Unfixed: How AI Is Reshaping the University

Zach Justus and Nik Janos · meltsintoair.org

Unfixed is a podcast for anyone interested in how generative AI is transforming higher education, from teachers and administrators to students and curious learners. Hosted by the faculty behind the blog Melts into Air, it offers candid reflections on a university system in flux, where even the mission of higher ed is up for debate.

36 episodes

20d ago latest

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Episodes 37

Ep. 37 The Future of AI in Higher Education with OpenAI's Leah Belsky
6d ago · 38:28
Leah Belsky, Vice President of Education at OpenAI, joins Unfixed for a wide-ranging conversation about AI, higher education, and the future of learning. We discuss why OpenAI is investing so heavily in universities, what the company has learned from partnerships like the California State University system, and how it responds to faculty concerns about academic integrity, sustainability, and the role of AI in education. We also explore ChatGPT Study Mode, the changing relationship between higher education and the labor market, and what colleges should look like in an era of AI. Whether you're
Ep. 36 Unfixed at the Movies: Her
20d ago · 41:52
Movie Night returns to Unfixed with Spike Jonze’s Her (2013), one of the most influential films made about artificial intelligence. We explore why so many AI leaders have pointed to Her as a vision of the future, what the film got surprisingly right, and how its questions about loneliness, intimacy, and human connection feel even more relevant in the age of large language models. Along the way, we connect the film to today’s AI companions, the Scarlett Johansson/OpenAI controversy, and what all of this might mean for higher education.
Ep. 35 Unfixed at the Movies: WarGames and Terminator 2
1mo ago · 32:28
Before ChatGPT, before AI agents, and before every company suddenly became an AI company, there were movies trying to make sense of intelligent machines and humanity’s future. In this first Unfixed at the Movies episode, Zach and Nik revisit WarGames and Terminator 2 to explore why stories about AI escaping human control remain so powerful. They discuss learning machines, human responsibility, technological optimism, and what these films still have to teach us about the choices people make when building new technologies.
Ep. 34 Fantasy Draft: What Was Already Broken in Higher Ed Before AI?
1mo ago · 44:17
Did generative AI really break higher education or did it simply expose what was already broken? In this episode of Unfixed, Zach and Nik make the case that many of the biggest disruptions we’re experiencing today were decades in the making. After exploring how AI reveals the shortcomings of everything from recipe websites to Google search, they bring the conversation to higher education with a fantasy sports-style draft, each selecting the five institutional practices that AI has most clearly exposed as outdated, fragile, or overdue for reinvention. Come for the laughs, stay for the conversat
Ep. 33 Teaching AI Literacy in Higher Education with Allison Vaughn & D.J. Hopkins
2mo ago · 35:22
What does it actually mean to be AI literate in higher education? In this episode of Unfixed, we sit down with Allison Vaughn and D.J. Hopkins from San Diego State University to explore how one institution is building AI literacy for faculty, staff, and students. We discuss what belongs in an AI literacy curriculum, how to teach skills that seem to change every few months, and whether AI literacy could eventually become as fundamental to teaching as disciplinary expertise or digital literacy.
Ep. 32 AI Is Not EdTech: Why Higher Education Keeps Treating It Like It Is
2mo ago · 25:02
Higher education has spent decades evaluating and adopting educational technology, but generative AI may be something fundamentally different. In this episode, Zach and Nik argue that AI is not simply the next ed tech tool and explore why universities continue to approach it as if it were. From AI agents and enterprise adoption to data governance, faculty alignment, and the growing tension within the ed tech industry, they examine what changes when AI becomes part of institutional infrastructure rather than just another classroom technology.
Ep. 31 [Special Episode] CSU Renews Its OpenAI Deal: Zach and Nik React
2mo ago · 30:13
The California State University system just renewed its OpenAI contract, turning what began as a bold AI pilot into a long-term institutional commitment. In this special Unfixed reaction episode, Zach and Nik break down the costs, controversies, and consequences of the ChatGPT Edu deal—from academic freedom and governance to vendor lock-in and the future of teaching. Is CSU building essential educational infrastructure, or making a risky bet on a single AI company?
