Reflections from EDUCAUSE 2024: AI is Here to Stay – It’s How We Use It That Matters

This week in Texas has been incredibly insightful, renewing my faith in Moore's Law and the rapid pace of technological advancement. Throughout my 30-year career in IT, I've witnessed periods of swift acceleration and times when progress felt stagnant. Each year brings new concerns—from staffing challenges to emerging technologies and IT security. This year, I attended EDUCAUSE expecting artificial intelligence (AI) to dominate the conversation.

What I didn't anticipate was the realization I left with: AI is no longer something to be concerned about; it's fully integrated into our processes. The future isn't about questioning if AI will shape education—it already has. The real question is, how will we leverage it to enhance students' lives?

A standout moment was a presentation by Dr. Ravi Pendse from the University of Michigan. He shared their vision of an AI-powered personal assistant for students that provides real-time support. Imagine being on the bus to class and asking the AI to generate possible quiz questions for your next test or compile all your assignment deadlines. This isn't futuristic anymore—it's here, and it's a game changer for academic support.

AI is also revolutionizing campus processes. Some institutions are deploying AI systems to map and optimize administrative workflows. For example, AI can analyze the journey of a purchase order, identify bottlenecks, and suggest improvements. This kind of system-wide optimization will be crucial in the years to come, not just for efficiency but also for cost-effectiveness.

Another key takeaway is how AI is shaping the future of careers in higher education. Roles like Chief Technology Officer, IT security professionals, AI developers, and AI directors will be pivotal. The role of the business analyst will also evolve. Future business analysts will need to integrate ERP systems and utilize AI to streamline processes and enhance user experiences.

However, progress brings change. In candid conversations, we discussed the jobs that AI may make obsolete. I foresee first-level help desk calls being handled by AI within the next five years. Password resets, basic troubleshooting, and trend analysis will be automated. Yet, complex issues will still require human expertise, and that's where the true value of IT professionals will continue to shine.

Despite the excitement, one disappointment from this year's EDUCAUSE was the absence of many familiar faces who chose not to attend due to the location in Texas. As an African American professional, I understand their decision and have grappled with my own internal debates about it. This has strengthened my belief that the future of EDUCAUSE in the country is ensuring Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs) are well represented in its efforts to further technology and education. While I've attended two MSI-focused conferences this year, it's clear that EDUCAUSE could benefit from a dedicated advisory committee to address the unique challenges these institutions face. The work being done at HBCU conferences by organizations like IBM and OpenAI is impressive, but there's a gap at EDUCAUSE that needs addressing.

In conclusion, EDUCAUSE 2024 reaffirmed that AI is no longer an abstract future concern. It is here now, reshaping how we work, learn, and interact in higher education. The key question for all of us is how we will deploy it effectively to empower students, improve processes, and ensure our institutions remain at the cutting edge.

As always, I leave this conference inspired and energized to bring these innovations back to my institution.

This article was edited and grammar-checked by ChatGPT Preview 01.