Erin Hennessy and Teresa Valerio Parrot dive deep into the fascinating world of artificial intelligence and its profound impact on higher education. Erin candidly shares her feelings of unpreparedness in the face of AI's challenges, setting the stage for a thoughtful discussion on the diverse range of reactions to this emerging technology, from anticipation to trepidation. After emphasizing AI's growing presence in our daily lives and its profound implications for academia, the hosts introduce the Gartner Hype Cycle as a valuable framework for comprehending the journey of new technologies and where AI is currently perched.