Ep. 30 Preparing Teachers for the Age of AI with Jamie Gunderson
3mo ago · 27:15
In this episode of Unfixed, Nik and Zach are joined by our producer and special education scholar Jamie Gunderson to explore how AI is reshaping teacher education and K-12 classrooms. Drawing from her work preparing future teachers and her expertise in Universal Design for Learning (UDL), Jamie discusses the major gaps in AI training for educators, the challenges facing teachers already in the classroom, and the opportunities AI creates for accessibility and inclusion. The conversation examines what teacher preparation programs must rethink as AI becomes a permanent part of education. From cri
Ep. 29 What Higher Ed Gets Wrong About AI and Critical Thinking with Inara Scott
3mo ago · 36:04
In this episode of Unfixed, Nik and Zach sit down with Inara Scott, a leading expert on AI strategy and innovation in higher education, to examine why the conversation around AI may be moving backward instead of forward. They explore faculty resistance, the limits of AI bans and opt-out policies, and the widespread concern that generative AI is eroding students’ critical thinking. Inara introduces her “AI Cognitive Pyramid” as a new framework for understanding where meaningful thinking actually happens in AI-integrated learning. The discussion reframes what it means to take AI seriously in tea
Ep. 28 AI Retrofit Workshops: Redesigning Teaching for the Age of AI
3mo ago · 26:00
In this episode of Unfixed, we unpack what it actually means to run AI retrofit workshops—where faculty redesign assignments and learning outcomes for a world shaped by generative AI. Rather than hype or quick fixes, this work starts from disruption: courses no longer behave as intended, and instructors are left to figure out what still holds. We explore the emotional and intellectual reality faculty face, and why time, structure, and trust—not tools—are the real interventions. Retrofit emerges not as innovation, but as necessary maintenance for teaching that still has to function.
Ep. 27 The Future of Higher Education with Nick Dirks
4mo ago · 39:01
In this episode of Unfixed, we talk with Nicholas (Nick) Dirks, President and CEO of the New York Academy of Sciences and former Chancellor of UC Berkeley, about what AI really means for the future of higher education. Rather than treating generative AI as just another technological shift, Dirks helps us unpack where institutions may be misreading the moment—and what a serious response could look like. We explore the growing pressures on universities, from legitimacy and funding to enrollment and disruption, and what role they should play in a rapidly changing world. The conversation ultimatel
Ep. 26 From Grief to Action: How Instructional Designers Are Leading AI Change
4mo ago · 41:05
In this episode of Unfixed, we sit down with William Hardaway and Jason McGensy from CSU Fresno to explore how institutions are actually implementing AI in higher education. The conversation moves from the practical—faculty training, instructional design, and scaling AI initiatives—to the emotional, including the idea of “grief” as faculty confront rapid technological change. We also examine how this work connects to broader efforts around equity and institutional transformation. The episode closes by interrogating the limits of using therapeutic metaphors to understand AI adoption in academia
Ep. 25 Are Asynchronous Online Classes Broken?
5mo ago · 28:03
Generative AI is exposing deep flaws in asynchronous online education. This episode explores trust, cheating, scalability, and what must change in the future of online learning.
Ep. 24 Teaching Writing in the Age of AI With Stephanie Tran and Tamara Tate
5mo ago · 36:34
Generative AI is transforming how students write and how professors teach writing. In this episode of Unfixed, we’re joined by Stephanie Tran (Cypress College) and Tamara Tate (UC Irvine Digital Learning Lab) to explore what AI means for composition, academic writing, and digital literacy in higher education. Together, we examine the scale of the challenge facing writing instructors as AI models become increasingly proficient at generating polished text. What does “writing” mean across disciplines? And how can educators integrate AI into writing instruction without offloading the essential cog
Ep. 23 Under Pressure: AI, Earnings Tests, and the New Squeeze on Higher Ed
6mo ago · 27:04
AI-driven entry-level job disruption and new federal earnings test rules are colliding—putting mid-tier public universities, especially in California, under growing pressure.
Ep. 22 Building AI Capacity in Public Higher Ed with James Frazee
6mo ago · 30:37
