AI in Higher Education: Synopsis
In this episode of Picking Up: Where We Left Off, host Michael Carroll, Executive Director of the Hollings Center for International Dialogue, sits down with Dr. Yakut Ghazi of Duke University and education and technology leader Kapil Gaba to unpack how artificial intelligence is transforming global higher education. Drawing on experiences from the United States, South Asia, and beyond, they explore how AI and digital tools can personalize learning, expand access, and enable global collaboration—while also exposing the persistent digital divide. The conversation challenges the idea that “access to content” equals education, underscoring the continued importance of human connection, mentorship, and community in truly democratizing learning.
The episode then turns to the rapidly changing world of work, asking what happens when AI and automation reshape both white-collar and blue-collar jobs. The guests discuss the growing vulnerability of traditionally stable professions, the heightened risks for women in the workforce, and the need for higher education to prioritize distinctly human skills such as critical thinking, creativity, empathy, and ethical judgment. They outline how universities and policymakers can respond through lifelong learning models, workforce upskilling, transparent AI adoption, and strong safeguards around data integrity and human supervision. The result is a candid, forward-looking discussion about equity, opportunity, and the role of higher education in an AI-driven future.
Guests
Yakut Gazi is the Vice Provost for Learning Innovation and Digital Education at Duke University. In this role, she oversees the office of Learning Innovation and Lifetime Education, with responsibility for the development and execution of pedagogical innovation and digital education strategies, youth academic enrichment programs, and continuing education and lifelong learning offerings. Her higher education experience spans over 30 years in four countries. Dr. Gazi has her Ph.D. in Educational Psychology from Texas A&M University, and an M.A. in Educational Sciences and a B.S. in Teaching Chemistry, both from Bogazici University in Turkey.
Kapil Gaba is an education, entrepreneurship, and technology leader with more than 17 years of experience shaping universities and innovation ecosystems. He began his career developing large-scale IT training programs across India before moving into education consulting, working on projects spanning higher education, vocational training, and K–12. Kapil later helped build two major private universities—Shiv Nadar University and Bennett University—leading admissions, outreach, and strategy while strengthening academic quality and institutional growth. Today, through his work with OneValley, he partners with universities worldwide to advance innovation, guided by his belief that quality education is the foundation and technology-driven entrepreneurship is the catalyst for future breakthroughs.
