AI risk to university jobs despite staff believing roles are safe - Juliette Rowsell, Times Higher Ed

University workers generally do not believe that their jobs will be taken by artificial intelligence in the short term but experts have warned against complacency, saying that automation may still be used as “justification” to cut roles anyway. While respondents to Times Higher Education’s UK University Redundancy Survey expressed widespread concern about the impact of the tens of thousands of job losses across the UK sector, concerns over the effect of AI remain low. Asked: “Do you fear you will be made redundant within the next three years due to the rise of AI?” more than half (55 per cent) disagreed, with 17 per cent of these strongly disagreeing. Just under 5 per cent strongly agreed and 14 per cent said they agree, while a fifth (21 per cent) neither agreed or disagreed.

https://www.timeshighereducation.com/news/ai-risk-university-jobs-despite-staff-believing-roles-are-safe

In an AI-driven world, the most important skills are still human - Eric Townsend, Inside Higher Ed

Across higher education, artificial intelligence is now embedded in everyday academic work, from early research to final drafts. For many students, it has become a default starting point. The urgent question is not whether students use AI, but how they use it—specifically, whether these tools are reinforcing learning or bypassing the cognitive work that leads to it. As AI accelerates core academic tasks, educators are confronting a central challenge: how to preserve depth, judgment and intellectual engagement in an environment optimized for speed.

https://www.highereddive.com/spons/in-an-ai-driven-world-the-most-important-skills-are-still-human/819282/

Chico State’s 2026-27 Book in Common to Tackle Artificial Intelligence - Chico State

The AI Con is a thought-provoking work examining the rise of artificial intelligence and its far-reaching impacts on society, education and the economy. The selection comes amid heightened interest and debate surrounding AI technologies, including within higher education. Co-authored by a University of Washington linguistics professor and a former Google employee, the book takes a critical look at artificial intelligence, exploring how it functions, the realities behind its rapid expansion, and the social, ethical and environmental implications of its use. Topics include the influence of AI on jobs and creative industries, concerns about academic integrity, and the environmental costs associated with large-scale data centers. “AI is now part of nearly every aspect of our lives,” Mahlis said. “This book helps readers understand not just what AI does, but how it works, and encourages us to question both the hype and the real consequences.”

https://today.csuchico.edu/chico-states-2026-27-book-in-common-to-tackle-artificial-intelligence/

A year in, what’s on Pope Leo XIV’s to-do list? And what has he done so far? (AI) - NICOLE WINFIELD, Associated Press

While some would say the top issue facing Leo is his relationship with President Donald Trump and a possible trip to the U.S. — none is planned this year — Leo would probably point to his long-awaited first encyclical. Expected in the next few weeks, it deals with artificial intelligence and other peace and justice issues. Leo already has said he considers the AI revolution to be similar in existential scope to the concerns over workers’ rights at the turn of the century confronted by the previous Pope Leo XIII, in his landmark encyclical “Rerum Novarum” (“Of New Things”). “Like his namesake Leo XIII with the Industrial Revolution, Leo clearly sees the church as having something important to offer in an era of what may turn out to be epochal technological change,” said Dan Rober, associate professor of Catholic studies at Sacred Heart University.

https://apnews.com/article/pope-vatican-leo-trump-francis-285fcbdac257f2ba2997ea97e22662a0

Why Women Need Other Women at Work - Angie Basiouny, Knowledge at Wharton

New research from Wharton’s Tiantian Yang proves that behind every great woman is another woman. Her co-authored study on virtual career training found that women who attended remote classes exclusively with other women were much more likely to complete their training on time, earn professional certification, and get a job in their field — compared with women who attended mixed-gender classes. The authors determined that the absence of men in the same-gender classes created psychological safety for the female participants, which led them to share personal stories, support each other with messages of encouragement, and swap employment resources. All those actions led to greater success for them.

