Beyond the AI hype: reimagining university operating models for 2030

As universities continue to explore AI adoption, most remain focused on using AI to enhance discrete tasks, missing the opportunity for deeper transformation. This session invites university CIOs and leaders to consider a more radical proposition: reimagining the entire university operating model for a world fundamentally reshaped by artificial intelligence. The discussion will challenge traditional governance, decision-making, and operational frameworks, pushing beyond incremental AI enhancements to envision a future where AI is fully embedded in the university’s core structure.

While AI is already being applied to specific tasks, this session will provoke a rethinking of how universities function at a fundamental level. By exploring the potential for AI-driven decision-making, governance, and operations, this session will encourage forward-thinking leaders to move beyond simply automating processes and begin imagining AI as a structural foundation for universities by 2030. It will be provocative, visionary, and ideal for leaders ready to innovate beyond current AI trends.