Exploring the Future of AI in Higher Ed & Beyond

In this episode we dive into a topic that’s reshaping higher education and the world at lightning speed: artificial intelligence (AI).

Whether it’s ChatGPT in the classroom, AI-powered medical simulations or new interdisciplinary courses, AI is already transforming how we teach, learn, research and operate across the SIU System. In this episode, I talk with two academic leaders who are heading up our system-wide AI taskforce:

• Dr. Mario Hayek, SIU Edwardsville Dean of the Business School 

• Dr. Xiaoqing “Frank” Liu, SIU Carbondale Dean of the College of Engineering, Computing, Technology and Mathematics. 

We explore how AI is showing up on our campuses, what opportunities it presents and what challenges we still need to tackle—like equitable access, faculty development and ethical use.

Towards the end of the episode, we’re also joined by a self-proclaimed AI geek, Pinckney Benedict. He is a professor at SIU School of Medicine and a longtime creative writing faculty member at SIUC who brings a unique perspective at the intersection of humanities, medicine and emerging technology. Benedict is one of the top innovative leaders who really took the lead on getting the AI conversation started in the SIU System. His work in AI-driven medical simulation and storytelling adds a whole new dimension to the conversation.

This is a fast-moving and sometimes complicated topic, but one we can’t afford to ignore. Now it's time for you to listen, reflect and think about how AI may impact your life, your work and how we as a university system can lead thoughtfully and responsibly in this new AI era!