In this roundtable episode of the Unofficial Office Hours podcast, host Dr. Justin Hodgson is joined by returning guests Dr. Sheneese Thompson, Dr. Kevin Jones, Dr. Miranda Rodak, and Dr. Remi Kalir for a candid conversation about a new frontier in educational technology: agentic AI systems.

Tools like Einstein AI and other AI agents (e.g., Openclaw) are beginning to move beyond assisting students with writing or brainstorming. Instead, these systems can autonomously log into learning platforms, watch lectures, read assigned texts, and complete course activities on a student’s behalf. As these capabilities emerge, they raise urgent questions about the future of teaching, learning, and academic integrity.

Together, the panel explores what these tools reveal about how courses are designed, why task-based learning environments may be especially vulnerable to automation, and what this moment means for the relationship between effort, engagement, and learning. The conversation also considers broader implications for institutional policy, pedagogy, and the role educators must play in shaping how AI intersects with education.

A thoughtful and wide-ranging discussion about AI agents, academic integrity, and the future of learning in higher education.