2026 Predictions for AI and Ed Tech: What Industry Leaders Are Saying

In an open call last month, we asked education-serving industry leaders to weigh in on how developments in AI and ed tech will impact colleges and universities in the coming year. Many of their responses centered on artificial intelligence and education technology. Here’s what they told us.

AI Will Impact Enrollment, Accessibility, Student Support, and More

“In 2026, forward-thinking colleges and universities will make the data they already have work better for them, and for their students. For years, institutions have collected rich signals about student preparedness through assessments, transcripts, and applications. Too often, that information is siloed once a student enrolls. As many colleges continue to face enrollment headwinds, savvy leaders will put their data to work, to ensure they can retain students from day one. Rather than waiting for failure signals several weeks — or semesters — in, institutions will use AI to ingest admissions data along other critical inputs to build a day-one plan. Students will arrive on campus with a customized academic plan that includes anticipated support, course sequencing, and career-relevant insights to ensure success. In 2026, the institutions that stabilize enrollment will be those that treat admissions data not as a static snapshot, but as a living foundation for student success — using trusted assessments and AI together to move from access to completion, and from intent to outcomes.” — Steve Tapp, CEO, ACT

“By 2026, AI will begin to move out of the margins of higher education, and the first examples of what the next ‘operating model’ for AI in higher ed will look like. Rather than existing as chatbots or pilot tools, AI will start to show up as more deeply integrated infrastructure at a small — but growing — number of institutions. In these early cases, AI will be embedded across advising, career navigation, and student services, enabling personalization at a scale human-only systems can’t reach. Successful institutions won’t be those trying to replace faculty or advisors, but those using AI to extend their reach, leveraging it to handle routine, high-volume interactions so staff can focus on complex, high-touch student needs. At the same time, institutions should expect more pressure to demonstrate real-world outcomes from their AI use. Early adopters will illustrate how AI systems that connect learning to labor market data, employer expectations, and career pathways can strengthen student success and institutional relevance. The real divide in 2026 won’t simply be between AI adopters and non-adopters, but between institutions experimenting with isolated tools and those beginning to integrate AI thoughtfully into their mission.” — Jared Chung, founder and executive director, CareerVillage