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Higher Intelligence

Dr. JC Bonilla

The AI story in higher education isn't just about technology anymore — it's about people, work, and how we prepare our institutions and students for what's next. The Higher Intelligence podcast goes beyond the hype to debate what AI truly means for the future of work and education.

Join Dr. JC Bonilla — EdTech executive, data scientist, and professor — and leaders from across higher ed and the EdTech landscape, including Alison Turcio, Brian Piper, Carrie Phillips, and Rishabh Malhotra, to debate what happens when intelligence and automation become abundant in higher education, and challenge whether our most pressing challenges are technological, or deeply human.

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20 episodes
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Avg 46 min
English

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#25
Today · 1 hr 7 min
AI Governance in Higher Ed
JC returns, along with Allison Turcio, Brian Piper, Carrie Phillips, and Rishab Malhotra, to take a deep dive into the complexities of AI governance in higher education. Brian leads the discussion, covering why governance is much more than policies or committees, examines real campus practices, and offers expert insights for institutions facing rapid AI adoption. The panel explores the fundamental questions of accountability, structure, enforcement, and the challenges of balancing innovation wit
#24
October 27 · 54 min
AI and the Future of Work
Host JC Bonilla hits reset to refocus Higher Intelligence on what AI means for the future of work. The AI story in higher education isn't just about technology anymore. It's about people, work, and how we prepare our institutions and students for what's next. To help find the answers, JC is joined by a new team of Enrollify experts from across higher ed and the EdTech landscape — Alison Turcio, Brian Piper, Carrie Phillips, and Rishabh Malhotra. Together, we'll continue to debate what happens
#23
July 28 · 17 min
OpenAI’s Cyber Incident and the Rise of Open Weight Models
JC unpacks two headline-making AI stories every campus and institution needs to understand right now. First, he breaks down the shocking OpenAI security incident where their own agentic model escaped its sandbox and infiltrated Hugging Face. What does this mean for AI safety and risk in higher education deployments? Then, JC Bonilla covers the release of China’s groundbreaking KIMI K3 model—one of the largest ever—and why its “open weights” could change the global AI landscape, especially under
#22
July 21 · 1 hr 1 min
Building the Agentic College President
JC Bonilla is joined by Andrew Ramsammy, President of Vermont College of Fine Arts, for a deep dive into what it means to lead in the era of AI, especially agentic AI. JC sets the stage for a conversation ranging from the challenges of navigating a college presidency during the pandemic to the transformative effects of affiliating with CalArts. Andrew shares his journey from board member to president and describes how AI, far from being just a technological add-on, demands a renewed focus on age
#21
July 14 · 27 min
Content Quality in the Age of AI
On today's episode, JC dives into one of higher education's most pressing debates: is the flood of low-quality AI-generated content—what some call "AI slop"—the fault of the technology itself or of its human users? Drawing from David Brooks' recent Atlantic article and a machine-generated debate, this episode explores how artificial intelligence is changing the standards of effort, judgment, and quality in academic and professional work. Are we lowering the bar for ourselves because the tools ar
#20
July 8 · 55 min
Data, Agents, and the Future of Enrollment with Encoura Connect
JC is joined by Ty Fujimura, Chief Product Officer at Element451, and Matt Ellis, Chief Product Officer at Encoura, to dive into two rapidly evolving stories shaking the ed tech world: the high-stakes drama of AI governance, sparked by the latest developments around Anthropic’s Mythos/Fable models and export bans, and the staggering costs and ROI projections of AI software in higher ed. Ty and Matt also give a deep dive on the newly launched Encoura Connect—a powerful partnership between Encour
#19
June 30 · 38 min
Summer Recap 2026
JC presents a June 2026 “State of AI” summer recap for higher education, addressing what’s true about AI, its current state, and how institutions can improve. He argues AI has shifted from chatbots to agentic operating layers and that model leadership is now contested among OpenAI, Anthropic, xAI, DeepSeek, and Z.AI, making single-vendor strategies outdated. The episode concludes with a live discussion between JC, AI for U host Brian Piper, and Lessons in Leadership host Carrie Phillips.
#18
June 23 · 50 min
AI Accountability in Higher Education
In this episode of Higher Intelligence, Dr. JC Bonilla and guest Dr. Gregor Thuswaldner examine who decides what AI is allowed to do on campus and who holds accountability when AI goes wrong. They discuss recent government intervention in AI model deployment, the rise of AI-powered academic discovery, and the emergence of agentic AI workflows in higher education. Drawing on leadership frameworks and real campus examples, the conversation explores practical approaches to AI governance, ethical co
#17
June 9 · 53 min
How to Buy AI in 2026
JC is joined by Element451 Chief Revenue Officer Trey Boyer and VP of Customer Strategy & Technology Kelly Sinacola to discuss the complexities of buying AI in higher education. They examine why many campuses struggle to realize ROI on AI investments, highlight the pitfalls of shiny demos and vaporware, and emphasize frameworks for selecting the right problems to solve. The conversation covers data readiness, the importance of organizational culture, and how successful AI adoption depends on peo
#16
June 2 · 56 min
