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Article by Kori Ashton

AI is showing up in classrooms, campus offices, and research labs across Texas. From Lubbock to Laredo, university leaders are being pitched shiny new tools with big promises—but what’s really under the hood? As someone who worked through Texas Tech’s Master’s program using emerging AI tools for real academic projects, I’ve seen both the opportunity and the uncertainty. Before we sign long-term contracts or hand over sensitive data, we need to ask the right questions.

This article takes a boots-on-the-ground look at how Texas institutions can approach AI procurement with clarity, caution, and confidence.

The Rise of AI in Texas Higher Ed

In recent years, colleges and universities across Texas have begun integrating AI into everything from student advising to administrative workflow. Large institutions like UT Austin are exploring AI for research optimization and launching interdisciplinary programs focused on AI ethics, computer science, and public policy. Down in San Antonio, UTSA has become a key player in advancing AI education and innovation through its School of Data Science and initiatives like the MATRIX AI Consortium for Human Well-Being. Community colleges are also piloting AI tutors and grading assistants. This movement is exciting—but it’s happening fast, and not every tool is built with our students in mind.

The Benefits: Speed, Scale, and Student Support

Let’s give AI credit where it’s due. Well-deployed, AI can:

• Automate routine tasks like scheduling and email replies
• Provide early academic intervention alerts for struggling students
• Assist in curriculum design by analyzing student learning patterns
• Offer accessibility enhancements like text-to-speech and real-time translation

AI can give educators more time to teach and support students. But we also need to pause and ask: What are we trading for that convenience?

The Risks: Privacy, Contracts, and “Black Box” Logic

When I was in the MA Technical Communication program at Texas Tech, I worked with AI-driven data tools to analyze large sets of research data. While the promise was efficiency, what I ran into was a lack of transparency. I couldn’t always see how the tool made decisions. That matters when you’re publishing research or making student-facing decisions.

Key risks to consider:

• Data Privacy: Who owns the data collected? Where is it stored? Is it FERPA-compliant?
• Opaque Algorithms: If we don’t know how AI makes decisions, we can’t verify its accuracy or fairness.
• Locked-In Contracts: Long-term agreements can leave institutions stuck with outdated tools as the tech rapidly evolves.

Lessons from the Red Raider Experience

At Texas Tech, our professors encouraged critical thinking about the tools we used. When we piloted AI for writing and revision tasks, we found value in the speed of feedback—but also limitations in tone, nuance, and cultural awareness. My cohort had conversations around ethics and responsibility that every institution should be having now.

What Texas Needs Now: Smart Questions for Smarter Contracts

As AI continues to expand, our approach to procurement must evolve with it. Institutions should ask:

• Is the product ethically tested for bias and fairness?
• Can we audit or inspect the algorithm?
• What are our exit options if the tool fails to meet standards?

We need procurement teams that include not just IT and legal experts, but also faculty, student reps, and accessibility advocates. A cross-disciplinary lens leads to smarter, more inclusive decisions.

Call to Action: Building a Texas-Sized Framework for AI Procurement

Let’s be clear: the goal isn’t to slow down innovation. It’s to make it sustainable. Texas has a chance to lead the way with a clear, values-driven approach to AI in higher ed. At Texans for AI, we’re working to cultivate conversations like these—where responsible tech use meets real-life impact.

If you’re a Texas educator, policymaker, or technologist, we invite you to collaborate on a model procurement framework that prioritizes transparency, privacy, and adaptability. The future’s coming fast. Let’s be ready for it—together.

Inspired by and informed by EDUCAUSE’s article “AI Procurement in Higher Education: Benefits and Risks of Emerging Tools.”

“What happens if the U.S. Department of Education is dismantled?” – See a powerful answer here from Sinéad Bovell