Podcast Summary: This Is Purdue
Episode: AI Expert Discusses Best Practices for Maintaining Your Authentic Voice
Release Date: December 11, 2025
Host: Kate Young
Guest: Dr. Casey Roberson, Clinical Associate Professor, Daniels School of Business, Purdue University
Episode Overview
This episode delves into the evolving relationship between Gen Z and artificial intelligence (AI), featuring nationally recognized business communication expert Dr. Casey Roberson. The main focus is best practices for maintaining authentic voice and integrity while leveraging AI tools in academic, professional, and personal settings. Dr. Roberson shares her experiences teaching at Purdue, participates in a broader discussion about integrating AI responsibly, and underscores Purdue’s leadership in AI education, all while championing a “people first” approach.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. The Gen Z-AI Relationship (03:16–05:50)
- Digital Natives: Gen Z (ages 13–28) grew up with smartphones and social media, making them "digital natives."
- Classroom Observations: Dr. Roberson notes her experiences align with the latest research:
- Most Gen Z students use generative AI tools (ChatGPT, Gemini, Copilot).
- Gallup study: ~80% use AI, but these tools are more likely to make them anxious than excited.
- Reason: Students feel unprepared to use AI well, leading to nervousness.
Quote:
"I think that's an interesting thing that we have to look at. I think one of the biggest issues...is that they don't feel prepared to use the tool."
— Dr. Roberson [05:23]
2. Pioneering AI Education at Purdue (05:55–9:31)
- Strategic Business Writing Course:
- Launched in 2021 before ChatGPT’s rise, based on a “people first framework.”
- Emphasizes audience analysis, emotional intelligence.
- Scaled rapidly to 35 sections, 5 faculty.
- Dr. Roberson’s textbook (published May 2024) is among the first to incorporate AI best practices.
- Curriculum Integration:
- Pivoted syllabus and writing textbook mid-project to include AI after ChatGPT’s debut.
- Class assignments teach prompt engineering, critical thinking, reflection, and responsible AI integration.
Memorable Moment:
Dr. Roberson recounts pitching her editor to make the textbook a market leader on AI best practices:
"I said, 'I think we need to have one of the first books to market to talk about best practices in AI.'"
— Dr. Roberson [07:55]
3. Teaching Responsible AI Usage (10:09–12:14)
- Structured Assignments:
- Students submit an original draft, AI prompts, AI-generated content, their revisions, and reflection.
- Student Feedback:
- Gen Z values maintaining their authentic voice—AI is a tool but not a replacement.
- Students are often critical of AI’s suggestions and aware of its limitations.
Quote:
"They find some things to be really helpful, but there are some things they don't like, and they do not want it to take over their authentic voice, which I love."
— Dr. Roberson [11:36]
4. The Three Pillars: Mindset, Authenticity, Integrity (12:39–15:22)
- Mindset: Growth vs. fixed mindset when embracing AI.
- Authenticity: Your “voice is like your fingerprint”—unique, valuable, not to be erased by AI.
- Integrity: Ethical, transparent usage of AI is non-negotiable.
Quote:
"You want to make sure that no other human intelligence and no other artificial intelligence is quieting that voice that's yours because it's unique, it's special. It needs to be heard."
— Dr. Roberson [14:08]
5. Role of Adults & Educators: Fostering Positive AI Experiences (15:22–17:16)
- Healthy Boundaries:
- Clear parameters about where and why AI is used in education.
- Encourage buy-in through explanation, not compliance for its own sake.
- Universal Communication Need:
- People—children and adults—seek to be valued and respected. Involving them in decision-making around AI fosters responsibility and autonomy.
Quote:
"We want to look towards buy-in and not compliance."
— Dr. Roberson [16:21]
6. The “People First” Approach to Communication & AI (17:27–19:41)
- Core Skills:
- Audience Analysis
- Emotional Intelligence
- Critical Thinking & Problem Solving
- Building Connection & Trust
- Communication Ethics
- Real-World Resonance:
- These pillars are the hardest, most essential part of career success—working well with others.
7. AI Policy Considerations in Education (19:41–21:52)
- Policy Evolution:
- Purdue is leading with active AI policy-making and task forces.
- K–12 Track:
- Dr. Roberson dreams of parallel integration of AI and emotional intelligence in curricula.
- Blending these two could be a “game changer.”
