AI is changing the landscape of education as people know it. It is predicted that in the future, most jobs will require some form of digital skills. That is why it is crucial to prepare students to live with AI and other cutting-edge technologies. AI is changing the landscape of education as people know it. It is predicted that in the future, most jobs will require some form of digital skills. That is why it is crucial to prepare students to live with AI and other cutting-edge technologies.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is becoming an important component of various sectors and in decision-making in various domains. Research in AI has seen tremendous growth, thanks to big data, escalated processing speed, and innovations in AI-based models. McKinsey Global Institute predicts that by 2030, at least 70 percent of companies will have to adopt at least one type of AI technology and around 60 percent of the current occupations will be automated in the next ten years. Recognizing the importance of AI in almost every field, many countries have regarded AI as a national priority. To promote AI and the research involved, the USA launched the American Artificial Intelligence Initiative in 2019.

Over the last few years, artificial intelligence (AI) has been delivering competitive advantage to businesses across a wide spectrum of industries. By Deloitte's most recent count, 37 percent of organizations have deployed AI solutions (up 270 percent from 2016) and a majority predict it will "substantially transform" their companies by 2023. The shift may also mean transforming their workforce. "As AI drives these transformations, it is changing how work gets done in organizations by making operations more efficient, supporting better decision-making, and freeing up workers from certain tasks," Deloitte reports. "The nature of job roles and the skills that are most needed are evolving."

As automation and artificial intelligence continue to transform Canadian workplaces, post-secondary institutions across the country say they are working to prepare students for jobs that may not even exist yet. Climate change, data science and cybersecurity are increasingly in the spotlight at Canadian universities as they adapt their offerings to address "the needs not only of a changing marketplace but of a changing society," Paul Davidson, president of the association Universities Canada, said in a recent interview. Forecasting can prove difficult, however. "There are numbers like 50 per cent of the jobs (of the future) have not yet been defined, and so how does any organization … prepare for that kind of change?" A research paper released in 2018 showed half of Canadian jobs will be affected by automation in the next decade, and so-called "human skills" such as critical thinking and problem solving will be key to remaining competitive and resilient in an era of disruption and artificial intelligence.

Miguel Santiago, a senior at Baruch College in Manhattan, is graduating soon and already considering his next move -- maybe to a job at Goldman Sachs or somewhere else in banking. In at least six of his interviews, he's been questioned by a computer and not a live person. "They've basically replaced the first round with the HireVue," he said, referring to the video and artificial intelligence platform increasingly being used by employers for job interviews. When a candidate applies to a job at a company that uses HireVue, they are asked to go on to the platform, allow use of their webcam and respond to interview questions on video. The candidate's answers are recorded and then saved to the platform.

The future impacts of artificial intelligence (AI) on society and the labour force have been studied and reported extensively. In a recent book, AI Superpowers, Kai-Fu Lee, former president of Google China, wrote that 40 to 50 per cent of current jobs will be technically and economically viable with AI and automation over the next 15 years. Artificial intelligence refers to computer systems that collect, interpret and learn from external data to achieve specific goals and tasks. Unlike natural intelligence displayed by humans and animals, it is an artificial form of intelligence demonstrated by machines. This has raised questions about the ethics of AI decision-making and impacts of AI in the workplace.

The future impacts of artificial intelligence (AI) on society and the labour force have been studied and reported extensively. In a recent book, AI Superpowers, Kai-Fu Lee, former president of Google China, wrote that 40 to 50 per cent of current jobs will be technically and economically viable with AI and automation over the next 15 years. Artificial intelligence refers to computer systems that collect, interpret and learn from external data to achieve specific goals and tasks. Unlike natural intelligence displayed by humans and animals, it is an artificial form of intelligence demonstrated by machines. This has raised questions about the ethics of AI decision-making and impacts of AI in the workplace.

Aileen Owens is director of technology and innovation at South Fayette School District in McDonald, Pa. She talks about the district's goal of preparing students to solve the world's most vexing problems by teaching them how to think.

For the last century or so, K-12 education has primarily aimed to prepare high school graduates for work in manufacturing and similar fields. Recent years have seen schools shift away from that historical model toward the idea of "School 2.0," recognizing changes in the labor market. These moves have been largely due to increasing automation of those jobs and a greater need for skilled workers in growing fields like computer science, hence a greater focus on coding and other STEM skills. Artificial intelligence's projected growth highlights the need for that shift, as it threatens to change the face of the workforce even more drastically. The major players in self-driving car development, for example, are now eyeing automated big rigs, and fully automated restaurants have existed in the U.S. since at least 2015 -- a move that would disrupt a popular first job option for high school teens.

Artificial intelligence is increasingly embedded in our consumer and business lives, and it is poised to transform how societies function in the years to come. Yet universities are not adequately preparing students for a changing world. To better prepare students for a changing world, AI needs to be increasingly embedded into higher education. For students, AI will inevitably impact their careers. Those interested in careers in AI could pursue a wide range of exciting new career possibilities focused on data science, machine learning or advanced statistics.