Higher education is confronting one of the biggest identity crises in its history — but according to Patrick Dempsey, AI didn’t create the crisis so much as expose the weaknesses that were already there. Patrick, who works at the intersection of human learning and artificial intelligence, joins us for one of the most provocative conversations we’ve had on the podcast.He argues that universities are held back by institutional antibodies, outdated notions of rigor, and governance structures designed to stall rather than support change. We explore why 5-year-olds outperform MBAs in problem-solving, why YouTubers often teach better than professors, how AI redefines expertise, and what students and leaders must do right now to adapt to a world where knowledge is abundant and attention is scarce.This episode is a candid, challenging, and ultimately hopeful look at the future of learning.⏱️ Chapters0:00 – Intro: AI didn’t cause higher ed’s crisis—it exposed it1:37 – Why higher ed protects the status quo & the meritocracy myth4:04 – Shared governance, tenure, and when “process” blocks change9:53 – AI, credentials, and the collapse of scarcity in expertise13:22 – YouTubers, mental models, and the new role of the professor17:25 – The marshmallow tower: why 5-year-olds beat MBAs at problem solving26:24 – Unschooling, entrepreneurship, and learning outside traditional pathways30:08 – Oral exams, bias, and how AI could (actually) help assess learning36:29 – Designing AI-era assignments: “If AI can do it, your bar is too low”41:01 – The 2025 student brain: attention, algorithms, and cognitive endurance48:43 – Is college still worth it? ROI, risk, and advice for students55:16 – For terrified but ready educators: the one step to take tomorrow#aixhigheredpodcast #HigherEd #AIinEducation #EdTech #FutureOfLearning #ArtificialIntelligence #Pedagogy #AcademicInnovation #GenAI #TeachingAndLearning