Higher education IT leaders are bullish on artificial intelligence (AI) but struggle to scale pilot projects organization-wide, according to new research from MeriTalk.

Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, is calling for a national AI regulatory framework to avoid what he describes as a fragmented and failing system of state-led oversight.

Arizona’s top cybersecurity official is warning that state and local governments cannot stand alone against sophisticated nation-state cyber threats, stressing that defending against adversaries such as the China-linked “Salt Typhoon” requires collective action across government, industry, and international partners.

The Department of Education’s online system that millions of Americans use each year to submit applications for student financial aid has critical modernization delays and errors that the agency is no longer addressing, according to a federal watchdog. 

An executive order from North Carolina Gov. Josh Stein has created the Artificial Intelligence Leadership Council to oversee the state’s strategy on AI and policy related to the technology as it looks to bolster innovation.  

The U.S. Department of Education announced that the 2026-2027 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) online form will be available for students this fall, following months of beta testing.

Nevada officials announced that the state has been targeted in “a sophisticated ransomware-based cybersecurity attack,” with federal partners working closely with state officials as they respond to the incident.

First Lady Melania Trump on Aug. 26 invited K-12 students and educators across the country to participate in the Presidential Artificial Intelligence (AI) Challenge, which is designed to boost understanding and innovation in the rapidly evolving field of AI.

New York City has taken its first official step into autonomous vehicle testing, launching a tightly regulated pilot program that will allow self-driving cars on select streets in Manhattan and Brooklyn under strict safety guidelines.

Montana State University (MSU) is opening the doors of its new quantum computing research facility at the end of this month – making the university home to one of only five quantum network test beds in the world.