Is AI reshaping the job market? How local universities are preparing students

A report from the National Association of Colleges and Employers found that 35% of surveyed companies now require AI skills. While experts say AI’s impact on the job market is still in its early stages, North Carolina A&T is taking steps to equip students for the future. North Carolina A&T First AI DegreeThis fall, the university became the first in the state to offer a standalone undergraduate Bachelor of Science degree in artificial intelligence. The program is a collaboration between the College of Engineering and the College of Science and Technology, allowing students to choose between two tracks: the engineering and computing AI track or the applied AI track. Kaushik Roy, department chair of the School of Computer Science at North Carolina A&T, described the program’s focus. “We’ll be focusing some of the course like natural language processing, computer vision, robotics, then also basics AI courses like Introduction to Neural Network and so on,” Roy said. Stephanie Luster-Teasley Pass, dean of the College of Engineering at North Carolina A&T, said they have been researching for years to create the program’s curriculum. “We’ve designed the curriculum so it’s really broad, and they can apply the technical skills they’ve learned to various disciplines. I think the AI curriculum really will evolve, probably every year as the technology changes,” Luster-Teasley Pass said.AI higher education in North CarolinaAcross the Triad, most major colleges and universities now offer at least one course in AI, with some institutions providing graduate programs and research centers. How are students feeling?While the long-term impact of AI on the job market remains unclear, students expressed mixed feelings about competing against it. “I’m concerned about companies using AI to scan résumés and cover letters — how many are getting tossed out just because they don’t hit the three-letter searches those applications want?” one student said. Kyle Patel, a fine artist specializing in large oil paintings, shared a different perspective. “I feel like AI actually kind of helps my business, because there’s going to be a higher demand for real art as everything gets digitalized. They’re teaching us how to use AI to our advantage, not just as a threat,” Patel said. Keegan Menan, a junior studying business administration, emphasized the human element as a key differentiator. “AI doesn’t have the concept of being human. It might look cool, but there’s no humanistic aspect to it — that’s something we have that AI doesn’t,” Menan said. How to compete against people and botsLee Rainie, director of the Imagining the Digital Future Center at Elon University, stressed the importance of human skills in the AI-driven job market. “Humans still bring to the stories creativity, decision-making, good judgment, empathy, understanding the context of other jobs and, and serving customers,” Rainie said. “A big part of the story is just having your own narrative to tell about how you’ve experienced AI, how you’ve advanced, what AI has generated for you, how you think you offer skills and sensibilities that are different from AI.” As AI continues to evolve, experts encourage students and recent graduates to focus on developing their unique human skills to remain competitive in the workforce.

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. —

A report from the National Association of Colleges and Employers found that 35% of surveyed companies now require AI skills.

While experts say AI’s impact on the job market is still in its early stages, North Carolina A&T is taking steps to equip students for the future.

North Carolina A&T First AI Degree

This fall, the university became the first in the state to offer a standalone undergraduate Bachelor of Science degree in artificial intelligence.

The program is a collaboration between the College of Engineering and the College of Science and Technology, allowing students to choose between two tracks: the engineering and computing AI track or the applied AI track.

Kaushik Roy, department chair of the School of Computer Science at North Carolina A&T, described the program’s focus.

“We’ll be focusing some of the course like natural language processing, computer vision, robotics, then also basics AI courses like Introduction to Neural Network and so on,” Roy said.

Stephanie Luster-Teasley Pass, dean of the College of Engineering at North Carolina A&T, said they have been researching for years to create the program’s curriculum.

“We’ve designed the curriculum so it’s really broad, and they can apply the technical skills they’ve learned to various disciplines. I think the AI curriculum really will evolve, probably every year as the technology changes,” Luster-Teasley Pass said.

AI higher education in North Carolina

Across the Triad, most major colleges and universities now offer at least one course in AI, with some institutions providing graduate programs and research centers.

How are students feeling?

While the long-term impact of AI on the job market remains unclear, students expressed mixed feelings about competing against it.

“I’m concerned about companies using AI to scan résumés and cover letters — how many are getting tossed out just because they don’t hit the three-letter searches those applications want?” one student said.

Kyle Patel, a fine artist specializing in large oil paintings, shared a different perspective.

“I feel like AI actually kind of helps my business, because there’s going to be a higher demand for real art as everything gets digitalized. They’re teaching us how to use AI to our advantage, not just as a threat,” Patel said.

Keegan Menan, a junior studying business administration, emphasized the human element as a key differentiator.

“AI doesn’t have the concept of being human. It might look cool, but there’s no humanistic aspect to it — that’s something we have that AI doesn’t,” Menan said.

How to compete against people and bots

Lee Rainie, director of the Imagining the Digital Future Center at Elon University, stressed the importance of human skills in the AI-driven job market.

“Humans still bring to the stories creativity, decision-making, good judgment, empathy, understanding the context of other jobs and, and serving customers,” Rainie said. “A big part of the story is just having your own narrative to tell about how you’ve experienced AI, how you’ve advanced, what AI has generated for you, how you think you offer skills and sensibilities that are different from AI.”

As AI continues to evolve, experts encourage students and recent graduates to focus on developing their unique human skills to remain competitive in the workforce.