University of North Carolina Chancellor Lee Roberts is making bold moves to transform the 235-year-old institution, betting on artificial intelligence as the key to its future.
During an interview at the University Club of San Francisco, Roberts emphasized that AI should be embraced, not feared, in higher education. “No one’s going to say to graduates, ‘Do your best work, but if you use AI, you’ll be in trouble,’” he said, calling on faculty to prepare students for a world where AI is an everyday tool.
Roberts, who spent three decades in finance before stepping into academia, has made AI UNC’s central focus. The university recently announced plans to merge its School of Data Science and Society with the School of Information and Library Science to create a new AI-centered institution. He also appointed Jeffrey Bardzell as the university’s first Vice Provost for AI, to help guide faculty in adapting to the new direction.
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Not everyone is pleased. Some faculty and students have voiced concern that Roberts’ rapid changes are disrupting academic traditions, with critics calling the AI merger “unclear” and “rushed.” Others question his leadership, noting that his appointment as chancellor faced opposition from more than 900 signatories who argued the process lacked transparency.
Still, Roberts remains undeterred. He says the changes are about innovation, not cost-cutting, despite UNC losing 118 federal research grants worth $38 million earlier this year. “This is not about shutting anything down,” he explained. “We need to move quickly and collaborate across disciplines, something universities aren’t usually good at.”
Roberts’ tenure hasn’t been without controversy outside the classroom either. The university’s high-profile decision to hire Bill Belichick as head football coach has drawn both excitement and criticism, especially amid the team’s rocky start to the season.
Despite the challenges, Roberts is focused on the bigger picture. “We’re going to try to make Carolina the number one public university in America,” he said, echoing the drive of a Silicon Valley CEO.
Whether his AI-driven vision pays off remains to be seen, but one thing is clear: Lee Roberts is reshaping UNC’s playbook for the future of higher education.
