Higher Intelligence

Hosted by Dr. JC Bonilla

Technology Education

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Episodes

137

Latest episode

Jul 2026

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About the show

The AI story in higher education isn't just about technology anymore — it's about people, work, and how we prepare our institutions and students for what's next. The Higher Intelligence podcast goes beyond the hype to debate what AI truly means for the future of work and education. Join Dr. JC Bonilla — EdTech executive, data scientist, and professor — and leaders from across higher ed and the EdTech landscape, including Alison Turcio, Brian Piper, Carrie Phillips, and Rishabh Malhotra, to debate what happens when intelligence and automation become abundant in higher education, and challenge whether our most pressing challenges are technological, or deeply human.

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October 27, 202654 min

AI and the Future of Work

Host JC Bonilla hits reset to refocus Higher Intelligence on what AI means for the future of work. The AI story in higher education isn't just about technology anymore. It's about people, work, and how we prepare our institutions and students for what's next. To help find the answers, JC is joined by a new team of Enrollify experts from across higher ed and the EdTech landscape — Alison Turcio, Brian Piper, Carrie Phillips, and Rishabh Malhotra. Together, we'll continue to debate what happens when intelligence and automation become abundant in higher education and challenge whether our most pressing challenges are technological, or deeply human. - - - - Connect With Our Co-Host: Dr. JC Bonilla https://www.linkedin.com/in/jcbonilla/ About The Enrollify Podcast Network: Higher Intelligence is a part of the Enrollify Podcast Network . If you like this podcast, chances are you’ll like other Enrollify shows too! Enrollify is made possible by Element451. Learn more at element451.com . Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

July 28, 202617 min

OpenAI’s Cyber Incident and the Rise of Open Weight Models

JC unpacks two headline-making AI stories every campus and institution needs to understand right now. First, he breaks down the shocking OpenAI security incident where their own agentic model escaped its sandbox and infiltrated Hugging Face. What does this mean for AI safety and risk in higher education deployments? Then, JC Bonilla covers the release of China’s groundbreaking KIMI K3 model—one of the largest ever—and why its “open weights” could change the global AI landscape, especially under US export controls. Finally, dive deep into Google’s just-released ATLAS study, the most comprehensive look yet at how AI tools are actually being used across the world—in work and in daily life. Are robots taking our jobs? What does the data actually say about automation, entry-level opportunities, and the invisible real AI economy? - - - - Connect With Our Co-Host: Dr. JC Bonilla https://www.linkedin.com/in/jcbonilla/ About The Enrollify Podcast Network: Higher Intelligence is a part of the Enrollify Podcast Network . If you like this podcast, chances are you’ll like other Enrollify shows too! Enrollify is made possible by Element451. Learn more at element451.com . Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

July 21, 20261 hr 1 min

Building the Agentic College President

JC Bonilla is joined by Andrew Ramsammy, President of Vermont College of Fine Arts, for a deep dive into what it means to lead in the era of AI, especially agentic AI. JC sets the stage for a conversation ranging from the challenges of navigating a college presidency during the pandemic to the transformative effects of affiliating with CalArts. Andrew shares his journey from board member to president and describes how AI, far from being just a technological add-on, demands a renewed focus on agency and intentionality in leadership. Related Link: https://www.a16z.news/p/the-next-ai-goldrush-tokens-loops - - - - Connect With Our Co-Host: Dr. JC Bonilla https://www.linkedin.com/in/jcbonilla/ About The Enrollify Podcast Network: Higher Intelligence is a part of the Enrollify Podcast Network . If you like this podcast, chances are you’ll like other Enrollify shows too! Enrollify is made possible by Element451. Learn more at element451.com . Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

July 14, 202627 min

Content Quality in the Age of AI

On today's episode, JC dives into one of higher education's most pressing debates: is the flood of low-quality AI-generated content—what some call "AI slop"—the fault of the technology itself or of its human users? Drawing from David Brooks' recent Atlantic article and a machine-generated debate, this episode explores how artificial intelligence is changing the standards of effort, judgment, and quality in academic and professional work. Are we lowering the bar for ourselves because the tools are so easy to use, or has technology fundamentally reshaped our cognitive landscape, making quality harder to maintain? Stay tuned as we untangle where the real responsibility lies and what it takes to truly thrive in the age of AI. Related Article: The People Who Will Thrive in the AI Age - - - - Connect With Our Co-Host: Dr. JC Bonilla https://www.linkedin.com/in/jcbonilla/ About The Enrollify Podcast Network: Higher Intelligence is a part of the Enrollify Podcast Network . If you like this podcast, chances are you’ll like other Enrollify shows too! Enrollify is made possible by Element451. Learn more at element451.com . Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

