We have always emphasized how quickly things are changing in education, and the application of technology to both its marketing and its teaching and learning dimensions.

There are days, however, where you just sit back and really reflect on the impact of those changes on the everyday things you do in working, learning and your own downtime.

Technology has developed that deeper layer now, and the implications of this are moving away from the confines of research papers and small academic circles, and starting to fundamentally change the way we do things. Deep technology is here.

What is deep about deep tech?

Deep technology refers to cutting-edge technologies that have the potential to disrupt and transform entire industries. These are the things that make you stop and think "wow, this is going to really shake things up".

These technologies include things like artificial intelligence, blockchain, and quantum computing, among others. We have written about how blockchain technology is changing the way we track engagement, and the way we learn and credential. We have also looked at how AI helps create adaptive learning pathways to free up teachers for more focused support.

Though these articles seemed to discuss such technology as being on the fringes even quite recently, it seems like already such examples of deep tech are breaking through into the mainstream and really getting wider attention.

‍ChatGPT is of course a classic example of this very disruptive tech, though our personal view is that this is only a "threat" to education because traditional education has largely not evolved past one-dimensional assessments based on essays and reports. "Disruptive" is a positive word.

Deep tech in higher education

In the world of higher education, deep technology is being used in lots of ways; not only to improve the student experience, but also to make education more accessible and affordable.

One of the most exciting applications of deep technology in higher education is the use of AI in the classroom. AI-powered learning systems can personalize the learning experience for each student, providing tailored instruction and feedback to help them succeed.

Georgia Institute of Technology has developed an AI-powered tutoring system that can help students with their homework, providing explanations and guidance as needed. This system has been shown to improve student performance and engagement, as well as reduce the workload for instructors.

This is fast becoming a "normal" thing, and as it does, the tech gets better. Georgia's AI system was able to learn from the responses of 40,000 students in developing more effective interventions, but imagine when this data is pooled with others, and drawing instead on millions of responses.

Another area where deep technology is making a big impact in higher education is in the field of online learning. Platforms like Coursera and edX, which offer online courses from top universities, are using AI and machine learning to provide personalized learning experiences for students.

Blockchain technology is also being used in higher education to improve the process of issuing and verifying degrees. For example, the University of Nicosia in Cyprus developed a blockchain-based system for issuing degrees back in 2014, which is now extremely robust and makes it easy for employers and other organizations to verify the authenticity of a degree. This system helps to combat fraud and makes it easier for graduates to prove their credentials. This is now becoming much more widespread.

In addition to these examples, deep technology is also being used in higher education to improve research and innovation. For example, quantum computing is being used in research to solve complex problems that are beyond the capabilities of traditional computers. This technology is being used in fields like materials' science, chemistry, and physics, helping researchers to make new discoveries and develop new technologies.

You know how everyone talks about being unable to predict the jobs of the future? Deep tech is a big part of that. When researchers are able to use quantum computing for incredibly complex simulations of new technology in infinitely customizable iterations, the new products and services they can produce are simply impossible for us to imagine. Change will be our only constant.

Deep tech in education marketing

So, what does all of this mean for education marketing? Deep technology has the potential to revolutionize the way we think about education, making it more accessible and personalized for students. As a result, education marketers will need to think about how they can take advantage of these technologies to reach and engage with potential students in new and innovative ways.

We have all seen AI begin to personalize the marketing experience for potential students through, for example, using AI-powered chatbots to answer questions and provide information about programs and courses. This can help to improve the student experience and increase engagement, but also frees up colleagues in marketing and recruitment to focus their time on creativity, development and more targeted interventions.

Blockchain technology can be used to create a transparent and secure system for storing and sharing student data, which helps to build trust, and to verify the authenticity of a degree or program, such as at Birmingham University in the UK.

However, it is in the fields of Zero Knowledge Advertising, and using virtual reality to create immersive campus visit experiences like those at Princeton, that deep technology is really coming into its own in our sector.

This is one of those reflective periods, and when we emerge from that, ready to take new insights forward, geNEOus (formerly NEO Academy) is here to help. From process automation to marketing strategies to reach a new generation, we want to work with values-led forward-thinking institutions to help you grow. To see if we are a good fit, check here to unlock a free audit!