Just in time for finals week, Google (Gemini), OpenAI (ChatGPT), and xAI (Grok) are offering free access to their premium AI tools to college students in the US, a move that mirrors how brands have long targeted young consumers early to build lifelong loyalty.
College students are the one demographic group that has embraced AI most consistently. As of early 2025, 92% of students in the UK reported using generative AI tools like ChatGPT, up from 66% the previous year.1 Similarly, a survey found that 82% of U.S. college students have used AI technologies, compared to 58% of high school students.2 In my classes, I have my students survey their peers and the results mirror this usage pattern.
In contrast, AI usage among the broader U.S. population is less prevalent. A Pew Research Center report indicated that only about one-third of U.S. adults had ever used an AI chatbot like ChatGPT. And other studies show that use of AI in the workplace is inconsistent.3
Overall college students are not only more likely to use AI tools but also to integrate them into their academic work, whereas the general population's interaction with AI is more passive and sporadic.
However, these free offers creates significant inequities in AI access and complicates teaching, as students now have wildly different AI capabilities depending on if they get access through their institution (who has responsibilities around data protection and privacy rights), vs a direct feed where such protections largely don’t exist. The carefully vetted models adopted by institutions are often several versions behind the latest and greatest public releases, with large differences in quality of output and conditions in which they fail.
For a more thorough discussion of the issues that these “free” offers create, I encourage you to read Marc W’s post below.
Only Advance
You might be surprised to discover with this post that you're still subscribed to my newsletter, as I haven't sent anything since last August. Most of that time was spent taking care of my mom as she declined and then passed away early this year. Time well spent.
Since then, I've been trying to catch up with the backlog of items that has piled up and planning my exit from my Faculty and Director positions at Mizzou (just 7 more days of class!).
A lot has happened politically since I last posted, most of it depressingly cruel—making it hard to work or even play some days. Each news cycle brings another attack or insult. To cope, I've adopted the mantra "Only Advance4" to help me focus on the work before me, rather than worrying about things beyond my control or dwelling on past mistakes.
Admittedly, it doesn't always work. We're all carrying some existential dread about the future right now, but during times of crisis, focusing on practical actions can help guide how we spend our time.
While I can't control national election outcomes or make people more reasonable, I can teach about technologies like Generative AI and engage with my community about its practical, ethical, and societal implications (see below). And I can share what I am learning and thinking here on Substack. These actions to "Advance" may seem small, but I hope they add up in the long run. Of course in the long run we're all dead. Perhaps “Only Advance” is my version of Pascal’s wager for the digital age. 🤣
I am looking forward to writing more and getting your feedback and ideas on what I post. I appreciate your patience and I hope to hear from you (comment below or drop me an email).
My commentary may be republished online or in print under Creative Commons license CC BY-NC-ND 4.0. I ask that you edit only for style or to shorten, provide proper attribution and link to my contact information.
📥Recent Talks, News and Updates
I was quoted in “AI meets academia: Revolutionizing business education for the future” by Show-Me Mizzou. You can read here.
I was featured as a “Person You Should Know (PYSK)” in the Columbia Business Times in March! This was a lot of fun and you can read the profile here.
I was also profiled in the Boomtown Supplement for the Columbia Missourian in April. You can read it here.
My opinion piece “End the AI detection arms race” was published in the Patterns Journal. You can read it here.
📆 Upcoming Talks/Classes
I will be presenting “Why All The Buzz? The Promises and Pitfalls of Cryptocurrency” at 12:00 PM noon on May 2nd (In Person and Zoom) for the Boonecounty Muleskinners group. More information and the zoom link is available on their website.
Description: Let's look at the promises and pitfalls of cryptocurrency, learn how it works, and why it's stirred so much excitement in the financial world. We'll also consider the current administration's regulatory stance and personal use of these digital assets.
I will play the Blockchain Game and present “Navigating the New Frontier of Money: Cryptocurrencies, NFTs and Beyond" to the Financial Planning Association of Greater Indiana on May 9th. Details and registration can be found here.
Description: As digital assets continue to reshape the financial landscape, financial planners must be prepared to guide their clients through the complexities, opportunities, and risks in this emerging space. This session will provide a clear overview of cryptocurrencies, non-fungible tokens (NFTs), and central bank digital currencies (CBDCs), highlighting the impact of owning these asset classes. Attendees will learn to identify some key risk factors, integrate these assets thoughtfully into client portfolios, and remain vigilant about regulatory and technical risks.
I will give a talk to the Unitarian Universalists Church on May 11th about how Artificial Intelligence and the post-COVID era are reshaping the college experience—and what it means for the next generation of thinkers and seekers. Details will be here.
I will be presenting “International Experience in Using AI in Business” for the Kyiv International Economic Forum on June 3rd as part of a series of “Economic Training for Businesses Affected by the War in Ukraine” workshops. Details about the program are here.
Topics to be Covered:
Current AI-Driven Business Transformation Across Industries, from Manufacturing to Agriculture.
Optimizing Business Operations with AI
AI-Powered Innovation and Market Expansion
Challenges and Ethical Considerations in AI Adoption
Practical AI Tools for SMEs
I will be presenting “AI Tangents: Deepfakes, AI Agents, and Living in a Zero-Trust World” to the Missouri Scholars Academy (MSA) on June 12th on the Mizzou campus.
Description: From viral face-swap videos to autonomous software sidekicks, artificial intelligence keeps bending how we create, share, and judge information. In this fast-paced session, Prof C unpacks the mechanics behind deepfakes and agentic AI, shows how they can both empower and exploit us, and the academic, personal, and professional challenges of living in a “zero-trust” world. Expect live demos, real-world case studies, and plenty of time for your questions.
I will be presenting “AI Agents: Friend or Foe?” for the Human Resources Association of Central Missouri on September 9th at 8:30 am. Details about the program will be posted here.
Description: AI “agents” are the next step beyond chatbots: digital teammates that set goals, take actions across your apps, and finish real work while you sleep. Prof C will explain—in plain language—how these tireless helpers can streamline HR tasks like onboarding and analytics … and why the same autonomy can create new risks if we’re not careful. Join us to learn simple guardrails for deciding when an AI agent is a friend, when it might become a foe, and how to stay firmly in control.
I will be presenting “AI Strategies” for the Red River Valley Estate Planning Council, in Fargo, North Dakota on November 19. Details will be available here.
In the Netflix series The Three Body Problem, Earth prepares for an alien invasion under unique circumstances. The character leading Earth's defense uses the saying "Only Advance" to express his utilitarian drive to ensure humanity's future.
Losing a parent is tough at any age. Sorry for your loss. I’m looking forward to reading what comes next for you.
Love reading your posts! My condolences about your mom, as well as congratulations on your retirement! -Jessica