AI is remaking the workforce faster than universities can decide how—or whether—to teach it
Some professors have banned it in the classroom while others have incorporated it into the curriculum.
Amanda Cullen, a first-year student at North Carolina State University, anticipates entering a workforce where AI is ubiquitous. Currently, many of her classes at the university explicitly prohibit the use of AI, with the exception of when it is properly cited. Cullen believes that universities should equip students with the knowledge of how to utilize AI in professional settings, as it has become increasingly commonplace in the job market.
In fact, a study by McKinsey found that 88% of companies are currently employing AI, and a PWC study reported a 62% average wage premium for workers possessing AI skills. However, the rapid advancement of AI is creating a dilemma for educators. Some argue that banning AI outright could hinder students' preparation for the workforce, while others worry that over-reliance on AI may impede the development of essential skills.
Lauren Callen, a second-year mechanical engineering student at NC State, supports professors who establish guidelines for responsible AI usage rather than outright prohibitions. She believes it is unrealistic to ignore AI's increasing presence in the workforce. At NC State, faculty members have the discretion to decide when AI can and cannot be used in their courses, with students required to adhere to these guidelines to maintain academic integrity.
Universities across the country are grappling with how to balance the use of AI in education. Some professors, like Sabrina Habib of the University of South Carolina, initially opposed students' use of AI, fearing it would impede the acquisition of fundamental knowledge. However, as AI becomes more integrated into daily life, faculty attitudes have shifted, recognizing AI as a necessary skill for the workforce.
Habib now allows students to use AI in assignments, provided they disclose how they employed the technology and provide evidence. Despite these efforts, some students, like Cullen, are proactively limiting their own AI usage even when not explicitly instructed to do so by their professors.
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