News/Future of Work
University of North Dakota aims to become the state’s premier AI university
University of North Dakota President Andrew Armacost announced ambitious plans to make UND "the AI university for North Dakota" during his State of the University address on Thursday. The initiative is part of two "moonshot" goals that also include launching four new companies based on university research by the end of the school year, positioning UND as a leader in translating academic discoveries into practical applications. What you should know: Armacost outlined several major initiatives during the annual address, with AI leadership and entrepreneurship taking center stage. The university aims to become a national example of AI adoption through public-private...
read Aug 22, 2025NSF debuts 3 new funding programs for K-12 AI education
The U.S. National Science Foundation has announced three new funding opportunities designed to expand AI education in K-12 schools and strengthen America's STEM workforce pipeline. These initiatives directly implement key elements of the Trump administration's executive order "Advancing Artificial Intelligence Education for American Youth," marking a significant federal investment in preparing students for an AI-driven economy. What you should know: NSF is launching two Dear Colleague Letters and one program solicitation to fast-track AI education integration across American schools. The Expanding K-12 Resources for AI Education DCL invites existing NSF awardees with K-12 AI or computer science education experience to...
read Aug 22, 2025Um, about that dismissal: Commonwealth Bank rehires 45 workers after AI voice bots fail
Australia's Commonwealth Bank was forced to rehire 45 customer service workers after replacing them with AI voice bots that failed to handle the workload effectively. The embarrassing reversal highlights the risks of premature AI implementation and adds to growing evidence that many businesses are regretting their decisions to replace human workers with artificial intelligence. What happened: Commonwealth Bank, one of Australia's largest banks, initially announced the job cuts as part of an effort to automate customer service and reduce call volumes, leaving only a small team to handle complex inquiries. The bank's AI voice bot was supposed to handle routine...
read Aug 21, 2025Iowa teachers prepare for AI workforce with Google partnership
Iowa's College Community School District hosted professional development sessions for educators this week, featuring speakers from Google and the University of Iowa to help teachers understand how artificial intelligence will reshape the workforce their students will enter. The training comes as Cedar Rapids prepares for two major data center projects from Google and QTS, highlighting the growing intersection between AI infrastructure and educational preparation. What you should know: The professional learning sessions were designed to bridge the gap between current education practices and future workforce demands in an AI-driven economy. Superintendent Doug Wheeler emphasized that educators need to prepare students...
read Aug 21, 2025Marine Corps launches first AI fellowship to train tech-savvy warfighters
The U.S. Marine Corps has launched its first Artificial Intelligence Fellowship at the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, California, running from August 11-14 as part of implementing the 2024 Marine Corps AI Strategy. This pilot program represents a concrete step toward building AI literacy across the force and preparing Marines for increasingly digital warfare environments. What you should know: The fellowship is designed to accelerate AI adoption throughout the Marine Corps by creating a cadre of technically proficient Marines with operational insight. The pilot cohort will spend five months splitting time between their home commands and the Naval Postgraduate School...
read Aug 21, 2025Not military jargon: “Forward Deployed,” Applied” and other AI job terms explained
The artificial intelligence job market has exploded, but the terminology remains bewildering. Even seasoned tech professionals struggle to decode whether an "Applied AI Engineer" differs meaningfully from an "AI Forward Deployed Engineer"—and for hiring managers outside the tech sphere, these distinctions can feel completely opaque. This confusion stems from AI's rapid evolution. New roles emerge overnight, established titles shift meaning between companies, and the underlying technology advances faster than human resources departments can standardize their job descriptions. The result is a professional landscape where one title might describe three entirely different roles across three different organizations. Here's a practical decoder...
read Aug 21, 2025AWS CEO calls firing junior workers for AI “dumbest thing ever,” lauds their hybrid work habits
AWS CEO Matt Garman has sharply criticized companies that fire junior workers because AI can do their jobs, calling it "the dumbest thing I've ever heard." His stance reflects a growing debate about AI's role in the workforce, as companies grapple with how to integrate artificial intelligence without sacrificing human talent development and long-term organizational capabilities. What they're saying: Garman defended junior employees as essential to company growth and AI adoption during a YouTube interview with Matthew Berman. "The dumbest thing I've ever heard" was his direct response to the idea of replacing junior workers with AI tools. He argued...
read Aug 20, 2025OpenAI’s lean ledger AI runs finance operations with just 45 people instead of 300
The traditional Chief Financial Officer role is evolving rapidly as artificial intelligence transforms finance operations across the technology sector. Recent insights from finance executives at OpenAI, SnapLogic, and Gorgias reveal how leading companies are automating core financial processes—while highlighting critical implementation challenges that even AI-native organizations struggle to overcome. This transformation isn't simply about replacing spreadsheets with algorithms. Companies are fundamentally reimagining how finance teams operate, moving from manual reconciliation and reporting toward real-time automation and strategic analysis. The results are striking: OpenAI operates with 45 finance professionals instead of the 200-300 typically required for a company their size, while...
