James DiLellio on Why Colleges Must Prepare Students for AI-Driven Careers in Inside Higher Ed

In a recent Inside Higher Ed feature, James DiLellio, a faculty member at Pepperdine Graziadio, shared insights on the expanding influence of generative AI in higher education and the evolving job market. As universities debate how to incorporate AI into curricula, DiLellio emphasized that students who resist AI may be disadvantaged in the job market.

“Businesses, for good reason, want to embrace it in a way that helps their bottom line, makes them more competitive, and increases efficiency,” DiLellio explained. “This is just another technology that companies will have to adopt.”

Despite some student hesitation, DiLellio believes faculty play a critical role in helping learners see AI as a valuable tool rather than a threat. He encourages students in his M.B.A. courses to use AI tools like ChatGPT for analytical tasks, much like they would use Excel, allowing them to focus on interpreting results rather than manual calculations.

As AI’s presence in the workplace expands, DiLellio stresses that higher education must evolve to equip students with the necessary skills. “We’ve got to figure out ways to encourage students to be willing to embrace the technology, and faculty can help,” he said.

With AI shaping the future of work, experts like DiLellio advocate for universities to proactively integrate AI literacy into coursework, ensuring students remain competitive in an increasingly tech-driven world.

Read the full article here.