8. Practical AI Use & Limitations (21:52–25:16)
- AI as an Efficiency Tool:
- Brainstorming, drafting, revising—but never replacing confidentiality or originality.
- Always fact-check: AI can “hallucinate” or invent information, and output may be biased.
Quote:
"AI does not know the person that I'm writing this email to. Only I know."
— Dr. Roberson [22:07]
- Safe Starting Points:
- Practice using AI for small brainstorming tasks on non-confidential topics.
- Start with simple queries; observe and verify accuracy.
9. Fun, Novel Uses of AI (25:16–27:05)
- Life Assistance:
- Recipe ideas with random ingredients.
- Itinerary planning and travel recommendations.
- Personal “vision boarding” for career goals.
Memorable Moment:
"It impressed my teenagers, which was great."
— Dr. Roberson [26:09]
10. Ethical & Citation Challenges (27:05–28:21)
- Comparison to Wikipedia:
- Early days of Wikipedia as a non-legit source; now, AI must be double-checked for accuracy.
- Check AI’s sources; rely on primary references.
- Newer AI models attempt to reduce hallucinations with links to sources—but skepticism and fact-checking remain essential.
11. Looking Ahead: The Responsible AI Future (28:21–29:53)
- Growth Trajectory:
- AI’s influence will increase—responsible, ethical usage essential.
- Communication remains at the heart of effective, authentic AI integration.
Quote:
"If we...continue to use this with an authentic voice, use it with integrity...we're going to use AI more responsibly."
— Dr. Roberson [29:38]
12. Innovative Purdue Initiatives (29:53–32:21)
- Leadership Coaching Institute:
- Undergraduate executive coaching pilot—first-in-the-nation approach to developing leadership and communication earlier in careers.
- Launching asynchronous and synchronous programs on working well and leadership for students, alumni, professionals.
- Tailored training for companies on communication, stress, and employee well-being.
Notable Quotes & Timestamps
- On student anxiety with AI:
“They're saying that those tools are more likely to make them anxious than it is to make them excited or hopeful.” — Dr. Roberson [05:19]
- On authenticity:
“Your authentic voice is like your fingerprint...no other human intelligence and no other artificial intelligence is quieting that voice that's yours.” — Dr. Roberson [14:08]
- On ethical transparency:
“If we're doing that, then there shouldn't be an issue. It's not like you're hiding something and so forth.” — Dr. Roberson [15:02]
- On education’s role:
"We want to look towards buy-in and not compliance." — Dr. Roberson [16:21]
- On AI’s limitations:
"AI does not know the person that I'm writing this email to. Only I know." — Dr. Roberson [22:07]
- On the future of AI:
“As it continues to evolve into the future, it will get bigger, it will be integrated more. And so the more we can understand how it works and how we can best use it, the better it's going to be.” — Dr. Roberson [28:37]
Major Memorable Moments
- Dr. Roberson’s decision to shift her textbook project to integrate AI within weeks of ChatGPT’s debut (07:55).
- The multi-step assignment system that forces critical, reflective human involvement with AI in student writing (10:58).
- Dr. Roberson using AI to help with dinner recipes—with unexpected success at home (25:37).
- Announcement of pioneering undergraduate executive coaching at Purdue’s Leadership Coaching Institute (30:11).
Useful Timestamps
- Introduction and Overview: [00:43–02:47]
- Gen Z and AI in education: [03:16–05:50]
- Curriculum evolution and textbook story: [05:55–09:31]
- Student concerns about AI and critical thought: [09:39–12:14]
- Pillars of using AI well: mindset, authenticity, integrity: [12:39–15:22]
- People first communication framework: [17:27–19:41]
- Practical, ethical, and creative uses of AI: [21:52–27:05]
- Looking ahead and new Leadership Coaching initiatives: [28:21–32:21]
- Final reflections: [32:29–34:36]
Conclusion
Dr. Casey Roberson’s message is clear: AI has disruptive potential but must be approached with a blend of curiosity, critical thinking, and ethical transparency. Purdue is pioneering both the curriculum and culture necessary for students to harness AI tools without losing their unique, authentic voices. The episode provides practical strategies for students, educators, and families to guide responsible AI usage—always with a “people first” mindset. The future, as Roberson sees it, is one where AI’s growth parallels the persistent, innovative, and collaborative spirit of the Boilermaker community.
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