We’re past the point of asking whether AI matters in higher education. 

That question has been answered—and not just with marketing buzz or sleek demos, but with the urgency of institutions trying to stay relevant in a world moving at algorithmic speed. At this year’s ASU+GSV Summit, the conversation wasn’t about whether AI will change education. It was about how fast you can build the team to make it happen—and whether you’re designing AI to solve real problems or just chasing the hype.

That’s the energy we captured in Episode 73 of Generation AI. JC Bonilla and I unpacked what we saw, heard, and felt from the conversations shaping this next chapter for higher ed. And if there’s one through-line? It’s this:

AI won’t replace your team. But it will expose the cracks in how your team works.

From Proof of Concept to Proof of Impact

The presidents, provosts, CIOs, and investors gathered in San Diego weren’t looking for another AI pilot. They were looking for answers: How do we actually roll this out? How do we make sure it improves outcomes? How do we make our people not just ready, but empowered?

ASU’s Lev Gonick put it plainly: Stop leading with technology. Start leading with experience. What’s the student problem you’re solving? That’s your AI use case.

At Southern New Hampshire University, Paul LeBlanc reminded us that smaller, more agile institutions are often better positioned to lead. It’s not about massive endowments or legacy systems—it’s about boldness, speed, and focus.

And Michael Hansen from Cengage didn’t mince words: If higher ed doesn’t meet workforce needs with AI-integrated curricula, it risks losing its place in the value chain.

This isn’t tech disruption. It’s institutional reinvention.

AI Literacy Is the New Strategic Priority

Presidents are asking the right questions. But too many campuses still lack the playbook. According to the data, 57% of institutions say AI is a strategic priority—but only 14% of faculty feel ready.

We need to bridge that gap. Fast.

We talked a lot on the episode about “AI cabinets”—cross-functional groups that aren’t just responsible for compliance, but for momentum. Because here's the truth: AI implementation isn’t just a CIO problem. It’s a president’s problem. A provost’s problem. A student success problem. And yes, a curriculum problem, too.

Without AI literacy at every level, we’re not just slowing adoption. We’re bottlenecking progress.

The Economics of Innovation

Behind every AI conversation is a business conversation—and that’s not a bad thing. Investors are paying attention. Private equity firms are betting on AI-powered platforms that don’t just bolt on features but rethink the student journey holistically. And while the mythical “super app” hasn’t arrived, we’re seeing serious consolidation.

That’s what Element451’s own growth represents. Not just more features, but smarter, integrated functionality—designed with intention, not acquisition sprawl.

Because at the end of the day, AI is only as effective as the ecosystem it operates in. And the institutions that treat data as a competitive asset, not a buried system of record, will be the ones to win.

What Happens Next?

Expect failed pilots. Expect slow starts. That’s fine. Innovation isn’t a straight line.

But also expect this: The institutions that learn the fastest, that keep students at the center, that build for equity and impact instead of gimmicks and PR? They’re going to leap ahead.

We’re not just watching AI reshape higher ed. We’re helping build it.

So here’s the question for your team: Are you deploying AI to look innovative, or to actually be more effective?

The difference is everything.