In this episode, Craig Van Slyke and Robert E. Crossler tackle a growing concern in higher education: how are students really using AI in their learning? Sparked by an article from the Neuron newsletter, they discuss how many students are using AI tools superficially – what they call "brain rot" – instead of engaging deeply with their coursework. The hosts argue that this shallow engagement with AI could seriously impact students' ability to learn and retain information. The conversation then sh...
Jul 22, 2025•51 min•Season 1Ep. 23
The recent discussion between Craig Van Slyke and Robert E. Crossler centered around the alarming prediction from Anthropic's CEO regarding the potential displacement of up to 50% of entry-level knowledge work positions within the next five years due to advancements in generative AI. This assertion prompts a critical examination of the implications for higher education, particularly concerning the preparedness of graduates entering an increasingly automated workforce. Both hosts express skeptici...
Jun 11, 2025•45 min•Season 1Ep. 22
Imagine walking into a classroom where AI isn't the elephant in the room - it's a welcomed partner in learning. That's exactly what's happening in Carlos I. Torres's information security classes at Baylor University. Instead of joining the chorus of educators crying "Ban AI!" Torres is asking a more intriguing question: What if we taught students to dance with artificial intelligence rather than fight against it? In this fascinating discussion, Torres pulls back the curtain on his groundbreaking...
May 13, 2025•43 min•Season 1Ep. 21
This podcast episode elucidates the necessity for higher education professionals to cultivate a comprehensive understanding of generative artificial intelligence (AI) and its implications within the academic sphere. We, Craig Van Slyke and Robert E. Crossler, alongside our esteemed co-author France Belanger, delve into practical anecdotes regarding the integration of AI tools, such as ChatGPT, into pedagogical practices. Through illustrative narratives, we highlight both the advantages and limit...
Apr 22, 2025•32 min•Season 1Ep. 20
In a timely discussion, Craig Van Slyke and Robert E. Crossler discuss the latest advancements in generative artificial intelligence, with a particular focus on the unveiling of Claude Sonnet 3.7. This development has prompted a wave of excitement and speculation regarding its implications for the future of programming. The hosts articulate their observations on how this model could revolutionize the way coding is approached, potentially rendering traditional entry-level programming roles obsole...
Mar 04, 2025•36 min•Season 1Ep. 19
In this wide-ranging discussion, Craig Van Slyke and Robert E. Crossler explore recent AI developments and tackle the fundamental challenges facing higher education in an AI-enhanced world. They begin by examining GPT Tasks, highlighting practical applications like automated news summaries and scheduled tasks, while sharing personal experiments that demonstrate the importance of playful exploration with new AI tools. The conversation then turns to Gemini's new fact-checking features, with import...
Feb 04, 2025•52 min•Season 1Ep. 18
AI hallucinations, or confabulations, can actually foster scientific innovation by generating a wealth of ideas, even if many of them are incorrect. Craig Van Slyke and Robert E. Crossler explore how AI's ability to rapidly process information allows researchers to brainstorm and ideate more effectively, ultimately leading to significant breakthroughs in various fields. They discuss the need for a shift in how we train scientists, emphasizing critical thinking and the ability to assess AI-genera...
Jan 06, 2025•41 min•Season 1Ep. 17
This episode of AI Goes to College discuss the practical applications of generative AI tools in academic research, focusing on how they can enhance the research process for higher education professionals. Hosts Craig Van Slyke and Robert E. Crossler discuss three key tools: Connected Papers, Research Rabbit, and Scite_, highlighting their functionalities and the importance of transparency in their use. They emphasize the need for human oversight in research, cautioning against over-reliance on A...
Dec 02, 2024•40 min•Season 1Ep. 16
Generative AI is reshaping the landscape of higher education, but the introduction of AI detectors has raised significant concerns among educators. Craig Van Slyke and Robert E. Crosler delve into the limitations and biases of these tools, arguing they can unfairly penalize innocent students, particularly non-native English speakers. With evidence from their own experiences, they assert that relying solely on AI detection tools is misguided and encourages educators to focus more on the quality o...
Nov 18, 2024•29 min•Season 1Ep. 15
Craig and Rob dig into the innovative features of Google's Notebook LM, a tool that allows users to upload documents and generate responses based on that content. They discuss how this tool has been particularly beneficial in an academic setting, enhancing students' confidence in their understanding of course materials. The conversation also highlights the importance of using generative AI as a supplement to learning rather than a replacement, emphasizing the need for critical engagement with th...
Oct 22, 2024•39 min•Season 1Ep. 14
This episode of AI Goes to College explores the transformative role of generative AI in higher education, with a particular focus on Microsoft's Copilot and its application in streamlining administrative tasks. Dr. Craig Van Slyke and Dr. Robert E. Crossler share their personal experiences, highlighting how AI tools like Copilot can significantly reduce the time spent on routine emails, agenda creation, and recommendation letters. They emphasize the importance of integrating AI tools into one's ...
Oct 01, 2024•54 min•Season 1Ep. 13
Is ChatGPT bull ...? Maybe not. In this episode Rob and Craig talk about how generative AI can be used to improve communication, give their opinions of a recent article claiming that ChatGPT is bull$hit, and discuss why you need an AI policy. Key Takeaways: AI can be used to improve written communication, but not if you just ask AI to crank out the message . You have to work WITH AI. Rob gives an interesting example of how AI was used to write a difficult message. The key is to co-produce with A...
Jul 29, 2024•34 min•Season 1Ep. 12
In this episode of AI Goes to College, Craig and Rob dig into the transformative impact of artificial intelligence on higher education. They explore three critical areas where AI is reshaping the academic landscape, offering valuable perspectives for educators, administrators, and students alike. The episode kicks off with a thoughtful discussion on helping students embrace a long-term view of learning in an era where AI tools make short-term solutions readily available. Craig and Rob tackle the...
