Why AI Can't Replace Human Trust in Higher Education Marketing
By
Devin Purgason
Summary
The article discusses the limitations of AI in marketing for higher education institutions. It argues that while AI can help with outreach and personalization, it cannot replace the authentic, word-of-mouth trust built through real human interactions and community relationships. The author uses a personal anecdote about a stranger recommending their college's HVAC program to illustrate that genuine recommendations from trusted sources are more valuable than any AI-driven campaign. The piece emphasizes that AI should augment, not replace, the human elements of marketing strategy.
Source
Key quotes
· 3 pulledNo paid campaign produced those 30 seconds. And as AI reshapes how students research institutions, those 30 seconds are becoming more valuable.
AI can promote your institution to prospective students. It can't make the people they trust confirm you belong on their list.
Somewhere along the way, she had heard enough about us to make a recommendation to a stranger over coffee.
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