In a series of policy recommendations released on Monday, OpenAI said the rapid advance of AI would require far-reaching economic and political reforms, including a public wealth fund, taxes on automated labor, and a potential four-day workweek. "We're beginning a transition toward superintelligence: AI systems capable of outperforming the smartest humans even when they are assisted by AI. No one knows exactly how this transition will unfold. At OpenAI, we believe we should navigate it through a democratic process that gives people real power to shape the AI future they want," the company wrote on Monday.
Friday, April 17, 2026
Colleges ramp up offerings to teach students to be AI ethicists - Kate Rix, HigherEdDive
This is driving the popularity of courses, certificates and master’s programs focused on AI ethics. Some are designed for students with little or no computer science background. Others focus on how to use AI in a specific field. But at the core of each program is an emphasis on avoiding harm. “AI concerns everybody,” said Sonja Schmer-Galunder, an AI and ethics professor at the University of Florida. “We need to provide a more holistic education that is focusing on how we can do this safely and ethically.”
Thursday, April 16, 2026
OpenAI’s warning: Washington isn’t ready for what’s coming - Axios, YouTube
In this Axios interview, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman emphasizes the urgent need for Washington and society to prepare for the arrival of "super intelligence." He explains that the next generation of AI models will represent a significant leap forward, moving beyond small tasks to potentially enabling career-defining scientific discoveries and allowing individuals to perform the work of entire teams. Altman highlights critical near-term risks, specifically in cybersecurity and bio-threats, and advocates for a "societal resilience" approach where the government and private sector work closely together to mitigate these dangers before they become reality [05:24]. Altman also discusses the broader economic and human implications of AI, suggesting that while the technology will transform the nature of work and capital, the core of human fulfillment and connection will remain unchanged. He envisions AI becoming a "utility" similar to electricity—an omnipresent, affordable background force that powers a personal super-assistant for every user [19:19]. Despite the immense power held by AI developers, Altman argues against nationalization, suggesting that private-public partnerships are the best way to ensure the technology aligns with democratic values while maintaining the pace necessary to lead globally [08:41]. [summary assisted by Gemini 3 Fast]
American billionaire: Only two types of people will succeed in the age of artificial intelligence - Reporters
As workers of all generations, from Generation Z to Baby Boomers, look for ways to secure their careers in the age of artificial intelligence, Alex Karp, CEO of the tech giant Palantir, has a pretty simple answer to the question of who will have the upper hand in the future. According to him, two groups of people have the best prospects: those with professional skills and neurodiverse individuals.“Basically, there are two ways to know if you have a future,” Karp said in a recent interview with TBPN. “One, you have some professional training. Or two, you are neurodiverse.” His second category also has a personal dimension. Karp has spoken before about dyslexia, and in a broader sense, neurodiversity also includes conditions like ADHD and autism. In his opinion, the advantage of these people is not only in the diagnosis, but in the fact that they often think differently, see patterns that others do not see and come up with unusual solutions more easily. In the same interview, he said that those who are “more artistic,” who see things from a different perspective and can build something unique, will have an advantage.
Wednesday, April 15, 2026
Harvard offers six free online courses in AI and coding = MSN
Harvard University has expanded its free online learning portfolio with six courses focused on artificial intelligence, data science, programming, and web development. These globally accessible programmes are available in self-paced and scheduled formats, accommodating both beginners and professionals aiming to enhance their technology skills. The initiative reflects rising demand for digital literacy and supports the development of future-ready capabilities in an AI-driven world. The programmes include 'AI Strategy for Business Leaders', 'Data Science: Building Machine Learning Models', 'CS50’s Computer Science for Business Professionals', 'Understanding Technology', 'Introduction to Data Science with Python', and 'Web Programming with Python and JavaScript'. Course content blends conceptual learning with hands-on exercises, such as working with real-world datasets or developing web applications using Django and APIs.
What Deans and Department Chairs Must Do Before Fall - Ray Schroeder, Inside Higher Ed
Something is unfolding in the labor market that will greet your new graduates, in an incrementally tighter job market. The urgency is real. Entry-level hiring at the 15 biggest tech firms fell 25 percent from 2023 to 2024, according to a SignalFire report. With AI tools performing more of the work previously reserved for recent graduates, new hires are expected to slot in at a higher level almost from day one. That is not a distant forecast. That is the market your Class of 2027 will enter. I prompted Anthropic's Claude Sonnet 4.6 Extended Thinking to suggest what we should be doing this summer to best respond to the changing employment market for our grads in the coming academic year. Here are the seven tasks the Anthropic model suggested are most pressing this summer.
Tuesday, April 14, 2026
4 ways higher ed can lead in uncertain times - Elon University
At Elon University, the 2025 President’s Report explores how colleges and universities can respond with clarity and purpose by focusing on what today’s students need to think critically, adapt and lead responsibly. How universities are boosting enrollment and retention
Central to this work is a simple but powerful idea: preparing students not just with knowledge, but with the ability to question, analyze and apply it. In a world defined by uncertainty, students must learn how to think, not what to think, and be willing to take calculated risks as they test ideas, navigate ambiguity and engage with real-world challenges.The report highlights several practical approaches institutions can adopt.