https://knowledge.wharton.upenn.edu/article/why-women-need-other-women-at-work/

10 Top Websites Offering Free Online Courses - Academia Mag

In today’s digital age, online learning has become one of the most powerful ways to gain knowledge, improve skills, and build a successful career. Whether you want to learn digital marketing, graphic design, coding, business management, or artificial intelligence, there are countless platforms available online. The good news is that many of these platforms provide high-quality education completely free of cost. That is why people around the world are constantly searching for the top websites offering free online courses to upgrade their knowledge without spending money. 

https://www.google.com/url?rct=j&sa=t&url=https://academiamag.com/student-guide/websites-offering-free-online-courses/

Courageous conversations: How to lead with heart - McKinsey

Leadership, at its best, is a matter of the heart. Courage, which underpins every act of leadership, is also a matter of the heart; it comes from the French word cœur—heart. As Winston Churchill observed, “Courage is rightly esteemed the first of human qualities, because . . . it is the quality which guarantees all others.” The point is simple: Courage is both moral and practical. It is not sentiment or bravado. It is the willingness to face what is real, invite challenge, and repair trust. The story of every great leader—from business to the arts, from education to government to sport—is written in these moments of choice: Do I accept the comfortable, or do I ask for and embrace the truth? Do I protect myself, or do I serve the enterprise?

https://www.mckinsey.com/capabilities/strategy-and-corporate-finance/our-insights/courageous-conversations-how-to-lead-with-heart

Mountain View-based Khan Academy partners with nonprofits to build online AI degree program - Emma Montalbano, Moutain View Voice

Amid emerging conversations about the future of white collar jobs in the age of artificial intelligence, Sal Khan thinks that now is the time to create something he’s been thinking about for years — a new pathway for higher education. Khan Academy, an online learning platform headquartered in Mountain View, TED, a nonprofit that aims to uplift ideas, and ETS, an organization that develops and administers standardized tests, have partnered to establish an online college called Khan TED Institute. Its inaugural program will allow students to earn a bachelor’s of science degree in applied AI, which Khan believes could benefit people interested in many careers. 

https://www.mv-voice.com/education/2026/05/01/mountain-view-based-khan-academy-partners-with-other-nonprofits-to-build-online-ai-degree-program/

Faculty Concerned About ASU’s ‘Frankensteinian’ AI Course Builder - Emma Whitford, Inside Higher Ed

Arizona State University soft launched a web app earlier this month that allows anyone, for $5 per month, to create an apparently unlimited number of customized “learning modules” using artificial intelligence. The AI chatbot, called Atom, uses online instructional materials from ASU professors to create a course that’s tailored to the goals, interests and skill level of the user. After asking a handful of questions and processing for about five minutes, Atom debuts a personalized course that includes readings, quizzes and videos from a half dozen experts at ASU. But several professors whose content Atom pulls from were surprised to learn that their materials—including video lectures, slide decks and online assignments—were being perused, clipped and repackaged for these short online course modules. The faculty wasn’t told anything about the app, ASU Atomic, they said.

https://www.insidehighered.com/news/tech-innovation/artificial-intelligence/2026/04/29/faculty-concerned-about-asus-new-ai-course

State lawmakers eye accreditation policy changes as new agency forms - Daniele McClean, Higher Ed Dive

A growing number of Republican-controlled states have introduced legislative and policy proposals that would allow their public colleges to leave their long-standing accreditors for a newly founded accrediting body. The Commission for Public Higher Education, a nascent accrediting body, is moving to potentially take on those and other public institutions as members. The CPHE is financially backed by the state of Florida and the Trump administration and overseen largely by state university system appointees, a model that’s raised alarms among some critics. Recent state legislation has aimed to make it easier for colleges to move to CPHE or other accreditors.

https://www.highereddive.com/news/commission-public-higher-education-state-laws/818856/

East Carolina University plans to cut 44 academic programs - Ben Unglesbee, Higher Ed Dive

East Carolina University plans to discontinue 44 undergraduate and graduate programs “that aren’t meeting expectations” after an internal review of its portfolio, the public institution said Friday in a news release. ECU has teach-out plans for students enrolled in the programs slated for closure, senior leaders said last week in a community memo. The university also plans to consolidate several institutional units, including merging two of its health colleges into one. The cuts and consolidations are part of ECU’s push to eliminate $25 million in expenses, or about 2% of its budget. So far, officials have targeted $6.2 million in cuts, the university said last week.