Jul 15, 2024•45 min•Season 1Ep. 11
We're in an odd situation with AI. Many ethical students are afraid to use it and unethical students use it ... unethically. Rob and Craig discuss this dilemma and what we can do about it. They also cover the concept of AI friction and how Apple's recent moves will address this under appreciated barrier to AI use. Other topics include: Which AI chatbot is "best" at the moment Using AI to supplement you, not replace you Why you might be using AI wrong Active learning with AI, and more! --- The AI...
Jul 01, 2024•39 min•Season 1Ep. 10
In this episode of "AI Goes to College," Rob and Craig discuss the implications of OpenAI's GPT-4 Omni (GPT-4o) AI fatigue and hysteria, and why prompt design is better than prompt engineering. Craig and Rob explore the implications of GPT-4 Omni's enhanced capabilities, including faster processing, larger context windows, improved voice capabilities, and an expanded feature set available to all users for free. They emphasize the importance of exploring and experimenting with these new technolog...
May 28, 2024•25 min•Season 1Ep. 9
In this episode, Craig discusses: My vision of the future of generative AI Harpa - a great AI Chrome extension Using Claude to examine an exam Should higher ed fear AI? The highlights of this newsletter are available as a podcast, which is also called AI Goes to College. You can subscribe to the newsletter and the podcast at https://www.aigoestocollege.com/. The newsletter is also available on Substack: (https://aigoestocollege.substack.com/)....
May 02, 2024•16 min•Season 1Ep. 7
On Tuesday, April 30 at 5 P.M. Eastern time, I’ll be giving a talk on the ethics of human-AI co-production. This is part of an annual series called the Marbury Ethics Lectures. I’m quite honored to be the speaker; two years ago, the speaker was then Louisiana Governor John Bell Edwards. Anyone in the area is welcome to attend in-person, but the event will also be live streamed: https://mediasite.latech.edu/Mediasite/Play/8aa374384ff541bc8d76dcf98be7aab91d I’d love it if you could join us! -- The...
Apr 29, 2024•2 min
In this episode of AI Goes to College Craig dives deep into the world of AI in education, exploring new tools and models that could revolutionize the way we approach learning and teaching. Join Craig as he shares insights from testing various AI models and introduces a groundbreaking tool called The Curricula. In this episode, Craig talks about: A terrible new anti-AI detection "tool" Does AI hurt critical thinking and academic performance? How not to talk about AI in education Claude 3 takes th...
Apr 10, 2024•30 min•Season 1Ep. 6
In this week's episode of AI Goes to College, Craig covers a range of topics related to generative AI and its impact on higher education. Here are the key highlights from the episode: Importance of Human Review: Craig share a humorous yet enlightening experience with generative AI that emphasizes the crucial role of human review in ensuring the appropriateness and accuracy of AI-generated content. New Features for Chat GPT Teams: The latest developments in chat GPT teams, including improved chat...
Apr 05, 2024•21 min•Season 1Ep. 5
This week's episode covers: Generative AI's paywall problem Anthropic release new Claude models that beat GPT Google has a bad week Why generative AI doesn't follow length instructions (and what you can do about it) The best $40 you can spend on generative AI More Useful Things releases some interesting AI resources Chain of thought versus few-shot prompting --- AI generated description --- Welcome to AI Goes to College, where we navigate the ever-changing world of generative AI in higher educat...
Mar 22, 2024•26 min•Season 1Ep. 4
Generative AI is transforming education, not just for learning, but also for performing administrative tasks. In this special episode of AI Goes to College, Craig and Dr. Rob Crossler of Washington State University talk about how generative AI can help students learn and faculty streamline those pesky administrative tasks that most of us find so irritating. Rob and Craig dig into a wide array of topics, including the early adoption of technology and the risks it brings, the need to experiment an...
Mar 11, 2024•40 min
Welcome to AI Goes to College! In this episode, your host, Dr. Craig Van Slyke, invites you to explore the latest developments in generative AI and uncover practical insights to navigate the changing landscape of higher education. Discover key takeaways from Dr. Van Slyke's firsthand experiences with Google's Gemini and Zoom's AI Companion, as he shares how these innovative tools have enhanced his productivity and efficiency. Gain valuable insights into Google's Gemini, a powerful AI extension w...
Feb 28, 2024•24 min•Season 1Ep. 3
In this episode, Craig has a mini-rant about misleading click-bait headlines, discusses two recent generative AI surveys, gives the rundown on Google's rebrand from Brard to Gemini and Perplexity.ai and shares a modest experiment in redesigning an assignment to prevent generative AI academic dishonesty (which is a fancy way to say cheating). More details are available at https://www.aigoestocollege.com/p/newsletter/ , where you can subscribe to the AI Goes to College newsletter. Contact Craig at...
Feb 15, 2024•19 min•Season 1Ep. 2
In the debut episode of AI Goes to College, join host Craig Van Slyke as he delves into the critical question: Should you trust AI? Drawing on his expertise in the field, Craig explores the nuanced answer to this question, shedding light on the capabilities and limitations of generative AI in various contexts. Listeners will gain valuable insights into when it's appropriate to trust AI, and how to navigate the consequences of relying on its output. Additionally, Craig reviews Consensus, a promis...
Feb 07, 2024•18 min•Ep. 1
In this episode, Craig provides an insightful overview of what to anticipate from the AI Goes to College podcast. He talks about his inspiration for launching the podcast and emphasizes how it can help higher education faculty and staff navigate the transformative impact of generative AI. Tune in to gain a clear understanding of the podcast's purpose and how it can support you in staying abreast of developments within the higher education landscape. Craig also tells you how you can get his new e...
Jan 29, 2024•6 min
