on privacy and seamless integration.
  • Siri’s big upgrade is delayed, but foundational AI features continue to roll out.

Stay tuned as we explore these updates further and test how they perform in everyday use.

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Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 — A New Chapter in Psychological Warfare

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Activision used the June 8, 2025 Xbox Games Showcase to lift the curtain on Call of Duty: Black Ops 7, confirming that Treyarch and Raven Software again share development duties. The announcement marks the first back-to-back yearly entries in the Black Ops line, following 2024’s Black Ops 6.

Setting & Story

The campaign is set in 2035, a fractured near-future where information warfare and artificial intelligence drive global unrest. Players return as David “Section” Mason, now a seasoned operative confronting a new threat: the legendary antagonist Raúl Menéndez—resurrected as an AI construct known as Project Blackout. This twist ties directly into the Mason family saga begun in Black Ops II (as.com).

Cast

  • Milo Ventimiglia reprises David Mason, bringing motion-capture performance that now matches the character’s updated model.
  • Kiernan Shipka joins the universe as Emma Kagan, CEO of shadowy tech giant The Guild.
  • Additional veterans—including voice talent for Menéndez—remain under wraps.
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Gameplay Highlights

  • Co-op Campaign – Up to four players can tackle the full story, a first for the series since Black Ops III.
  • Multiplayer – New near-future weaponry, vertical map design, and deeper load-out customisation are promised.
  • Zombies: Dark Aether – The next chapter of the Dark Aether storyline expands the undead lore with fresh mechanics and locales.

Release Window & Platforms

Activision has not given a specific date, but the franchise’s traditional window points to October–November 2025. Launch platforms include PlayStation 4 & 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and PC via Steam, Battle.net, and the Xbox app, with day-one availability on Game Pass Ultimate for console and PC.

Why It Matters

  1. Continuous Narrative – Delivering two Black Ops games in consecutive years underscores Activision’s push for an interconnected, multi-year storyline.
  2. AI as Villain – Positioning Menéndez as an artificial intelligence taps into contemporary debates over autonomy, ethics, and digital manipulation.
  3. Expanded Accessibility – A fully co-op campaign and Game Pass launch lower the barrier for newcomers while deepening replay value for veterans.

Stay tuned: Activision promises a full gameplay reveal later this summer, where we’ll learn more about weapons, maps, and exactly how far the psychological horror will go.


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Robots Delivering Packages: Convenience or Concern?

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By BolanleMedia.com News Team

Once considered futuristic fantasy, robots delivering packages are now becoming a very real part of everyday life. In neighborhoods across the U.S., sleek, camera-equipped robots are quietly rolling up to front doors with groceries, retail orders, and even hot meals. The promise? Faster, contactless delivery with fewer human errors. But behind the convenience lies a deeper conversation—one that touches on privacy, labor, and the future of public space.


The Convenience We Didn’t Know We Needed

In a post-pandemic world, contactless delivery went from a luxury to a necessity. Enter the autonomous delivery bot: small, battery-powered, and armed with a mix of GPS, computer vision, and machine learning, these robots navigate sidewalks like pedestrians. Companies like Starship Technologies and Amazon Scout have already rolled out fleets in several cities, delivering thousands of orders daily.

For customers, the benefits are obvious:

  • No tipping
  • No delays from traffic
  • No unnecessary contact with people

In short, robots don’t call in sick, and they don’t need lunch breaks.

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But Here’s the Flip Side

1. Job Displacement

Delivery driving—whether through apps like DoorDash or traditional courier services—represents a major source of income for millions. Robots replacing those roles poses a threat to low-skill, entry-level workers. Automation is no longer coming for factory jobs—it’s coming for sidewalks.

2. Public Safety and Accessibility

Robots may be efficient, but they don’t always play well with others. There have been instances of bots blocking sidewalks, causing accidents, or failing to respond to emergencies. For people with disabilities, these machines can be more obstacle than asset.

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In San Francisco, pilot programs faced backlash when residents complained about congestion and safety risks in busy pedestrian areas.

3. Surveillance and Data

Many delivery robots are equipped with cameras and sensors, raising concerns about how much data is being collected—who owns it, who can access it, and how it’s used. Are we trading privacy for speed?


Are We Moving Too Fast?

Tech companies argue that robots don’t just replace jobs—they create new ones in engineering, maintenance, and remote operations. But that transition isn’t immediate, nor guaranteed for the same people being displaced.

There’s also the risk of “infrastructure drift”—where cities are quietly reshaped to suit robots over people, without proper public dialogue.

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Should a delivery bot get the right of way on a crowded sidewalk? Who is liable if a robot injures someone? What happens when they start showing up in underserved communities?

These are questions we need to answer before the streets are filled with autonomous wheels and drones.


🔍 The Bottom Line

Robots delivering packages are efficient, futuristic, and likely here to stay. But as we embrace the convenience, we must also confront the costs.

Technology should serve people, not displace or surveil them. The future doesn’t just happen—we get to decide how it unfolds.


🧭 What’s Next?
Stay tuned on BolanleMedia.com as we explore how robotics, AI, and automation are reshaping everything—from how we shop to how we live.

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And if a robot shows up at your door tomorrow… will you open it?

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