Founder of company that created LAUSD chatbot charged with fraud

The head of an education technology startup that created a highly touted chatbot for the Los Angeles school system has been arrested and charged with fraud. Federal prosecutors, in an indictment unsealed Tuesday, accused Joanna Smith-Griffin of defrauding investors and charged her with securities fraud, wire fraud and aggravated identity theft. Smith-Griffin, 33, is the founder and former chief executive of AllHere, the Boston-based company that created "Ed," an artificial-intelligence tool billed as revolutionary for students' education and the interaction between the L.A. Unified School District and the families it serves. After unveiling the chatbot with great fanfare in March, L.A. school officials, months later, quietly disconnected the tool -- which was supposed to respond to any question from students or parents in an accurate, helpful and private manner. LAUSD board members at Tuesday's meeting will consider resolutions on immigration sanctuary, LGBTQ protection and accelerating the teaching of current events.