July 8, 202655 min

Data, Agents, and the Future of Enrollment with Encoura Connect

JC is joined by Ty Fujimura, Chief Product Officer at Element451, and Matt Ellis, Chief Product Officer at Encoura, to dive into two rapidly evolving stories shaking the ed tech world: the high-stakes drama of AI governance, sparked by the latest developments around Anthropic’s Mythos/Fable models and export bans, and the staggering costs and ROI projections of AI software in higher ed. Ty and Matt also give a deep dive on the newly launched Encoura Connect—a powerful partnership between Encoura and Element451 that promises to bring predictive enrollment intelligence and agent-driven CRM capabilities together like never before. They explore what this means for institutions, how the landscape of personalization and data-driven engagement is shifting, and why thoughtful AI governance and spend management will play a central role in higher ed’s future. Whether you’re a marketer, technologist, or leader in education, this is the conversation that pulls back the curtain on where AI is taking your campus next. - - - - Connect With Our Co-Host: Dr. JC Bonilla https://www.linkedin.com/in/jcbonilla/ About The Enrollify Podcast Network: Higher Intelligence is a part of the Enrollify Podcast Network . If you like this podcast, chances are you’ll like other Enrollify shows too! Enrollify is made possible by Element451. Learn more at element451.com . Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

June 30, 202638 min

Summer Recap 2026

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. - - - - Connect With Our Co-Host: Dr. JC Bonilla https://www.linkedin.com/in/jcbonilla/ About The Enrollify Podcast Network: Higher Intelligence is a part of the Enrollify Podcast Network . If you like this podcast, chances are you’ll like other Enrollify shows too! Enrollify is made possible by Element451. Learn more at element451.com . Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

June 23, 202650 min

AI Accountability in Higher Education

In this episode of Higher Intelligence, Dr. JC Bonilla and guest Dr. Gregor Thuswaldner examine who decides what AI is allowed to do on campus and who holds accountability when AI goes wrong. They discuss recent government intervention in AI model deployment, the rise of AI-powered academic discovery, and the emergence of agentic AI workflows in higher education. Drawing on leadership frameworks and real campus examples, the conversation explores practical approaches to AI governance, ethical considerations, and how higher ed leaders can balance progress with accountability. - - - - Connect With Our Co-Host: Dr. JC Bonilla https://www.linkedin.com/in/jcbonilla/ About The Enrollify Podcast Network: Higher Intelligence is a part of the Enrollify Podcast Network . If you like this podcast, chances are you’ll like other Enrollify shows too! Enrollify is made possible by Element451. Learn more at element451.com . Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

June 9, 202653 min

How to Buy AI in 2026

JC is joined by Element451 Chief Revenue Officer Trey Boyer and VP of Customer Strategy & Technology Kelly Sinacola to discuss the complexities of buying AI in higher education. They examine why many campuses struggle to realize ROI on AI investments, highlight the pitfalls of shiny demos and vaporware, and emphasize frameworks for selecting the right problems to solve. The conversation covers data readiness, the importance of organizational culture, and how successful AI adoption depends on people and process—not just technology. Practical advice is shared for institutional leaders preparing to make significant AI purchases. - - - - Connect With Our Co-Host: Dr. JC Bonilla https://www.linkedin.com/in/jcbonilla/ About The Enrollify Podcast Network: Higher Intelligence is a part of the Enrollify Podcast Network . If you like this podcast, chances are you’ll like other Enrollify shows too! Enrollify is made possible by Element451. Learn more at element451.com . Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

June 2, 202656 min

First 100 Days Leading AI in EdTech

JC is joined by Element451's CEO James Novak to explore the shifting landscape of AI and EdTech leadership in higher education. James reflects on his first 100 days, transformational AI strategies, and the emergence of agentic workflows. The conversation unpacks recent industry research, best practices for deploying AI at scale, and actionable advice for higher ed leaders looking to drive impact and student success through AI-enabled labor and process redesign. - - - - Connect With Our Co-Host: Dr. JC Bonilla https://www.linkedin.com/in/jcbonilla/ About The Enrollify Podcast Network: Higher Intelligence is a part of the Enrollify Podcast Network . If you like this podcast, chances are you’ll like other Enrollify shows too! Enrollify is made possible by Element451. Learn more at element451.com . Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

May 26, 202653 min

Bridging the Gap Between AI Pilots and Practice

In this episode of Higher Intelligence, JC is joined by Andrea Gilbert from Everspring to examine why most AI pilots in higher education fail to scale, emphasizing the crucial role of leadership and change management over technology itself. They explore actionable frameworks for moving from pilot to implementation, the importance of measurable outcomes, and how institutions can redesign workflows for sustainable AI adoption, with insights drawn from leading industry research and real-world campus experiences. - - - - Connect With Our Co-Host: Dr. JC Bonilla https://www.linkedin.com/in/jcbonilla/ About The Enrollify Podcast Network: Higher Intelligence is a part of the Enrollify Podcast Network . If you like this podcast, chances are you’ll like other Enrollify shows too! Enrollify is made possible by Element451. Learn more at element451.com . Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.