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Bear Breakdown is an ongoing series where university experts share clear, thoughtful insights on today鈥檚 most talked-about issues. Each article connects headline news to real-world impact, helping readers better understand what鈥檚 happening and why it matters, while adding valuable context and sparking meaningful conversation for audiences of all backgrounds.

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From auto-generated essays and student writing assignments to , artificial intelligence (AI) is here, and it鈥檚 everywhere.   

The term refers to computer systems that have been designed to perform tasks that normally require human intelligence, such as visual perception, speech recognition, decision-making, image generation and more.  

Depending on who is asked, the developments in AI technology over the past few years are either the first steps toward a hyper-futuristic society or the beginning of humanity鈥檚 downfall  

The reality? Likely somewhere in the middle.  

Faculty from the University of Northern Colorado鈥檚 Computer Information Systems, Communication and Journalism, Digital Media and Educational Technology programs sat down to share their AI expertise discussing how to prepare for its seemingly inevitable integration into everyday life.

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• A Communications Perspective

  Quotes from Charles Soukup, Ph.D., professor and chair of the Communications and Journalism Department in the College of Humanities and Social Sciences.

  • What makes AI technology significant or impactful?

    I think what made the topic of AI such a lightning rod in the last three or four years was the launch of ChatGPT, and in particular, the idea of AI as a consumer product. In the past, people used AI for business practices, military concerns and other kinds of things that are impactful, but sort of invisible to most of us in our daily lives.  
     
    Part of why it became so interesting to so many people is because, much like when the World Wide Web and the Internet first exploded, it suddenly became something that we realized would disrupt almost every facet of our lives. Everything that we consider as information, truth, how we disseminate information, how we spread pop culture 鈥� all impacted. It was like overnight, it seemed, and people were realizing 鈥榦h, this is going to change everything.鈥� 
     
    A big part of the significance of this technology, and a big reason that some people [have been] really nervous for the past couple of years, is the idea that anybody can use this technology. It has the potential to really disrupt the very nature of what we consider to be truth, authenticity and originality. 
     
    For instance, is a photograph that I create with AI an original photograph? Is it artwork? If I write an email with ChatGPT, is that something I wrote, or is that something generated in another way? Is it even my voice that鈥檚 being expressed? These are the kinds of questions that people are starting to ask and part of why AI is significant. 

  • What kinds of cultural impacts are we seeing around AI?

    Throughout history, we鈥檝e seen big companies or scientists wanting to impose a technology on a culture, saying 鈥榦h, this will be the next big thing.鈥� But very often, people shrug and say 鈥榥o thanks. We don鈥檛 like that.鈥� This is especially true once a technology becomes a consumer product. 
     
    That鈥檚 exactly where we are right now with AI, especially generative AI. It鈥檚 similar to the moment when the Internet first launched and people were deciding in real time how they wanted to bring the technology into their daily lives. 
     
    That鈥檚 an area where I see higher education having an important role, because we can help lead the conversation. Is this good for us? Is this bad for us? And that's ultimately how we decide these things. 
     
    I reflect on social media 鈥� a technology we adopted very quickly because of how it spread through online communities. Ultimately, I think people now have pushed back and are questioning whether or not it鈥檚 actually making their lives better. I think similar questions will arise about AI. 
    

  • Will AI significantly impact or potentially replace some jobs? 

    There鈥檚 no question that it鈥檚 going to have an impact.  
     
    If you鈥檙e a newspaper, for example, and you have very limited resources, you can do a lot more publishing if you have access to AI. You鈥檙e able to research more efficiently and create more content. You might be able to run a local newspaper with upwards of 50% fewer reporters than you could in the past.  
     
    I think that鈥檚 how not just journalism and communication fields, but a lot of industries are being changed by AI. Instead of entirely replacing people, it鈥檚 allowing one person to do the work of three or four. At face value, that might seem good, but those are then three or four jobs that don鈥檛 exist anymore. 
     