read Aug 19, 2025Forget pandemics, 51% of workers believe AI will make physical offices obsolete
A new study reveals that 51% of workers believe artificial intelligence will eventually make physical offices obsolete, as AI tools increasingly enable remote work capabilities. The research, conducted by GoTo, an IT software company, and Workplace Intelligence, a market research firm, surveyed 2,500 workers across 10 countries and suggests AI is accelerating the cultural shift away from traditional office environments while raising complex questions about the future of workplace dynamics. What you should know: The majority of survey respondents see AI as a catalyst for improved work flexibility and productivity outside traditional office settings. 71% of workers believe AI could...
read Aug 19, 2025AI hiring tools employed in 99% of Fortune 500 job applications
Artificial intelligence is rapidly transforming the hiring process, with large language models now capable of handling everything from initial CV screening to final interviews. This shift is creating a complex landscape where both employers and job seekers are adapting to AI-driven recruitment, raising questions about fairness, bias, and the future of human interaction in hiring. What you should know: AI recruitment tools are becoming the norm across major industries, with 99% of Fortune 500 companies already using talent-sifting software. Companies are implementing multi-stage automated processes that can include online assessments, AI-analyzed behavioral tests, and pre-recorded interview responses evaluated by algorithms....
read Aug 18, 2025Boston sports workers cry foul (ball) as AI-powered self-checkout systems slash income
AI-powered self-checkout systems are transforming concession operations at major Boston sports venues, including Fenway Park and TD Garden, but workers are experiencing significant income losses and reduced hours. The technology represents a broader shift as artificial intelligence moves beyond manufacturing into service industries, fundamentally altering not just job availability but compensation structures and workplace dynamics. What you should know: Sports venues across Boston have deployed AI checkout systems that dramatically reduce staffing needs while boosting sales for operators. Fenway Park installed six Mashgin AI-powered checkout machines in 2023, which use computer vision algorithms to identify products and process payments automatically....
read Aug 18, 2025White-collar blues: 42% of Gen Z workers choose trades over college to avoid AI job displacement
Blue-collar jobs are gaining popularity among Generation Z workers as concerns grow about artificial intelligence displacing traditional white-collar careers. A recent Resume Builder survey found that 42% of Gen Z adults are already working in or pursuing skilled trades, motivated primarily by avoiding student debt and reducing their risk of AI replacement. What you should know: Leading AI experts are recommending manual labor careers as the safest bet against automation. Geoffrey Hinton, a Nobel Prize-winning computer scientist known as "the Godfather of AI," recently advised: "Train to be a plumber." "I think plumbers are less at risk," Hinton said. "Someone...
read Aug 18, 2025Software envelopment: Anthropic CEO predicts AI will write 90% of code within 6 months
Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei predicts that AI will be writing 90% of software code within three to six months, with AI handling "essentially all of the code" within a year. This bold timeline suggests a dramatic acceleration in AI's role in software development, potentially reshaping one of tech's most foundational professions far sooner than many anticipated. What they're saying: Amodei outlined his vision for AI's rapid takeover of coding tasks during a Council of Foreign Relations event on Monday. "I think we will be there in three to six months, where AI is writing 90% of the code. And then,...
read Aug 15, 2025Cutting off your nose? McKinsey deploys 12,000 AI agents while slashing 5,000 jobs
McKinsey, a global consulting firm, is confronting an existential threat as artificial intelligence agents prove capable of performing the same consulting work that has generated billions in revenue for the firm. The company has deployed 12,000 AI agents across its operations while simultaneously reducing its workforce from 45,000 to 40,000 employees over the past 18 months, highlighting the tension between embracing automation and maintaining human expertise. What you should know: McKinsey's leadership acknowledges AI poses fundamental challenges to the consulting industry's traditional model. "Do I think that this is existential for our profession? Yes, I do," said Kate Smaje, a...
read Aug 15, 2025Annals of Atrophy: Doctors struggle with diagnoses after becoming AI dependent
A new study published in The Lancet Gastroenterology & Hepatology reveals that doctors who rely on artificial intelligence for medical procedures may be experiencing "deskilling"—a gradual loss of diagnostic abilities when the technology isn't available. Researchers found that experienced endoscopists (doctors who perform colonoscopies) became significantly less effective at detecting precancerous polyps during colonoscopies after becoming accustomed to AI assistance, with detection rates dropping from 28.4% to 22.4% when the technology was removed. What you should know: The study tracked experienced physicians across four endoscopy centers in Poland who alternately performed colonoscopies with and without AI assistance. All participants were...
read Aug 14, 2025Pointless privilege? MIT student drops out over fears AGI will cause human extinction
An MIT student dropped out of college in 2024, citing fears that artificial general intelligence (AGI) will cause human extinction before she can graduate. Alice Blair, who enrolled at MIT in 2023, now works as a technical writer at the Center for AI Safety, a nonprofit organization focused on reducing AI risks, and represents a growing concern among some students about AI's existential risks, even as the broader tech industry continues pushing toward AGI development. What she's saying: Blair's decision was driven by genuine fear about humanity's survival timeline in relation to AGI development. "I was concerned I might not...
