Higher Intelligence

Summer Recap 2026

Episode Summary

JC presents a June 2026 “State of AI” summer recap for higher education, addressing what’s true about AI, its current state, and how institutions can improve. He argues AI has shifted from chatbots to agentic operating layers and that model leadership is now contested among OpenAI, Anthropic, xAI, DeepSeek, and Z.AI, making single-vendor strategies outdated. The episode concludes with a live discussion between JC, AI for U host Brian Piper, and Lessons in Leadership host Carrie Phillips.

Episode Notes

JC presents a June 2026 “State of AI” summer recap for higher education, addressing what’s true about AI, its current state, and how institutions can improve. He argues AI has shifted from chatbots to agentic operating layers and that model leadership is now contested among OpenAI, Anthropic, xAI, DeepSeek, and Z.AI, making single-vendor strategies outdated. The episode concludes with a live discussion between JC, AI for U host Brian Piper, and Lessons in Leadership host Carrie Phillips.