    In fact, it鈥檚 already happening. There are so many technologies that have eliminated jobs in the past 鈥� things like automation, factories and the like. Self-checkouts at the grocery store are the perfect metaphor for this. One person, monitoring all of the self checkout areas, can do a job that would have required six or seven people in the past. 
     
    I think something similar is going to happen with AI. How that will impact the job market and things like the economy remains to be seen. 

  • Will AI have an impact on people鈥檚 media literacy?  

    What we might see happen is people trying to use AI independently, rather than as an augmenting tool. And they鈥檙e going to get into a lot of trouble. The AI might create plagiarized information or something that鈥檚 entirely misinformation.  
     
    And that鈥檚 just one danger. Without human oversight, this technology isn鈥檛 ready to be used that way and, by all accounts, won鈥檛 be for a while. 
     
    Because generative AI is built upon and builds upon existing information, and there鈥檚 obviously a lot of misinformation on the internet, there鈥檚 potential for it to majorly contribute to that misinformation. The danger we then face is how to decipher all that information that鈥檚 being produced at such an incredible rate. Is it even possible to do so? 
     
    The greatest danger and the thing that probably scares me the most about AI is that we already, as a society, have such cynicism about all the media we鈥檙e exposed to. With AI only adding to that level of skepticism people feel when looking at media, my worry is that, for fear of consuming misinformation or being manipulated in some way, people will self-select information that exclusively confirms their existing beliefs, even more so than we鈥檙e already seeing. AI could accelerate that trend towards polarization, and that鈥檚 quite dangerous. 

  • How can people prepare for/adapt to AI technology?

    What I tell my students is to become familiar with [AI] technology. Don鈥檛 be afraid of it, especially for those going into fields like journalism or public relations.  
     
    We鈥檙e hearing that companies and non-profits, during the hiring process, are asking if candidates can use AI, if they鈥檙e familiar with the technology. It鈥檚 something that's going to separate you, because they're anticipating that's going to be one of the most important job skills and they're listing it as such鈥搒omething that more or less didn't exist as a product that could be used three or four years ago is now at the top of the list for employers. 
     
    Part of what's funny about the technology is, because it's producing more and more junk and more and more boring content, there's going to be a demand for people who do interesting things. That's what's going to separate you in the professional world.  
     
    In a field like public relations, if you're a big company, do you want the same churned out, generic content that you're going to get from AI? Or do you want someone smart, clever and interesting that's going to produce something compelling to people? 
    

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• An Artistic Perspective

  Quotes from, Ph.D., professor of Computer Graphics and Immersive Media in School of Art and Design in the College of Performing and Visual Arts.

  • What makes AI technology significant or impactful?

    AI is an excellent tool to streamline tedious tasks and [help users] focus on creative work. It is one of those inventions that makes you wonder how people could have lived without it before. 

    Of course, it makes mistakes. The new ChatGPT-5, which was supposed to answer questions in any discipline on a Ph.D. level, had problems labeling the U.S. states, but this technology is improving every day. If used well, it can give people more time to focus on what they enjoy doing, thus allowing them to stay happier and more fulfilled intellectually and emotionally.

  • How might AI technology be used in the arts? 

    It already is on many levels. According to Howard Gardner and his Theory of Multiple Intelligences, everyone possesses one or more strong intelligences. AI is an assistant that can fill the gap. It can handle tasks that a person is not ready for, not equipped for or not interested in, delivering a comprehensive solution.  
     
    I have experienced during my collaborative work how much one can come to rely on AI without spending lots of money on experts. Everything can be done faster, but an artist needs to be present to ensure a smooth flow and that the aesthetic content aligns with the intention.  
     
    We need to remember that AI averages content in some way by drawing it from many sources. Be it text, music or art, we need to make sure the final result is individual.  

    This is why I push my students to be as creative and abstract thinkers as possible. That can be applied to any discipline, as creativity supports research and inventions. It stimulates the brain, enriches curiosity, and organizes content for further, more imaginative perception. 

    I also developed a performance entitled the Music Code 鈥� based on how AI can support the arts and sciences. I followed with Music Code, and other stories. I created AI-generated music, explored the use of other visual uses of AI to link coding and AI concepts to musical and scientific applications.  
    

