A few weeks ago, I had the privilege of hosting a conversation that I believe sits right at the center of one of the most important questions facing students today:

How should we think about AI in the academic experience?

Together with Dean Sara Abhou-Fakher and Professor Thomas Sullivan, we recorded a podcast exploring how artificial intelligence is beginning to reshape the way students learn, research, and express ideas.

It was a genuine privilege to do this with two truly brilliant minds who care deeply about the future of education and the intellectual development of students. Both Dean Abhou-Fakher and Professor Sullivan brought a thoughtful and balanced perspective to a topic that is often discussed in extremes.

Rather than framing AI as something to either fear or blindly embrace, our conversation explored a more important question:

How can students use AI responsibly while still developing their own thinking, voice, and intellectual integrity?

Throughout the discussion we explored topics such as:

* Whether professors can actually tell when students use AI in their assignments

* Why proper citation and academic honesty matter even more in the age of AI

* How over-relying on AI can weaken a student’s authentic voice and reasoning

* Practical ways students can use AI as a tool for learning rather than a shortcut for thinking

* How AI might reshape the future of education and academic assessment

One of the most interesting insights from the conversation was that AI doesn’t remove the need for thinking, it actually makes strong thinking more valuable. When everyone has access to powerful tools, the real differentiator becomes judgment, curiosity, and the ability to ask better questions.

In many ways, this conversation connects deeply with the mission of the Hult Research Club, which is built around a simple idea:

In a world where information is everywhere, the advantage belongs to those who can turn information into clear ideas and thoughtful decisions.

To make the conversation accessible to students, we’ve broken the podcast into short clips covering specific topics, ranging from AI detection and citation practices to broader reflections on the future of education.

If you’re a student trying to understand how AI fits into your academic journey, I think you’ll find this discussion both practical and thought-provoking.

I’m incredibly grateful to Dean Sara Abhou-Fakher and Professor Thomas Sullivan for their generosity in sharing their insights and engaging in such an open and thoughtful conversation.

You can explore the full video podcast below:

And as always, if you’re interested in conversations like this, about research, ideas, and the future of learning, I’d love to hear your thoughts.

— Max GetubaPresident, Hult Research Club

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