Big AI is trying to own the pathway to work. Universities shouldn’t play along | Ella Hafermalz

Universities must safeguard their role in education to ensure students have an independent route to employment. AI companies like OpenAI are infiltrating the pathway from education to work, potentially claiming it entirely, which would be disastrous for students. Recent conversations with my students reveal their reliance on AI tools, such as ChatGPT, for personal issues and academic assistance. Some even feel uncertain about their abilities without AI.

Institutions are actively adapting to the rise of AI, but we must urgently address the efforts of big AI companies to dominate the educational pipeline. The industry has recently instilled fear of unemployment in young people, now claiming to have a solution: more AI. OpenAI, for instance, aims to "connect learning, certification and real economic opportunity in one clear journey" by offering education, credentials and access to work.

OpenAI's new certification programs aim to compete with universities by providing education, credentials and access to work. They plan to broker access to employment, where learning and work increasingly occur. As big AI companies search for alternative business models, universities must vigilantly protect their position to maintain an independent path for students.

Despite some ambivalence towards AI among young people, it's understandable why they may trust a service that provides calm and patient guidance, like ChatGPT for accounting or relationship advice. OpenAI is expanding its connection with students by hiring them as campus ambassadors, offering them "robust training in our tools, funding, swag and access to a community of remarkable peers."

AI companies are also gaining a foothold in employers. The OpenAI Deployment Company, backed by over $4bn in initial investment, has deployed over 150 engineers to work with companies to integrate OpenAI's tools into their workflows.

With its influence over employers, OpenAI can shape the skills employers seek, while becoming more involved in how students learn those skills and prepare for work. This puts OpenAI in a powerful position to mediate the relationship between students and employers. Education, on the other hand, could offer a more holistic approach to learning, skills development and personal growth.