  • How can those studying the arts adapt to/prepare for AI technology?

    First, by not shying away from coding. By gaining some understanding of how machines process information and by shortening the tasks, we allow people to bridge the elements and create something new. Former president Barack Obama said once that creativity is the currency of the 21st century. 

    Now that AI is widely available, understanding how programming works is going to be increasingly helpful for writing better prompts. It鈥檚 something I鈥檝e been keeping in mind as I approach research.  
     
    I received a sabbatical leave in the fall of 2024 to continue [researching] AI integration with artistic performances. Additionally, together with Dr. Cindy Shellito, we worked to prepare science students to work on creative solutions through collaborative work with AI.  
     
    We started by gathering a list of AI resources for the students. The project also aimed to explore new pedagogies that integrate science, AI and visual arts into science class assignments and create theatrical productions.  
     
    We worked on the visualization of some complex concepts by developing scientific diagrams with aesthetics in mind (art-science connection) to be utilized in classes. 

  • Will AI significantly impact or potentially replace some jobs?

    My students are really worried about this. I saw a sign on the board in the computer lab the other day that read 鈥楢I is a thief.鈥�  
     
    AI takes art created by others to deliver. I have had many discussions with my students about how they can benefit from this technology and how to grow in an independent 鈥� not fearful 鈥� way to boost their creativity. As Mr. Baldwin said, 鈥淎I will not take your job, but those who know how to use it might.鈥� 
     
    There is a new movement to make people stop using AI as a toy and start simplifying their work, while encouraging better control with the goal being a better use of its ever-growing potential.  
     
    And potential it has. They say that teenagers are starting companies in their bedrooms.  

  • What does the future look like for AI?

    All that AI delivers needs to be checked on, controlled and modified.  
     
    Many people tend to use AI in a way that is not beneficial to others. That trend is growing, but [I believe] regulations on AI will grow as well. For example, there are filters we can implement, and additionally, AI will not react to sensitive data.  
     
    Currently, the AI machine does not exhibit any form of empathy. That might change, though, as people are working on it 鈥� including my colleague, Dr. Hye Jeong Park, who is conducting research on AI empathy.  
     
    I recently read about an interesting concept: students graduating in 2026 already had AI tools available when they were freshmen. We often overlook the fact that their perception is different and that AI is natural to them. It reminds me of when smartphones first became available to kids. 
     
    I have also been studying how major inventions were initially not appreciated due to fear, but once they became available, people became appreciative. Many people are thinking ahead about how to prevent improper thinking and use of AI.  
     
    [Personal bot development] is a fascinating topic. I'm excited to have a personal robot that can handle basic tasks, such as assisting with sculptures, performances and art creation, all under my instructions. For that, though, I鈥檒l need two robots. 
    

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• An Educational Perspective

  Quotes from Matthew Farber, Ed.D., associate professor of Educational Technology in the School of Teacher Education in the College of Education and Behavioral Sciences.

  • What makes AI technology significant or impactful?

    In many ways, AI is the latest disruptor. And I think it鈥檚 important to explain it well to students. There鈥檚 an expression in Silicon Valley 鈥� 鈥榤ove fast and break things.鈥� This refers to disruptive technologies finding success by being disruptive.  
     
    Take Uber, for example. The company didn鈥檛 own the concept of taxis when they started out. But they moved fast, broke things and were disruptive. In many ways, AI companies are doing the same thing.  
     
    That said, disruptive technology is an issue in schools and classrooms because you can't move fast and break things when there are children involved, including colleges and universities. In my case, my students are training to teach children of their own. So, in many ways, there鈥檚 difficulty adapting to and learning a technology that is still at such a volatile place.  
     
    But AI is everywhere.  

  • How are students engaging with AI in the classroom? 

    Most, if not all of them are using it to some extent.  
     
    There are different ways it can be used in the classroom, both for students and teachers. For my students, one very useful aspect I鈥檝e seen is the way AI can help break things down into manageable steps. Even for a project that has a lot of room for creativity, the steps getting to that creativity may need to be kind of concrete, and AI can help with structuring, planning 鈥� things like that.  
     
