Mary Meeker examines AI and higher education

Mary Meeker, renowned for her annual ‘Internet Trends’ reports, has released her first study in over four years, focusing on the intersection of AI and US higher education. Meeker’s previous reports were pivotal in analysing the tech economy, often spanning hundreds of pages. Her new report, significantly shorter at 16 pages, explores how the collaboration between technology and higher education can bolster America’s economic vitality.

In her latest report, Meeker asserts that the US has surpassed China in AI leadership. She emphasises that for the US to maintain this edge, technology companies and universities must work together as partners rather than see each other as obstacles. The partnership involves tech companies providing GPUs to research universities and being transparent about future work trends. Simultaneously, higher education institutions must adopt a ‘mindset change,’ treating students as customers and teachers as coaches.

Meeker highlights the historical role of universities like Stanford and MIT in driving tech innovation, initially through government funding, now increasingly through industry support. She underscores the critical nature of the coming years for higher education to remain a driving force in technological advancement. Echoing venture capitalist Alan Patricof, Meeker describes AI as a revolution more profound than transistors, PCs, biotech, the internet, or cloud computing, suggesting that AI is now ready to optimise the vast data accumulated over the past decades.

Meeker’s new report was shared with investors at her growth equity firm, BOND, and published on the firm’s website, aiming to inform and guide the next steps in integrating AI with higher education to sustain America’s technological and economic leadership.