'Double-edged sword': Montana campuses prepare for AI-driven future - Darren Frey Glendive Ranger-Review
The growing role of artificial intelligence in higher education is forcing colleges to adapt, and Montana campuses are preparing to take a major step with a new AI tool launching as early as May. When Dawson Community College President Chad Knudson attended the March Board of Regents Meeting in Dillon over spring break, a separate meeting held in conjunction with the Regents was part of Montana University System’s Artificial Intelligence Task Force one of the key topics was ChatMT.AI. Knudson stated that ChatMT will be an AI tool rolled out to the Montana University System statewide as a suite of resources focused on streamlining administrative processes. For example, the tool can handle the simple yet time-consuming task of reading a 300-page document and writing a summary, something Interim Director of Academic Affairs and Accreditation Liaison Officer BreAnn Miller said could take multiple hours to complete but only five minutes with the AI tool.
Monday, April 13, 2026
The Connected Campus: A Secure, AI-Ready Digital Ecosystem for Higher Education - Alexander Slagg, EdTech
A connected campus supports improved learning experiences, campus operations and overall decision-making by university leadership. While previous iterations of campus technology systems were focused on simply connecting users with resources and each other, the connected campus goes much further, forming a holistic technology ecosystem that drives secure interoperability across systems and resources. “A connected campus depends on several foundational layers working together: resilient wired and wireless networking; cloud and hybrid infrastructure; identity and security systems; and platforms that support learning, collaboration and research,” explains Nicole Muscanell, a researcher for EDUCAUSE. “Increasingly, institutions are also integrating IoT systems, such as smart buildings, energy management and physical safety technologies, into this ecosystem.”
How AI may reshape career pathways to better jobs - Justin Heck, Mark Muro, Shriya Methkupally, and Joseph Siegmund, Brookings
Amid much concern about the future of college graduates in the era of AI, workers without four-year degrees face major challenges as well: There are over 15 million of these workers in jobs that are highly exposed to AI. Of those, nearly 11 million are employed in “Gateway” occupations—jobs that have historically enabled workers to build skills and supported transitions into higher-wage roles. AI is poised to erode the pathways workers use to transition from low- to higher-wage work. Almost half of the pathways between Gateway jobs and higher-paying “Destination” jobs are highly exposed to AI. Geographically, the highest rates of AI-related pathway exposure are in administrative, clerical, and customer service Gateway occupations in the Northeast and Sun Belt. In order to craft strategies that effectively meet the moment, the field must grapple with a set of urgent questions about AI’s impact on worker mobility.
https://www.brookings.edu/articles/how-ai-may-reshape-career-pathways-to-better-jobs/
Sunday, April 12, 2026
‘AI-shaped economy’ now has students rethinking their majors - Matt Zalaznick, University Business
Workforce disruptions caused by generative AI have some students rethinking their majors with one analysis characterizing higher education’s relationship with AI as “both promising and complex.”
More than 40% of bachelor’s degree students and more than half of those seeking associate’s degrees said generative AI has caused them to consider changing their major or field of study, according to a a new Gallup poll.
About one in seven students surveyed at both levels said “preparing for AI and other technological advances is an important reason they enrolled.”
AI is not yet the “primary driver” academic and enrollment decisions, Gallup’s authors contend. They urge higher leaders to ensure students have opportunities to learn the AI skills needed to succeed in a changing workforce.
“These findings highlight growing student attention to how well degrees align with an AI-shaped economy,” the survey concluded.
SDSU's Massive AI Study Finds Frequent Use but Skepticism - Jaweed Kaleem, Los Angeles Times
A poll of 94,000 students, faculty and staff across 22 CSU campuses found nearly every respondent had used AI at some point, but students were still wary of trusting it and faculty reported negative effects. The survey, conducted by San Diego State University researchers last fall, shows CSU grappling with how AI is affecting assignments, classroom instruction, competition for jobs and academic integrity. It found nearly every respondent had used AI at some point, with personal use more common than for educational purposes.
Saturday, April 11, 2026
AI Is Routine for College Students, Despite Campus Limits - Stephanie Marken, Gallup News
New research from the Lumina Foundation-Gallup 2026 State of Higher Education study finds that more than half (57%) of U.S. college students are using artificial intelligence in their coursework at least weekly, including about one in five who say they use it daily. Male students report more frequent AI use than female students, particularly in the case of daily use (27% vs. 17%). By major, students in business, technology and engineering programs are the most frequent AI users compared with those in other fields of study. Rates of AI use are similar among students pursuing associate and bachelor’s degrees.
https://news.gallup.com/poll/704090/routine-college-students-despite-campus-limits.aspx
AI in Higher Education Is Moving From Experimentation to Strategic Integration. Here's What the 2025 Data Shows - Joe Sullistio, Ellucian
When the question is "Are people using AI?" the answers are mostly anecdotal. When the question becomes "How do we integrate AI responsibly and measurably across the institution?" you need strategy, investment discipline, governance, and enablement. Not just tools. Ellucian's new report, Artificial Intelligence in Higher Education: From Widespread Adoption to Strategic Integration, captures this transition in detail, and lays out what institutions need to do next. This is the third consecutive year of the Ellucian AI Survey for Higher Education, and the 2025 State of AI in Higher Education findings mark a clear turning point.
Personal AI use is nearing saturation: 91% of administrators report using AI, up from 84% last year, a relatively modest increase that signals individual adoption is plateauing.
Institution-wide adoption surged: from 49% in 2024 to 66% in 2025, a 17-point jump that signals AI has moved beyond experimentation and into mainstream operational and strategic integration.
Momentum is expected to continue: 88% of respondents expect institutional AI use to keep rising over the next two years.
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