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In a landscape where the sudden and overwhelming arrival of ChatGPT created a kind of “watershed moment,” Wake Forest University, like countless other institutions, was faced with an urgent question: What now? The answer, as it turns out, is not to retreat from the new technology, but to lean into it with a particular kind of zeal and curiosity.

This is the very essence of the Deacs.ai podcast. A series of candid conversations with University innovators, the podcast documents the shift from initial apprehension to a more considered, strategic engagement. The narrative that emerges is a deliberate embrace of AI as an “augmenting partner”—a tool designed to serve the pro humanitate pursuits that define our University Community.

From Shock to Strategy

Wake Forest University is focused on a dual approach, building both a solid technological infrastructure and an ethical framework for its use.

The Conversations: Where Philosophy Meets Practice

The Deacs.ai podcast takes a deeper look at these complex issues in a series of highly engaging and thought-provoking episodes. These conversations offer a glimpse into how Wake Forest is grappling with the ethical and practical implications of the technology.

These mindsets align with a broader call for proactive leadership in the age of AI. As Fleeson stated in his podcast episode, “we need to be intentional and conscious and aware of what’s possible and guide ourselves as a society rather than just sort of waiting to let it happen. This is precisely what Wake Forest is doing—not merely adopting new technology, but actively guiding its use to serve human work and connection.

The Next Frontier: Leadership in Learning

The leaders interviewed on the podcast share a common vision for the University. They don’t aim to compete on pure computational power, but rather to excel in the ethical application of AI to teaching and scholarship.

A robust ecosystem of resources and community events further supports this thoughtful engagement with AI. The generative AI website, ai.wfu.edu, serves as a central hub, while workshops like “Demystifying Generative AI” and the informal, conversational AI Café continue to connect faculty and staff.

Ultimately, the goal is not merely to become fluent in a new technology, but to offload mundane tasks so that faculty and staff can dedicate more time to the highest forms of their work: deeper critical discussions and meaningful human connections with students. In this way, AI is an unexpected enabler of its very purpose.


Explore, Listen, and Connect

Ready to dive deeper? Check out our resources and get involved.

The Deacs.ai podcast is a production of Information Systems at Wake Forest University. If you have questions or comments, please email the hosts at deacs.ai@wfu.edu.