Dr. James Frazee, CIO of San Diego State University, joins Unfixed to discuss AI strategy in the CSU system, academic–IT collaboration, and how campus AI culture has shifted since the CSU–OpenAI agreement. The conversation covers intentional AI planning, rural access challenges, and lessons from regional efforts like the Equitable AI Alliance for scaling responsible AI in public higher education.
Ep. 21 Unfixed Newswire, winter 2026 AI stories shaping higher education
7mo ago · 30:38
In this episode of Unfixed Newswire, Nik and Zach break down the most consequential—and occasionally absurd—AI news. The conversation spans OpenAI’s push toward ads and potential NSFW content; the relentless churn of new AI models like Gemini 3 and GPT-5.x; and why tools like Claude Code and Claude Cowork may signal a real shift toward AI agents as co-workers. They also interrogate the current AI investment bubble, unpack why enterprise tools like Google Gemini’s Canvas integration may matter more than headline-grabbing launches, and close with some deliberately irresponsible speculation about
Ep. 20 Make College Great Again? Nostalgia, AI, and Academic Anxiety
7mo ago · 27:33
In this episode of Unfixed, Nik and Zach take on a difficult but necessary conversation about nostalgia in higher education. Using real media headlines, faculty experiences, and their own teaching histories, they explore how AI panic taps into a deeper longing for a pre-pandemic, pre-ChatGPT past that may never have been as stable as we remember. The discussion unpacks what nostalgia is, why it’s so powerful right now, and how scapegoating AI can obscure long-standing challenges around reading, writing, and motivation. Rather than a call to “go back,” this episode walks the line between insigh
Ep. 19 AI in Higher Ed Year in Review (2025)
8mo ago · 38:13
A 2025 year-in-review of AI in higher education, examining how generative AI pushed colleges beyond cheating panics toward deeper crises in assessment, credentials, governance, faculty labor, and graduate employment. Covers the collapse of AI detection, system-wide AI partnerships, uneven redesign efforts, and what lies ahead for universities in 2026.
Ep. 18 Parenting and Teaching in an AI World: Guidance from Child Development Scholar Shelley Hart
8mo ago · 39:30
Dr. Shelley Hart joins Nik and Zach to explore how children and adolescents are forming relationships with generative AI. We discuss what “too young” means in an AI-saturated world, and how parents, teachers, and caregivers can responsibly shape norms, boundaries, and ethics around AI use. Drawing on her expertise in child development, Dr. Hart offers practical insights for guiding kids through emerging technologies.
Ep. 17 AI has gone MAGA and What it means for higher education
9mo ago · 31:28
In this episode, Nik and Zach unpack how Trump’s alignment with AI labs, deregulation, and political culture wars collide with higher education. With weak federal guidance, states—and universities—are left to chart their own AI futures.
Ep. 16 Inside the CSU–OpenAI Partnership
9mo ago · 36:49
California State University leaders Emily Magruder and Leslie Kennedy join Unfixed to discuss how the CSU–OpenAI partnership is reshaping conversations about teaching, technology, and faculty work. They share lessons from system-level innovation, union tensions, and the future of AI in higher education.
Ep. 15 Bridging the Gaps: AI, EdTech and Consulting with Brett Christie
10mo ago · 37:39
Alchemy Learning’s Brett Christie joins us to unpack real gaps on campus—tools, culture, and strategy—and how partners can help. We discuss “build vs. buy” to faculty buy-in and smart governance and explore how Universal Design for Learning is as important as ever in the AI age.
Ep. 14 Hello Agent Smith: AI Agents in Higher Education
10mo ago · 29:18
In this episode of Unfixed, Nik and Zach explore the rise of AI agents—autonomous, goal-driven systems that can research, plan, and even collaborate with learners. From inbox triage and coding prototypes to the not-yet-ready world of full computer control, they unpack where agents are already useful on campus and where hype outpaces reality. The conversation turns to higher ed implications: assessment, advising, operations, and governance. Tune in for a clear look at how AI agents are reshaping student learning, faculty work, and the future of universities.
Ep. 13 The Enforcement Illusion: Why AI Use Policies Are Obsolete
10mo ago · 26:21
In this episode of Unfixed, Nik and Zach unpack the “enforcement illusion” behind AI use policies in higher education. From the impossibility of a true “no-AI” classroom to the cultural gap between faculty and students, they argue why cultivating dispositions, transparency, and dialogue offers a more meaningful path than rigid rules in the age of generative AI.

