S3E18 | Scaling Learning with Agentic AI: Mark Naufel on Building the New OS for Education

The AI Agent Revolution: Mark Naufel on Why the $1.8T Higher Ed System Must Change Now

Mark Naufel is not just talking about the future of education; he’s building it. As the Founder of Axio Education and the President of the University of Silicon Valley, Mark has a unique, radical view of how Agentic AI is finally forcing higher education to innovate.

In this explosive conversation, Mark details his journey from running the "Skunk Works" lab at ASU to founding Axio, the AI-native operating system designed to dramatically increase learning quality while cutting costs.

Key Takeaways You Won’t Want to Miss:

• The Dystopian Classroom: Why the current "click-click-click" online learning model is unsustainable and how Axio’s Socratic AI replaces static content with active, conversational learning.
• Agentic Workflows: A masterclass on the difference between basic Generative AI and the Agentic AI systems that power the ability to create dynamic, relevant curricula in seconds.
• The Polymathic Mandate: Why Mark is re-chartering USV to fuse liberal arts and technical skills, ensuring graduates are prepared to be "entrepreneurs" and "great thinkers" rather than just entry-level coders.
• The Cost Correction: Mark’s bold prediction on why the student debt crisis will force costs down significantly, and how AI is the only way to deliver better quality for less money.
• Advice for the New CEO: Mark offers direct, high-level advice on scaling the company and maintaining a mission-driven, polymathic team culture.