You currently have a remaining balance of 5 articles. Please consider signing up for a free account or logging in. Recently, we have been exploring the possibilities of utilizing generative AI to enhance student engagement in classrooms. Our focus stems from the urgent need for learners to gain practical experience with AI that can be beneficial when searching for employment opportunities. Teaching is of utmost importance in our AI initiatives, as employers are increasingly seeking candidates with hands-on experience and comprehension of the optimal utilization of generative AI in the workplace. However, integrating AI into university operations requires careful consideration of various aspects. By harnessing the power of generative AI, your department can excel in areas such as increasing enrollments, enhancing your national prominence, maximizing resources with lower budgets, improving policies and practices, and adapting to evolving emphases and initiatives. The main challenge I encounter when advocating the utilization of generative AI in higher education is the limited awareness among department, college, and school leaders regarding the capabilities of this AI technology. This is understandable because, in most cases, these leaders have not had direct exposure to the plethora of powerful apps that have been developed. It is essential to note that ChatGPT is not the sole generative AI tool available. The market offers a wide range of new apps, each with its own unique strengths and capabilities. As reported by Bharat Sharma in India Times Technology, Apple is supposedly in the process of creating a competitor to ChatGPT called Google Bard, along with other tools such as Claude 2, Perplexity, and You. com. It is crucial to recognize that these tools are highly insightful, articulate, and formidable in their abilities to conduct research, analyze information, and organize data. They possess capabilities similar to those of a graduate assistant or postdoc who has successfully passed bar exams and obtained near-perfect scores on standardized tests like the SAT and GRE.

Although some higher education institutions have effectively tapped into the potential of these tools, many others remain unaware of the competitive advantage, creativity, and efficiencies they can unlock. To illustrate the possibilities, I consulted Google Bard and Perplexity on July 20, 2023, using a simple prompt requesting assistance in managing departments, schools, and colleges within universities. With just a short inquiry, Google Bard provided four areas in which generative AI could offer immediate support. Imagine receiving such reports within seconds and being able to further explore additional data and recommendations through subsequent inquiries. If requested, Bard also provides citations for the information it presents. Additionally, Google has recently introduced various enhancements to Bard, including support for 42 languages, text-to-speech input and output, Google Lens integration for image recognition, and more. Perplexity, known for its concise responses, also provided citations for further information in response to the same prompt. Here are some examples: Now is the opportune moment to embrace generative AI for addressing the challenges you face in higher education administration. Start by focusing on your most pressing issue and seek answers by utilizing at least two different AI apps. In these early stages, cross-referencing responses is advisable to ensure reliability. You can gain profound insights into your enrollment patterns, as well as those of your competitors, which is equally important. It enables you to swiftly streamline less effective practices while identifying new opportunities. Generative AI empowers you to make the necessary adjustments to accommodate budget constraints faced by many institutions. With generative AI as your trusty assistant, you now have access to fresh ideas and an extensive volume of data to navigate through the fall term.