    It can also be useful for non-native English speakers, as well as allowing instructors to more easily break things down and create things like study guides.  
    That said, when students turn in a project [in one of my classes], I want to hear their voices, not ChatGPT鈥檚. So, I think there's a bit of nuance necessary in how we present and teach AI use to our students. 
     
    Because it's a reality. I can't put my head in the sand and say, 鈥渨hen we grow up, we're not going to have calculators in our pockets.鈥� We all do, and we all have access to AI. 

  • How might AI impact education in the future?

    I saw an interesting piece last spring about the term 鈥淎I slop.鈥� Basically, low-effort, low-quality AI content. And it鈥檚 everywhere. Facebook, Tik Tok, Pinterest and others all have massive amounts of this AI slop polluting their content.  

    With that in mind, there's this talk in educational communities about teaching AI literacy 鈥� knowing what's slop and what's not, when to use AI, when not to use AI, etc.  

    We want to teach critical thinking when it comes to AI 鈥� focusing on judgement and discernment. So, not just how to discern whether something is AI slop or not, but how we can use the technology better and teach better.  

    And that's where 鈥渕ove fast and break things鈥� becomes problematic. Suddenly, it鈥檚 a third grade teacher or an 11th grade English language art teacher's job to teach AI literacy to students when they鈥檙e still getting a handle on it themselves. 

    Another thing is thinking about AI chatbot tutors and other similar uses.  

    I鈥檝e heard influential figures like Sal Khan talking about how AI tutors are the future. But when I鈥檝e asked students in my class about it, none of them liked the concept or wanted an AI chatbot tutor.  

    We aren鈥檛 really seeing these AI tutors produce high-quality teaching and learning. They very much adhere to the old-school, direct instruction, 鈥渟age on the stage鈥� model of teaching. And that鈥檚 not very deep. As we鈥檙e seeing companies force AI into spaces like classrooms, it鈥檚 not making for good teaching pedagogy.  

  • Where is AI technology headed in the future? 

    When we're talking about AI, a lot of current buzz is surrounding generative AI. But when we talk about that, we're actually talking about something that's already established. Currently, the talk about where we鈥檙e at and where we鈥檙e going in the future is about something called agentic AI.  
     
    Essentially, an agentic AI is when one AI system speaks to another AI system and so on. These systems are being connected in a way that doesn鈥檛 require a lot of human input or oversight and can do things in a more sophisticated manner.  
     
    So, the question is; is that Skynet? Is [agentic AI] making the world better or worse? It really depends on how we define intelligence. Some say worse, but I don't think that's the way we're going. 
     
    There's something called Gartner's Hype Cycle, which says that there's a peak of inflated expectations whenever there's an introduction of a new technology 鈥� whether that鈥檚 the metaverse, gamification, virtual reality, Wikipedia, Google, anything.  
     
    After the peak is the trough of disillusionment, which is a big low. Then interest plateaus and levels out. 
     
    With augmented reality, for instance, when it was introduced, we thought it was going to change the world. But in reality, the main ways we see augmented reality now are in Snapchat filters and visualizing how furniture from Wayfair looks in our rooms. 
     
    Will AI be like that? We're still kind of at the peak here, but I think we鈥檒l start to see it heading down a little bit in the near future. 
     
    But I think, as a whole, what a lot of educators out there are doing is helping to pump the brakes a bit 鈥� seeing what does and doesn鈥檛 work. And that gives me a lot of hope. 

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• A Systematic Perspective

  Quotes from , Ph.D., assistant professor of Computer Information Systems in the Monfort College of Business.

  • What makes AI technology significant or impactful?

    What excites me most about AI is its remarkable capability to process vast amounts of information, provide answers to almost any question and continuously improve over time. Unlike many past technologies, AI is not static 鈥� it learns, adapts and becomes more capable the more it is used.  
     
    This combination of broad knowledge access and self-improvement makes AI especially impactful, as it can support people in solving problems, making decisions, and exploring ideas in ways that were previously unimaginable.
    

