This message was originally shared to subscribers September 15, 2026.
Upcoming Events
Tomorrow, Sept. 16, from 9:30 to 10:45 a.m., the AI at Work series takes a hands-on look at Claude Cowork—practical ways to put it to use whether you’re new to Claude or use it daily. Join Us in 2-469 Newhouse or online via Microsoft Teams.
Also, join us Thursday, Sept. 24, for the first Claude 101—a new monthly session covering the fundamentals: getting better answers, what Claude can and can’t do and what’s new this semester. Bring your questions. Sign up for Claude 101 to save your spot.
This Issue’s Tip: Did You Know You Have a Syracuse University Google Account?
Your Syracuse University Google account comes with Gemini—and it can do things a chat window can’t. Point your phone camera at a copier error code, share your screen to work through a formula that won’t cooperate or ask it to make a flyer. Shannon Glennon shows you where to start with Gemini.
News and Views
In Summary
AI’s pace is outrunning its guardrails. Researchers built a zero-click phone worm in about a week, and Anthropic’s latest threat report finds sophisticated attacks no longer require sophisticated attackers. Anthropic’s CEO has since called for an industrywide slowdown. On campus, Harvard’s dean says everyone uses AI constantly, faculty are returning to oral exams and independent evidence that AI improves learning remains thin.
Academia and Higher Education
- The Return of the Oral Exam (The Chronicle of Higher Education)
- Blue Books Are Back. Is That a Good Thing? (The Chronicle of Higher Education)
- The Humanities Can’t Ignore AI (The Chronicle of Higher Education)
- The “Nonexistent” Research on AI’s Benefits for Education (Inside Higher Ed)
- Game On: Exploring the AI Arcade at Penn State (Educause Review)
- Harvard College’s Dean: ‘Everyone Is Using AI All the Time for Everything’ (The Chronicle of Higher Education)
- The Ivy League’s Surrender to AI Is Insane (The Chronicle of Higher Education)
- Curious, Confident, Afraid: A Roomful of Academics Greets the Future of AI (The Chronicle of Higher Education)
- This University Built an AI Curriculum Before ChatGPT. Now It Wants to Help Other Schools Do the Same (CNN)
- No AI Until High School: NYC Schools Announce Major Classroom Technology Overhaul (ABC 7)
Industry and Legal
- Anthropic Releases New Models, Cost Structures and Safeguards (Axios)
- Anthropic’s $1.5B Piracy Settlement Is Back to Haunt it (Politico)
Public Attitudes and Adoption
- 27% of U.S. Adults Turn to AI for Personal, Emotional, Social Queries (The Washington Post)
- How Workers Feel About AI in 2026 (Glassdoor)
Safety, Governance and Policy
- Top A.I. Leaders Call for Slowing Down A.I. Development (The New York Times)
- OpenAI’s Chief Scientist Calls for Voluntary Slowdowns (OpenAI)
- Path to Astra: Critical Capabilities and Frontier Safeguards (OpenAI)
- SEN. BERNIE SANDERS: Yes, We Must Hit the Pause Button on AI Before It Is Too Late (Fox News)
- Anthropic Researcher Quits Over ‘Out-of-Control’ AI Fears (The Wall Street Journal)
- Exclusive: OpenAI Expands Policy Team Amid Legislative Headwinds (Axios)
Security and Misuse
- A Hacking Tool Built With A.I. Can Breach Phones Without a Click (The New York Times)
- The Inside Story on Why OpenAI Agents Hacked Hugging Face (Technology Review)
- Detecting and countering misuse of AI: September 2026 (Anthropic)
Workforce and Jobs
- Businesses Are Using AI to Transform Work, Not Cut Jobs (Federal Reserve Bank of New York)
- Korn Ferry Workforce 2026 Report: Unlocking Growth Requires Rethinking How Work Gets Done (Korn Ferry)
- The New Career Currency: Why Every Student Needs an “AI Portfolio” (LinkedIN)
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Questions?
Email the AI Team at aihelp@syr.edu or book a session. In addition to emailing the team with your questions and ideas, you can check out a wide variety of resources and tutorials at ai.syracuse.edu.
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