Justin O’Brien is a psychologist, academic and AI consultant. His PhD research examined human visual perception, and he has spent more than three decades in academic research and teaching at London universities. His subsequent research encompassed social cognition, neuroimaging and computational methods.

He now works on the responsible use of artificial intelligence in higher education, particularly in assessment, academic integrity and institutional governance, with a wider interest in the gap between technological promise and institutional reality.

The 2026 Reckoning

In March 2026 he published The 2026 Reckoning, an independent analysis of the finances of 150 UK universities. Released as a free report, it has been downloaded more than 8,000 times and prompted extensive discussion within the sector.

Regulated to Fail develops that investigation. It asks a larger question: how did a university system containing so much expertise, evidence and institutional experience arrive at a position in which so many of its institutions have so few good choices left?

Contact

For permissions, corrections and enquiries: justin@obrien.vision. Media enquiries can also be directed through the press and media page.

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