  • How might AI technology be used in business? 

    I have studied how AI can result in algorithm unfairness or algorithm bias. In large organizations, algorithms are often used like managers to tell employees what to do and where to focus. These algorithms also monitor employee behavior.  
     
    In most cases, unsurprisingly, employees don鈥檛 like it when their manager or boss is an algorithm. Specifically, I looked at how these AI algorithms could end up making unfair or biased decisions based on who the employee was or on flaws in the algorithm itself.  
     
    Looking at a specific company, I examined Uber. They use three different algorithms 鈥� ride matching, rating and pricing. Algorithmic unfairness can undermine trust and create serious unintended consequences for both individuals and organizations. Drivers often perceive unfair treatment from algorithmic pricing or work allocation systems.  
     
    This perception contributes to dissatisfaction, emotional strain, and in some cases, decisions to leave the platform entirely. More broadly, unfair algorithms can exacerbate bias, reduce user engagement and erode confidence in digital systems 鈥� outcomes that are especially damaging given how much organizations rely on AI-driven platforms today. 

  • Will AI significantly impact or potentially replace some jobs?

    Absolutely.  
     
    I have a relative who recently enrolled in college for literature. She wants to be a writer in some way, and honestly, I鈥檓 a little bit worried for her. I do think that in the future, AI will replace a lot of roles that focus purely on things like writing or programming.  
     
    That said, I think different disciplines will be impacted differently. Areas like information systems and other areas that are focused more on analysis and critical skills are less likely to be replaced completely. Jobs that require an analytical mind will be the ones that are less impacted, and so I encourage students to develop those skills.  
     
    We don鈥檛 know for sure, but I could see a future where AI takes on the role of the professors and we, the current professors, become something more like a teacher鈥檚 assistant. The knowledge base AI has access to is much broader than what a human can access 鈥� it is on us to manage it and prompt it correctly to ensure that it is presenting that information correctly.  
     
    AI makes the bar so high. Because it levels the playing field in many ways, it allows for those with good ideas to make those ideas heard more easily.
    

  • How do you think AI will impact universities and students鈥� learning experiences?

    AI literacy is so, so important.   
    I suggest to my students that they should play with AI and to learn what it can and can鈥檛 do. If they aren鈥檛 familiar with it, they won鈥檛 be able to use it well. So for colleges and universities, instead of telling students that they can鈥檛 use AI at all, I think it鈥檚 important that students are given training on it. 

    In fact, I think it is increasingly important for all students 鈥� regardless of their major 鈥� to have at least a basic understanding of programming, because programming provides a foundation for understanding how technology works and how it can be leveraged effectively.  

    When combined with AI, even basic programming knowledge can empower students to create, experiment, and accomplish far more than before. 
    On the other hand, there are also risks. AI could make some students overly dependent, encouraging them to rely on it for answers rather than developing critical thinking and problem-solving skills. If not used thoughtfully, it could make students 鈥渓azy,鈥� bypassing the learning process instead of engaging with it.
    

  • Where is AI headed in the future?

    One major concern [I have] is whether or not AI systems can truly safeguard user privacy. As people increasingly rely on AI for a wide range of tasks, they may upload large amounts of personal and sensitive information. It is still uncertain how securely this data will be handled and whether it will remain private in the long term.

    I am also concerned about overreliance on AI. If individuals depend on it too heavily, they may gradually lose the ability to think independently, evaluate information critically and make decisions on their own.  
    Finally, I worry about the potential for a growing divide: people who are unfamiliar with AI or lack access to it risk being left behind, further widening existing social and technological inequalities.

    In the future, I hope that AI can be customized to different users and contexts, making it more flexible and adaptive. One particularly exciting possibility is that AI can enable people with low IT skills to leverage digital technologies more effectively, lowering barriers to entry and empowering a much broader range of individuals and organizations to benefit from technology. 

    More broadly, I hope future AI development emphasizes ethical design, with fairness, transparency, and accountability built into the core of systems, so that the benefits of AI are shared more inclusively across society.