By Kevin Anselmo
How are communications teams really using AI, and what’s holding them back from using it more effectively? To find out, Experiential Communications surveyed communications, PR and media relations leaders at ten business schools in the United States, Europe and Latin America in August and September 2026.
The results point to a clear opportunity. Teams rated their AI adoption at an average of 5.4 out of 10. Most use AI to save time on drafts, summaries and media lists, but few have turned those individual gains into shared systems that benefit the whole institution. The most common barriers were lack of time to experiment and concerns about accuracy, two challenges that feed each other.
While the survey focused on business schools, the lessons apply to communications teams across higher education, research organizations and mission-driven institutions.
What’s inside the executive briefing:
- Survey findings on AI adoption, obstacles and internal AI guidance
- Where AI is already delivering value in media relations and beyond
- Three AI applications that scale from the individual to the institution
- Four principles for moving from AI experiment to AI system
- Questions every dean and communications director should be asking