read Aug 14, 2025University at Buffalo launches 7 AI bachelor’s degrees with $5M state funding
The University at Buffalo has launched a new Department of AI and Society, offering seven AI-focused bachelor's degrees and two minors that combine artificial intelligence with traditional academic disciplines like communication, economics, and policy analysis. The initiative, supported by a $5 million state investment and part of the broader Empire AI initiative backed by over $500 million in funding, positions UB to prepare students for AI's expanding role across industries while establishing the university as a major player in responsible AI education. What you should know: The new academic programs represent a comprehensive approach to AI education that emphasizes interdisciplinary...
read Aug 14, 2025Sam Altman predicts 2035 graduates will work space-AI jobs
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman predicts that by 2035, Generation Alpha college graduates could bypass traditional office jobs for lucrative careers combining space exploration and artificial intelligence. Speaking on the Huge Conversations podcast, Altman envisions young professionals leaving university to work on missions exploring the solar system, describing these as "completely new, exciting, super well-paid" opportunities that could fundamentally redefine career paths for the next generation. What Altman envisions: The OpenAI CEO paints a picture where 2035 graduates might board spacecraft for asteroid mining projects as easily as joining a San Francisco tech startup.• Altman described today's college graduates as the...
read Aug 14, 2025Labor officials clash with Yang over AI’s true impact on employment
Andrew Yang and the U.S. Department of Labor's Chief Innovation Officer presented sharply contrasting views on AI's workforce impact at the Ai4 conference in Las Vegas. While Yang warns of immediate job displacement requiring urgent income support like universal basic income, the Labor Department argues fears of mass unemployment are overstated and emphasizes rapid retraining and AI literacy as the solution. What they're saying: Yang doesn't mince words about AI's current impact on employment. "Anyone who thinks that the white-collar blood bath is nonsense is going to be wrong," Yang said, warning that skeptics may only need months to see...
read Aug 13, 2025AWS CEO: Critical thinking and creative vision beats technical skills in AI era
Amazon Web Services CEO Matt Garman is advising workers—including his own teenager—to prioritize critical thinking skills over technical expertise to succeed in the AI era. Rather than pursuing machine learning degrees or highly technical training, Garman emphasizes that soft skills like creativity, adaptability, and critical thinking will become the most valuable assets as AI tools handle more routine tasks. What you should know: Garman believes critical thinking will be the most important skill for future success, regardless of academic specialization. "I think part of going to college is building [your] critical thinking," Garman told CNBC's "Closing Bell." "It's less about...
read Aug 13, 2025Executives, even more than rank-and-file workers, would use AI despite workplace restrictions
Nearly half of U.S. employees trust artificial intelligence more than their co-workers, according to a new Calypso AI survey of 1,000 office workers. The finding suggests AI is increasingly viewed as more reliable than human colleagues, with experts attributing this shift to years of inconsistent leadership, office politics, and unclear communication rather than blind faith in technology. What you should know: The survey reveals widespread willingness to circumvent company AI policies for perceived benefits. 52% of employees said they would use AI to make their job easier, even if it violated company policy. Among executives, this figure jumps to 67%...
read Aug 13, 2025More than a nice-to-have: UT Dallas CIO says agentic AI is essential for higher education
Frank Feagans, VP of IT and CIO at the University of Texas at Dallas, is advocating for the integration of agentic AI into university curricula and operations, emphasizing that this technology is no longer aspirational but essential for higher education's future. His approach centers on channeling human experience through AI governance strategy while bringing private industry best practices to academic institutions. What you should know: Feagans believes universities must embrace agentic AI to remain competitive and relevant in preparing students for future careers. Through corporate partnerships, UT Dallas is fostering a culture that promotes emerging technology benefits by engaging students...
read Aug 13, 2025Last hired, first fired? AI developers may automate themselves out of jobs first
A new perspective on AI automation suggests that novel AI development itself could become the first fully-automated job rather than the last, challenging conventional thinking about which professions will be displaced by artificial intelligence. The conventional wisdom: Most experts have long assumed AI development would be among the last jobs to be fully automated, since AI systems are needed to automate other professions first. The contrarian argument: Current data-hungry AI methods may actually make AI development a prime candidate for early automation due to several unique factors. AI researchers actively contribute to automating their own field, unlike workers in other...
read Aug 13, 2025Alabama colleges develop AI policies balancing academic integrity with job readiness
Calhoun Community College and Athens State University in Alabama are developing comprehensive AI policies for classrooms as generative AI becomes more prevalent in education. The institutions are working to balance academic integrity concerns with the practical need to prepare students for AI-integrated workplaces, particularly in high-demand fields like cybersecurity. What you should know: Both colleges are still finalizing their AI policies, with approaches varying significantly by department and program focus. Calhoun currently categorizes AI use into three levels: restricted, limited, and integrated, with different rules applying across departments. The Computer Information Systems (CIS) division actively encourages AI use, recognizing that...
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