AI in Education Demands More Than Just Bold Ambitions

Education leaders, like their students, need strong AI and data literacy skills to make informed decisions about new edtech purchases and guide responsible AI use, argues one expert.

our organization sat down with Dr. Kendall Latham, chief innovation strategist at Lenovo, to learn what tech-related habits produce the most successful leaders.

What priorities are you hearing about from district and higher ed leaders?

Across K12 and higher education, academic leaders are focused on moving from AI exploration to real impact while managing growing complexity, including budget constraints, the need to attract and retain educators and IT staff and the challenge of aging COVID-era technology investments reaching end of life, where models like DaaS (desktop as a service) are helping to fill the gap.

The most common priorities we hear are AI readiness, cybersecurity, online safety and ensuring technology investments deliver long-term value. Leaders want to understand how to integrate AI in ways that improve learning outcomes, streamline operations, and support research without introducing new risks or inequities, and are increasingly turning to partners for more than hardware, including programs like Student Chromebook Technician initiatives, AI Innovator Studio challenges, and workforce readiness activations that support student success.

Institutions are looking for trusted partners who can help them build connected ecosystems where devices, infrastructure, security, and professional learning all work together. That foundation is what enables them to scale innovation and move beyond short-term pilots to meaningful transformation.

As part of this shift, many are embracing "AI for Good" principles, using AI in responsible ways to enhance safety, improve efficiency, and better support both students and staff.

What are the most common gaps you see in a district or college's technology infrastructure?

Our team has uncovered a mismatch between vision and infrastructure readiness. Many institutions have ambitious plans for AI and digital transformation, but the underlying systems are not yet equipped to support those goals.

AI requires capable devices, reliable connectivity, scalable compute, and strong cybersecurity. Without that foundation, performance suffers, risks increase, and adoption slows.

Another challenge is fragmentation. Technology is often implemented in silos, which creates inefficiencies for IT teams and inconsistent experiences for users.

What questions do the most effective leaders ask?

The most effective leaders move beyond questions about products and focus on outcomes and alignment. They ask questions like:

1. "How does this align with our long-term instructional or institutional strategy?"
2. "What does success look like for students, faculty, and staff-and how will we measure it?"
3. "Are we building something that will scale, or just piloting something new?"
4. "What problem are we actually trying to solve, and how will we know if it's working for our students?"
5. "What are we willing to stop doing to make space for this to be successful?"
6. "How does this align with our broader vision? How does this actually improve teaching and learning-not just add another thing?"

These questions shift the conversation from buying technology to building systems that drive sustainable, meaningful change.

Our audience's roles are constantly evolving to keep up with the rapid pace of technology innovation. What tech-related skills does a district or higher-ed leader need to succeed in 2026 and beyond?

Leaders need a strong foundation in AI and data literacy so they can evaluate tools, interpret outputs and guide responsible use across their institutions, with a focus not just on how these technologies work but on how they impact teaching and learning.

They also need a clear understanding of cybersecurity risk and governance, since protecting student and institutional data is now a core leadership responsibility.

These skills help leaders make informed decisions in an increasingly complex environment.

Systems thinking and change management are equally important. Technology decisions now impact every part of the institution, from instruction to operations to workforce readiness.

Leaders must be able to connect those areas and support ongoing upskilling for educators and staff. Those who can balance innovation with responsibility will be best positioned to build secure, scalable, and future-ready learning environments.