https://www.highereddive.com/news/east-carolina-university-cut-around-44-academic-programs/818622/

Universities urged to prepare students for AI‑driven economy - Jamaica Gleaner

A pointed warning about the future of work and education took centre stage as the Mona School of Business and Management (MSBM), UWI, Mona brought together leaders from academia and industry to confront a pressing question: is the Caribbean truly ready for the age of artificial intelligence? At the recent George Willie Lecture Series, David Marchick, Dean of the Kogod School of Business at American University, delivered a forceful address urging universities to rethink how they prepare students for a rapidly evolving, AI-driven global economy. Speaking on “AI in Higher Education: Strategies for Producing AI-Ready Graduates”, Marchick argued that the implications of artificial intelligence extend far beyond technology programmes. “AI is going to change everything – how we work, how we learn, how we interact. It won’t replace human talent, but those who understand AI will have a clear advantage. Our responsibility is to ensure every graduate is AI fluent, regardless of discipline.”

https://jamaica-gleaner.com/article/news/20260421/universities-urged-prepare-students-ai-driven-economy

This is the fastest-growing job for young workers, LinkedIn says - Mary Cunningham, CBS News

As the rise of artificial intelligence stirs anxiety over the technology taking people's jobs, AI is also opening pathways to new careers, according to LinkedIn. The fastest-growing job title for young workers on the networking platform is "AI engineer," a recent report from the company found. LinkedIn analyzed millions of member profiles to determine the number of entry-level workers hired over the last three years and the roles they were hired to fill. "It's measuring momentum for these job titles," said Kory Kantenga, the head of economics, Americas, at LinkedIn. "Companies are just gorging on AI talent."

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/artificial-intelligence-entry-level-role-linkedin-study/

Students are speeding through their online degrees in weeks, alarming educators - Todd Wallack, Washington Post

 It takes most college students at least four years to earn a bachelor’s degree. Christie Williams finished in three months. The North Carolina human resources executive spent two months racking up credits through web tutorials after work in 2024, then raced through 11 online classes at the University of Maine at Presque Isle in four weeks. Later that year, she went back to earn her master’s — in just five weeks. The two degrees cost a total of just over $4,000. Many U.S. schools have been experimenting with ways to speed up traditional college programs to reduce the burgeoning cost and help students move into the workforce faster. Some offer three-year bachelor’s programs, reducing the number of credits needed for a diploma by one quarter. Many more allow students to enroll in college classes while still in high school.But the breakneck pace of the fastest online programs concerns some academics, who say there is a big difference in what students can learn in weeks or months compared with three or more years.

https://wapo.st/41Kjr5j

The Quiet Revolution: How Generative Artificial Intelligence is Redefining Higher Education in Mexico - Noah Conway, Veritas

Inteligencia Artificial Generativa (IAG) has made a promise of the future to become the motor director of learning in Mexico. According to the latest report from the Secretaría de Educación Pública (SEP), the impact is huge: 80% of university students use these tools to write texts and improve their academic results. This phenomenon, revealed there “National Encuesta sober use and perception of sober generative artificial intelligence in higher education”marks the point of no return in the national education system. Even beyond thoughts and graphics, AI occupies an unexpected space: mental health. SEP owner Mario Delgado Carrillo noted that practitioners like ChatGPT have become “the great psychologist of our time.” The data highlights this: 9% of students turn to AI for advice on anxiety, stress or depression, opening a new debate about emotional support in the digital age.

https://veritas.enc.edu/technology/the-quiet-revolution-how-generative-artificial-intelligence-is-redefining-higher-education-in-mexico/

Learn essential AI skills - Google Skills Lab

We're building AI skills programs, trainings, and tools to address the specific needs of workers everywhere. Discover Google's courses and resources designed to help you succeed in an AI-driven world New to AI? Learn about AI capabilities and how they can assist, empower, and inspire you. Use generative AI tools to speed up daily tasks and develop new ideas and content.

