This live session, taped at SXSW 2025, explores the interplay between higher education and artificial intelligence, delving into how academic institutions are responding to the proliferation of AI in the workplace and economy. Leaders from academia, economic development, and industry discuss how universities and colleges are advancing research and equipping students with the skills to lead in an AI-powered future. From addressing social inequities to preparing cities for the economy of the future, the conversation highlights the transformative potential of AI when nurtured within higher education, and the tradeoffs that must be made in an education system wired for the past.

Guests

• Alisa Miller, Chief AI Officer, Board Director and Co-founder, Pluralytics, Aletheia Marketing and Media; Board Chair, Lumina Foundation
• John McDonald, Head of Strategic Initiatives, Tulsa Innovation Labs
• Julie Schell, Assistant Vice Provost of Academic Technology and Director of the Office of Academic Technology, University of Texas at Austin