Academic Development and Gen AI: Reflections on Relationships, Trust, and Well-Being

What is the future of higher education teaching, learning, and academic development in a world saturated with generative AI? Answers to that question tend to focus on the evolving capacities of technology. I will invite you to consider that question by starting with what we know about learning, teaching, and academic development. Put simply, human relationships are at the heart of all education. Guidance – challenge and support – from trusted experts and colleagues is central to learning, professional development, and personal growth. Peer and near-peer connections are crucial for motivation and well-being. To me, this suggests that higher education in an AI-driven world needs to attend critically to both technology and people. Our responsibility is to productively and creatively consider the possibilities, limitations, and perils of AI in the very human activities of learning, allowing our students and colleagues – and us – to transform in ways that contribute to thriving individuals, organizations, and communities.