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Unfixed: How AI Is Reshaping the University

Episodes 37

Ep. 37 The Future of AI in Higher Education with OpenAI's Leah Belsky

Ep. 36 Unfixed at the Movies: Her

Ep. 35 Unfixed at the Movies: WarGames and Terminator 2

Ep. 34 Fantasy Draft: What Was Already Broken in Higher Ed Before AI?

Ep. 33 Teaching AI Literacy in Higher Education with Allison Vaughn & D.J. Hopkins

Ep. 32 AI Is Not EdTech: Why Higher Education Keeps Treating It Like It Is

Ep. 31 [Special Episode] CSU Renews Its OpenAI Deal: Zach and Nik React

Ep. 30 Preparing Teachers for the Age of AI with Jamie Gunderson

Ep. 29 What Higher Ed Gets Wrong About AI and Critical Thinking with Inara Scott

Ep. 28 AI Retrofit Workshops: Redesigning Teaching for the Age of AI

Ep. 27 The Future of Higher Education with Nick Dirks

Ep. 26 From Grief to Action: How Instructional Designers Are Leading AI Change

Ep. 25 Are Asynchronous Online Classes Broken?

Ep. 24 Teaching Writing in the Age of AI With Stephanie Tran and Tamara Tate

Ep. 23 Under Pressure: AI, Earnings Tests, and the New Squeeze on Higher Ed

Ep. 22 Building AI Capacity in Public Higher Ed with James Frazee

Ep. 21 Unfixed Newswire, winter 2026 AI stories shaping higher education

Ep. 20 Make College Great Again? Nostalgia, AI, and Academic Anxiety

Ep. 19 AI in Higher Ed Year in Review (2025)

Ep. 18 Parenting and Teaching in an AI World: Guidance from Child Development Scholar Shelley Hart

Ep. 17 AI has gone MAGA and What it means for higher education

Ep. 16 Inside the CSU–OpenAI Partnership

Ep. 15 Bridging the Gaps: AI, EdTech and Consulting with Brett Christie

Ep. 14 Hello Agent Smith: AI Agents in Higher Education

Ep. 13 The Enforcement Illusion: Why AI Use Policies Are Obsolete

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Episodes 37

Ep. 37 The Future of AI in Higher Education with OpenAI's Leah Belsky

Ep. 36 Unfixed at the Movies: Her

Ep. 35 Unfixed at the Movies: WarGames and Terminator 2

Ep. 34 Fantasy Draft: What Was Already Broken in Higher Ed Before AI?

Ep. 33 Teaching AI Literacy in Higher Education with Allison Vaughn & D.J. Hopkins

Ep. 32 AI Is Not EdTech: Why Higher Education Keeps Treating It Like It Is

Ep. 31 [Special Episode] CSU Renews Its OpenAI Deal: Zach and Nik React

Ep. 30 Preparing Teachers for the Age of AI with Jamie Gunderson

Ep. 29 What Higher Ed Gets Wrong About AI and Critical Thinking with Inara Scott

Ep. 28 AI Retrofit Workshops: Redesigning Teaching for the Age of AI

Ep. 27 The Future of Higher Education with Nick Dirks

Ep. 26 From Grief to Action: How Instructional Designers Are Leading AI Change

Ep. 25 Are Asynchronous Online Classes Broken?

Ep. 24 Teaching Writing in the Age of AI With Stephanie Tran and Tamara Tate

Ep. 23 Under Pressure: AI, Earnings Tests, and the New Squeeze on Higher Ed

Ep. 22 Building AI Capacity in Public Higher Ed with James Frazee

Ep. 21 Unfixed Newswire, winter 2026 AI stories shaping higher education

Ep. 20 Make College Great Again? Nostalgia, AI, and Academic Anxiety

Ep. 19 AI in Higher Ed Year in Review (2025)

Ep. 18 Parenting and Teaching in an AI World: Guidance from Child Development Scholar Shelley Hart

Ep. 17 AI has gone MAGA and What it means for higher education

Ep. 16 Inside the CSU–OpenAI Partnership

Ep. 15 Bridging the Gaps: AI, EdTech and Consulting with Brett Christie

Ep. 14 Hello Agent Smith: AI Agents in Higher Education

Ep. 13 The Enforcement Illusion: Why AI Use Policies Are Obsolete