In recent years, artificial intelligence (AI) has stepped out of the laboratory to become the focus of technological life. The birth of popular products like ChatGPT and the explosion of value of leading companies in this field, typically Nvidia, have made AI an un must-see trend. As leading technology enterprises invest billions of dollars in developing AI platforms, the demand for high-quality human resources is increasing rapidly, and this is spreading to universities.
At many major US institutions, the change is happening at a remarkable pace. Traditional programs of the Computer Science industry that have dominated for many years now are starting to face increasingly clear competition from new majors in AI. The important reason lies in the shift in the recruitment market: Enterprises are looking for people who understand how to build, operate and shape AI systems instead of just being proficient in basic programming. This leads students to want to seize the opportunity and seek a path with more potential to expand in the future.
Education with a promising future
The rise of AI majors in major American universities shows a clear shift in training thinking. When products like ChatGPT become popular tools for hundreds of millions of users, students understand that AI has come closer to life than ever. This creates a new attraction for young people looking for majors that can ensure long-term career opportunities in the context of rapidly changing technology.
In the past two years, dozens of universities across the US have announced new faculties, majors and training programs related to AI. A prime example comes from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) with a major in A.I. and decision-making. After only a short time of implementation, this has become the second largest undergraduate major at the school, after Computer Science. Students here learn how to develop an AI system, while learning about the relationship between humans, robots and the environment, reflecting the interdisciplinary development that AI requires.
At the University of California in San Diego (USA), the new AI major also attracted great attention when many first-year students signed up from the first semesters. At the University of South Florida, more than 3,000 students have enrolled in the new school of AI and cybersecurity. Some other schools have developed a sociological training approach, such as New York University in Buffalo with the A.I. and society, opening up another approach for students interested in the impact of AI on policies, governance and the environment.
The AI wave attracts students mainly because they see clear career opportunities. With Amazon, Microsoft, Google and Meta spending billions of dollars on AI, students understand that the market will need professionals who are capable of working with data, machine learning models and autonomous system design. AI programs provide a hands-on approach, from foundational courses on machine learning to training courses on the social impact of AI.
Many students share that they choose AI instead of traditional Computer Science because the new major brings a right at the right time feeling. Exposure to chatbots, language models or big data processing tools makes them want to understand more deeply how technology is operating that is changing the world. AI programs also allow them to apply their knowledge to many fields such as biology, healthcare, economics and public policy, helping to expand their career development direction.
Some students said that if AI had not been opened to independent majors, they might have chosen Computer Science. However, the appearance of AI training programs with clear brands has created a different feeling and brought security about future career capabilities. The fact that universities are proactively taking the lead in AI training also strengthens the belief that this is an education sector that is becoming the focus of the new educational era.
Trends and Challenges in Computer Science
Over the past 15 years, Computer Science has been one of the most developed majors in American universities. The explosion of smartphones, social networks and a large recruitment demand has increased the number of graduates from about 65,000 to nearly 173,000 in just a decade. This was once the almost standard path for students pursuing a career in technology. However, this prospect is undergoing many obvious changes as the emergence of AI shifts both training needs and the recruitment market.
According to a survey by the Computing Research Association, this fall, up to 62% of computer training programs reported a decrease in the number of students enrolled. This shows a change in students' awareness of the future of the profession. One of the most important reasons is concerns about the ability to find a job in the context of many large technology companies cutting staff. Thousands of software engineers at many corporations have been laid off, creating a sense of insecurity among final year and undergraduate students.
Technology companies have also begun to require software engineers to use AI tools to support code writing, putting low-levelendendend vien at risk of narrowing their positions. When many processes are automated using machine learning technology and systems such as generative models, the Computer Science industry no longer plays the only role as before. This creates a dispersed choice among students, as they assess that AI industry groups bring higher adaptability to market changes.
The CRA survey also shows that 66% of training programs recorded students graduating in accounting having more difficulty finding jobs than before. Those in charge of training at schools such as Rochester Institute of Technology said that this is especially true for students with outstanding abilities. As the market puts higher expectations on the application of AI in all fields, skills directly related to AI become more important than ever.
The decline of Computer Science does not mean that this industry will lose its position, but it reflects the need to become more specialized. New training programs are currently focusing on areas such as machine learning, big data, modeling and the social impact of AI technology. Some schools maintain Computer Science but separate it into many specialized branches, creating conditions for students to orientation more clearly instead of following the general training program as before.
This trend is considered a sign of the new era, where AI technology is dominating business operations and university training. AI majors are increasingly attracting students not only because of professional factors but also because of their interdisciplinary nature, opening up job opportunities in healthcare, biology, environment and policy. This development poses a challenge for the traditional Computer Science industry in repositioning roles and updating training content to suit the new context.
