Build Trust: The First Step In AI's Journey Through Higher Education

Forbes

01-07-2025

Bruce Dahlgren is the CEO of Anthology. He's a seasoned technology executive with more than 30 years of leadership experience.
I recently had the opportunity to attend a global gathering to discuss the future of education. In a fireside chat on 'Empowering Teachers and the Teaching Profession,' we discussed a central truth: Artificial intelligence (AI) can be a powerful ally in education—but only when deployed with clarity, care and trust. That message is especially relevant in higher education today, where the use of AI is accelerating, but the structures to support it are still taking shape.
AI is already reshaping how we work, teach and learn, and higher education institutions are identifying new ways to move forward with clarity and confidence.
Recent surveys show a growing divide between student usage and institutional readiness. A study by the Digital Education Council found that 86% of learners globally use AI in their studies, while an Inside Higher Ed report shows most institutions do not have policies for enterprise-level AI use. This gap presents an important opportunity: Before realizing AI's full potential, institutions must first build a foundation of trust, both internally and externally.
Understanding The Disconnect
AI is rapidly gaining adoption. Learners are using AI to generate ideas, study more efficiently and automate tasks like note taking. Faculty are exploring how AI can support grading, administrative tasks and individualized feedback. These early use cases demonstrate AI's potential, but they're often unfolding in the absence of clear institutional frameworks.
The result is fragmented adoption. AI is being used, but often without structure, support or alignment across departments. Addressing this challenge requires coordinated leadership to develop responsible policies, communicate clear expectations and build trust across the institution.
Responsible Adoption Begins With Governance
Rather than focusing solely on emerging tools, institutions can start by asking clear, foundational questions:
• Who sets AI policy?
• How will data and ethics be managed?
• What systems ensure accountability and transparency?
Strong, cross-functional collaboration can help leaders ensure that AI tools are deployed thoughtfully. With shared policies and clear standards, institutions can create consistent, inclusive experiences that benefit all learners. Above all, educators and administrators must remain in control; technology should support, not substitute, human decision-making.
AI's Value Across The Education Ecosystem
AI offers meaningful benefits for every part of the academic community.
Generative AI can improve efficiencies across a university's operations by automating routine tasks, surfacing insights faster and enabling smarter resource allocation. For example, AI can streamline administrative workflows like scheduling, admissions processing and student communications—reducing manual workloads and response times.
It can enhance decision-making by analyzing large volumes of data to identify trends, risks and opportunities more quickly than traditional methods. In areas like IT and facilities management, AI can optimize maintenance schedules and predict service needs. By handling repetitive tasks and offering predictive insights, AI frees up staff to focus on more strategic, high-impact work—ultimately helping institutions operate more effectively and deliver better experiences for students and faculty alike.
For students, AI provides individualized support; and for faculty, it streamlines administrative tasks and allows educators to focus on teaching and learning.
Supporting Literacy And Inclusion
Employers are increasingly looking for graduates who can leverage AI—and leverage AI responsibly. Institutions play a critical role in preparing learners to use AI ethically, effectively and with awareness of its limitations in real-world settings.
To maximize these opportunities, institutions can prioritize digital and ethical AI literacy. Create environments for faculty and learners that encourage reflection, inquiry and responsible use. I've noticed some institutions are introducing exercises where students engage with AI-generated responses and then evaluate their accuracy and logic, building critical thinking and AI fluency in tandem.
Open dialogue, pilot programs and cross-functional working groups can help create strong, campus-wide alignment. When institutions take a proactive and inclusive approach, they can build confidence and readiness for ongoing innovation.
A Future Built On Trust
AI can be a powerful tool for enabling personalized learning, dynamic assessment and more student-centered support. It empowers educators to focus on creativity and connection, and it helps students prepare for a world where adaptability and digital fluency are key.
But as roles and expectations evolve, embracing innovation with care is essential. I think the real opportunity lies in leading with intention. Institutions that prioritize trust today could be the ones best equipped to shape tomorrow's most human-centered, forward-looking approaches to education.
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