In this dynamic environment, CIOs are leading the charge to navigate complex decisions around technology, policy, funding, and institutional strategy — setting the pace for how quickly their institutions can adapt and innovate.
At the same time, the pace of change is accelerating to the point where collaboration is essential. “CommEX26 matters because AI and quantum are pushing R&E into an exponential phase, and no single institution can meet that moment alone.”
What
do you see as most uncertain or fast-moving in the Emerging Technology space for R&E
in 2026?
Howell: I think the biggest uncertainty is how we define
and prove AI value — AI KPIs. We’re moving quickly beyond personal productivity (emails, drafts,
quick research) into process optimization across the institution. As AI touches more workflows,
it will expose how siloed our systems and data are, pushing us toward enterprise re-architecture
and integrated, end-to-end services.
Next comes the real shift: not adding AI to
existing models, but building AI-native ecosystems from the start. Ultimately, AI will enable
new teaching and research models. This trajectory requires major investment and KPIs that
credibly measure outcomes and forecast value.
How
does the conversation around Emerging Technology shift when R&E leaders come
together as a community, rather than addressing associated challenges in isolation at
their own institutions?
Howell: When research and education leaders come together
as a community, the conversation shifts from isolated problem-solving to shared momentum. You
quickly realize you’re facing the same constraints — funding, talent, legacy systems,
governance, and culture — so the work feels less like a local struggle and more like a
collective challenge. That shared reality is validating: your ideas aren’t “out of left field”
when peers are wrestling with the same questions.
Community also increases speed:
leaders can pressure-test approaches, learn what’s working, and avoid reinventing the wheel. The
dialogue moves from debating concepts to pragmatism — implementation patterns, trade-offs, and
lessons learned.
What
trends or recurring topics stood out as you helped shape this year’s Community Exchange
program, and what do they signal about what the community is paying closest attention to
right now?
Howell: As we shaped this year’s Community Exchange
program, several themes kept recurring. AI was central, along with data services, maturity, and
governance. We also heard growing focus on quantum readiness and what it will take to position
faculty and students to use these technologies.
Infrastructure came up repeatedly,
including compute, storage, and networks needed to keep pushing research and invention forward.
Many noted that individual institutions cannot scale this alone, reinforcing the need for shared
Internet2-style investments. Finally, there was emphasis on training and development, plus
cybersecurity and privacy, as innovation accelerates.
In
your experience, how do the conversations at Community Exchange — whether in sessions,
hallways, or informal meetups — help R&E leaders surface new questions, share
observations, and sharpen strategies?
Howell: Community Exchange helps R&E leaders move from
isolated thinking to sharper, shared strategy. In sessions, leaders compare notes, test
assumptions, and spot patterns across institutions that are easy to miss locally. In hallways
and informal meetups, the conversation becomes more candid and practical, with real lessons
about what worked, what failed, and what to try next, including cultural and governance
realities.
That mix surfaces new questions, reveals blind spots, and accelerates
decision making. You leave with more confidence, clearer trade-offs, and concrete steps you can
adapt without reinventing the wheel.
As
Internet2 celebrates 30 years of community-driven progress, what feels most hopeful to
you about coming together at CommEX26? Why does this gathering matter for R&E
leaders and the institutions they serve?
Howell: This moment feels special because it echoes what
Internet2’s founders must have felt 30 years ago: a community coming together to set a bold
vision and build the infrastructure that accelerates research, learning, and impact. In
technology terms, three decades is an era, and now it’s our turn to define what comes
next.
CommEX26 matters because AI and quantum are pushing R&E into an
exponential phase, and no single institution can meet that moment alone. This is a chance to
imagine Internet2 squared, expanding from network to shared data, shared AI infrastructure, and
even shared quantum access. It’s time to dream bigger and build together.