AI as a Thought Partner, Not Just a Tool

In this episode of AI for U, host Brian Piper sits down with Mark Lee, Director of Web, User Experience, and Digital Strategy at Colorado College, to explore what it means to treat AI not as another app in your tech stack—but as a collaborator.

Mark’s approach to AI is refreshingly human. Rather than relying on it to churn out content, he uses AI to challenge assumptions, troubleshoot ideas, and push his strategic thinking further. “I tend to use it more as a coworker,” he explains. “I’ll give it context, outline my scenario, and ask—what am I missing?”

It’s a mindset shift that moves AI from output machine to input multiplier—and it’s one that’s becoming essential for higher ed professionals looking to make smarter, faster, and more ethical decisions.

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Beyond the Tool: AI as a System Changer

For Mark, AI isn’t just an addition to higher ed’s toolkit—it’s transforming the very environment in which institutions operate.

He draws a comparison to the early days of the internet: “It was exciting, new, full of promise. But we didn’t foresee the social and ethical consequences until it was too late.” Today, higher ed leaders have a chance to apply that hindsight. Instead of letting AI evolve reactively, institutions can proactively shape how it’s used—balancing innovation with responsibility around data privacy, misinformation, and mental health.

“AI isn’t just another tool within a stable system,” Mark says. “It’s changing the system itself.”

From generative search engines to AI-driven communication tools, the web itself is evolving toward a future where discoverability replaces search. As Brian notes, this means institutions need to think less about SEO and more about “Search Everywhere Optimization”—distributing content across multiple platforms, voices, and partnerships to stay visible in an AI-curated world.

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Human Work in the Age of Intelligent Automation

Mark and Brian agree: the goal of AI adoption in higher ed shouldn’t be efficiency alone—it should be enhancement.

When used thoughtfully, AI can take on repetitive, low-value tasks, freeing professionals to focus on the work only humans can do—mentorship, creativity, strategy, empathy. The key is starting small, with tasks that make people’s jobs easier and happier.

“Change management is about people, not technology,” Mark reminds us. “If you can show how AI makes someone’s day better, adoption will follow.”

Examples abound across campuses:

• Morehouse College’s AI teaching assistants trained on individual professors’ lectures and notes.
• Georgia State University’s proactive chatbots that increased student performance and engagement by offering personalized reminders and study tips.

These aren’t replacements for educators—they’re extensions of them.

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The Avalanche Analogy: Surviving—and Thriving—Amid Change

Mark offers a metaphor that captures the urgency of this moment:

“AI is like an avalanche. The people who were on the mountain before it hit won’t be affected, and those who come after will find a changed landscape. But those of us in mid-career right now—we’re in the avalanche.”

The survival strategy? Keep moving. Don’t get stuck.

AI’s pace of change means that standing still—whether through fear, policy paralysis, or outdated workflows—isn’t an option. The professionals who stay flexible, keep experimenting, and learn alongside the technology will be the ones who shape its future.

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The Skills That Will Matter Most

As AI automates more of the how, higher ed professionals will need to move up a layer—to focus on the what and why.

Mark predicts a shift from tool-specific expertise (HTML, Google Analytics, Photoshop) to strategic skills like:

• Critical questioning — knowing which problems to solve and how to frame them.
• Ethical reasoning — anticipating unintended consequences.
• Creative direction — designing experiences AI can’t imagine on its own.
• Human connection — using technology to deepen, not diminish, engagement.

“AI lets us move up an abstraction layer,” Mark explains. “The real work becomes deciding what should be done—and why—not just how to do it.”

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Key Takeaways

• Use AI as a thought partner, not just a generator. Ask it to challenge your assumptions.
• Start small and human-first — automate tasks that make life easier, not harder.
• Plan for systems change, not just process optimization. AI alters the environment you operate in.
• Stay flexible — this is the avalanche moment for higher ed professionals.
• Elevate your value — focus on strategy, creativity, and critical thinking over technical mastery.