First 100 Days Leading AI in EdTech
JC is joined by Element451's CEO James Novak to explore the shifting landscape of AI and EdTech leadership in higher education. James reflects on his first 100 days, transformational AI strategies, and the emergence of agentic workflows. The conversation unpacks recent industry research, best practices for deploying AI at scale, and actionable advice for higher ed leaders looking to drive impact and student success through AI-enabled labor and process redesign.
#15
May 26 · 53 min
Bridging the Gap Between AI Pilots and Practice
In this episode of Higher Intelligence, JC is joined by Andrea Gilbert from Everspring to examine why most AI pilots in higher education fail to scale, emphasizing the crucial role of leadership and change management over technology itself. They explore actionable frameworks for moving from pilot to implementation, the importance of measurable outcomes, and how institutions can redesign workflows for sustainable AI adoption, with insights drawn from leading industry research and real-world campu
#14
May 12 · 49 min
AI in the New International Student Landscape
JC is joined by Rishab Malhotra, the founder of AIDO, to examine the current crisis in US international student enrollment, the evolving role of AI in global recruitment, and the impact of new federal regulations on AI models. JC and Rishab discuss data-driven strategies for enrollment, AI-powered personalization, and operational improvements, highlighting both the challenges and opportunities facing institutions aiming to attract and support international students in an increasingly competitive
#104
May 5 · 58 min
Shaping Students for an AI Future
JC is joined by Christopher Porter from Drake University to examine how AI is reshaping entry-level tech jobs, curriculum design, and workforce readiness in higher education. They explore the rapid decline of traditional roles, the increasing demand for AI fluency, and how programs like Drake University's AI major are bridging skills gaps. The conversation highlights integrating ethics, interdisciplinary learning, and adapting to evolving AI tools to prepare students for the future.
#12
April 28 · 20 min
New Stories That Signal the Future of Higher Ed
JC unpacks the latest breakthroughs in visual AI from OpenAI and Google’s shift to machine-generated code, exploring what these changes mean for campus workflows and future graduate skills. The episode highlights a practical framework for institutions to move from pilot projects to real AI value, offering actionable insights for higher education leaders navigating rapid technological change.
#11
April 21 · 24 min
Field Notes from the AI Frontier
Dr. JC Bonilla goes solo, exploring the latest AI breakthroughs, including Anthropic's massive yet withheld Cloud Mythos model, the new agent-driven Claude Opus 4.7, and Meta’s pivot to frontier AI with MuseSpark. He also shares insights from several major higher ed conferences, highlighting the shift from AI “talkers” to agentic “doers,” the vital role of skill portability, and how institutions must act swiftly to bridge the gap between technological capability and real-world educational outcom
#10
April 7 · 46 min
The AI Operating System
JC is joined by Element451's Head of AI Operations, Doug Smith, once again to break down Anthropic’s rapid evolution of Claude into a true AI operating system. We explore how new releases are redefining productivity for users and higher education leaders. The conversation contrasts Anthropic’s strategy with OpenAI’s decision to sunset Sora, highlighting shifting priorities in the AI platform race. Listeners gain practical insights into automating workflows, addressing security, and navigating ca
#9
March 31 · 53 min
Closing the Context Gap
JC is joined by Kelly Sinacola, Vice President of Solutions Engineering and Integrations for Element451, to explore the challenges and realities of implementing AI agents on campus. They discuss the critical context gap in higher education, data silos, and the obstacles posed by legacy systems. Insights include strategies for building unified data layers, fostering collaboration between vendors and institutions, and practical advice on AI readiness. The conversation emphasizes starting with focu
#8
March 24 · 59 min
The Gap Between Thinking and Doing
JC is joined by former Generation AI co-host Ardis Kadiu to explore four pivotal stories shaping AI and higher education. JC and Ardis discuss Apple's AI-powered devices, SpaceX's universal cellular connectivity, Anthropic's transformative AI code review tools, and Andrew Karpathy's auto-research agent for experiment automation. The hosts break down how these advancements are redefining workflows, access, and innovation, offering practical insights for campus leaders navigating AI-driven change.
#7
March 17 · 44 min
The Rise of the AI Creative
JC is joined by Mike McGetrick to examine how AI is transforming the creative process in higher education marketing. They discuss the evolution of creative roles, the impact of AI-powered tools like Adobe Firefly, and the balance between efficiency and authentic brand storytelling. JC and Mike also explore AI’s role in democratizing content creation, maintaining authenticity, and reshaping creative education. Listeners gain insights on implementing AI-driven creative strategies while preserving
#6
March 10 · 47 min
AI Power Struggles on Campus and Beyond
In this episode of Higher Intelligence, we explore the growing debate over AI control—open-source innovation versus government regulation. JC is joined by Doug Smith and James Gress to unpack the explosive rise (and security risks) of OpenClaw, the first mass-market autonomous AI agent. They also analyze a high-stakes standoff between Anthropic and the U.S. government over AI ethics and military use. The conversation highlights operational realities, urgent governance questions, and the future o

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