Episode 2 | AI Strategy at Scale
In Episode 2 of the AI Strategy series, host Cole Camplese is joined by Mario Guerra and Cody Antunez to reflect on how UT Austin began moving AI from isolated experimentation toward a scalable, campus‑wide capability. The conversation looks back at the early days of AI adoption—when demand was growing faster than formal tools or policies—and how that reality shaped a more deliberate approach. Rather than rushing to lock into a single solution, UT focused on prioritizing strong foundations, governance, and making tools available across the campus, creating space for experimentation while establishing the guardrails needed to support long‑term success.
Together, they discuss the cultural and organizational shifts required to make AI work in a complex higher‑education environment, from teaching and learning to research and operations. The episode highlights why flexibility, thoughtful pacing, and community engagement mattered just as much as infrastructure, and how events, shared learning, and trust helped move the conversation forward. This candid discussion offers insight into what it really takes to turn AI into a sustainable, enterprise‑level capability—and sets the stage for what’s ahead as UT continues to evolve its AI strategy.