https://ai.google/learn-ai-skills/

AI fears drive some young adults to grad school — ‘people shelter in higher education,’ expert says - Jessica Dickler, CNBC

Typically, enrollment in graduate school increases during recessions as workers seek to advance or to move to another industry with better career prospects or pay. Today, more people in a survey said they plan to go back to school within a year, even though the economy is doing well. Experts say young adults are exploring this option largely because they are worried about their job prospects despite the economy.

https://www.cnbc.com/2026/04/18/ai-fears-graduate-school.html

Economists Starting to Admit They May Have Been Wrong About AI Never Replacing Human Jobs: They're taking it seriously - Joe Wilkins

As a sweeping economics paper by researchers at the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago, Forecasting Research Institute (FRI), and numerous top universities found, that attitude may be shifting. As time goes on, top economic experts are increasingly factoring extreme AI disruption into their models. Yet acknowledging a possibility and accepting its inevitable are two very different things — and as the complicated range of sentiments makes clear, an AI jobs apocalypse is still far from certain. The study is a tour-de-force of economic forecasting that surveyed 69 economists, 52 AI specialists, and 38 “superforecasters,” a term for consistently accurate analysts who play the role of “Dune’s” Mentats in the economics world. It found that all three groups expect “significant” progress on AI in the years to come. Forebodingly, the groups all agreed that, as a rule, faster AI progress means lower employment rates overall. On average, economists assigned a 47 percent probability of “moderate“ AI progress by 2030, defined as systems that can operate semi-autonomous research labs, put out high-quality novels, and complete complex projects with oversight. 

https://futurism.com/future-society/economist-ai-job-forecast

Is Your AI System Ethical? Try This Assessment - Cornelia C. Walther, Knowledge at Wharton

For the better part of a decade, organizations have been deploying artificial intelligence at scale while measuring it almost exclusively through the lens of efficiency gains, cost reductions, and revenue lift. The instruments are precise. The picture they produce is radically incomplete. Amid the pervasiveness of AI, this reality patchwork is now amplified. Existing dashboards do not capture whether an AI system is fair, whether it is eroding or building trust, whether it is making the people who use it more capable or quietly deskilling them, and whether its environmental footprint is accounted for or simply ignored. The gap between what we measure and what we should care about is not a technical failure. It is a values failure dressed up as a metrics problem. The Prosocial AI Index proposes a practical answer to that failure. It gives executives, technologists, and governance teams a shared vocabulary and a structured scorecard for AI that is genuinely good — not just profitable in the short term, but durable, trustworthy, and aligned with the values an organization actually claims to hold.

https://knowledge.wharton.upenn.edu/article/is-your-ai-system-ethical-try-this-assessment/

Trump Administration Plans Sweeping Changes to Accreditation - Katherine Knott, Insidee Higher Ed

The Trump administration wants the agencies that oversee colleges and universities to set minimum standards for student achievement, protect viewpoint diversity and consider cost efficiency in their evaluation of institutions, among other changes unveiled Monday. That last provision would help to “provide relief for students and taxpayers who have suffered from increasing tuition by allowing greater institutional flexibility to control costs,” according to a nine-page summary of the Education Department’s 151-page proposal.

https://www.insidehighered.com/news/quick-takes/2026/04/07/trump-administration-plans-sweeping-changes-accreditation#

Syracuse University to eliminate 93 academic programs - Laura Spitalniak, Higher Ed Dive

Syracuse University will eliminate 93 academic programs identified as having low or no enrollment, the private New York institution announced Wednesday. But unlike many colleges making cuts, Syracuse is not doing so out of financial necessity, according to Lois Agnew, the university’s provost and chief academic officer. The downsizing came from a desire to make the institution’s offerings “more focused, more distinctive and more aligned with student demand,” Agnew said in a campus letter. No positions or departments have been slated for elimination, she said.

https://www.highereddive.com/news/syracuse-university-to-eliminate-93-academic-programs/816525/