At the recent STEM City Service to Nation event, Dr. Victor McCrary highlighted that artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming work faster than education systems can adapt.
He said roles in AI, cybersecurity and quantum computing have emerged over the past five years, with more to come.
National Service addressed questions about the impact of AI on employment, essential skills for students, community participation in the AI economy, and strategies for adapting to technological change.
Although the overall unemployment rate has remained flat, the teen unemployment rate has risen to 14.4%.
In response, a National Academies workshop on education and workforce trajectories in technology emphasized the importance of critical thinking, problem solving, teamwork, and lifelong learning.
Last month, Dr. Talitha Washington, who served as the workshop’s planning chair, spoke at a national service worker training event.
She discussed career paths in AI, required skills and qualifications, and shared advice for pursuing these opportunities.
Dr. Washington said she overcame setbacks, including dropping out of calculus at Spelman College before returning to earn an A, and attributed her success to perseverance and guidance.
Her early experiences as a tutor, intern, and resident assistant contributed to her professional growth.
Dr. Washington currently serves as Executive Director of the Howard University Center for Applied Data Science and Analysis and Principal Investigator of NSF’s Research Coordination Network on Work Performance Assessment and Prediction in AI.
Through her National Science Foundation-supported research at Howard University, she helps others understand the impact of AI on the job market.
This weekend, Montgomery College professor Mais Alraee attended the Howard AI Network Powered by AWS Faculty Bootcamp, which focused on developing AI curriculum and writing effective proposals.
Over three days, participants explored topics such as Generative AI, Foundation Models, LLM, Amazon Bedrock, Responsible AI, PartyRock, LangChain, Chatbots, and Retrieval-Augmented Generation.
They worked together to integrate these technologies into course materials and assignments to enhance cross-disciplinary teaching.
Professor Alraee emphasized the value of teamwork in creating applications, drafting AI policies for the syllabus, and presenting group projects.
He expressed his gratitude to the Howard AI Network, Dr. Talitha Washington, and others for their leadership in advancing AI education.
She thanked the ML operations program manager and curriculum developer for organizing the bootcamp.
Dr. Washington has also led initiatives such as NSF’s Hispanic Serving Institutions Program to advance best practices to support a diverse workforce in STEM.
At STEM City’s National Apprenticeship Week national service event, she advised students that while technical skills pave the way, human skills drive success.
She made clear that AI is reshaping jobs by changing tasks and supporting roles, rather than simply eliminating them.
Today, many work outcomes rely on AI literacy and adaptability.
Echoing Dr. McCrary, she highlighted three skills that are essential in the AI era.
- critical thinking
- effective prompts
- ethical judgment
- It is also important to understand the strengths and limitations of AI.
- AI relies heavily on data, so good reading skills and the ability to analyze and interpret information are important.
- Creativity is essential for developing new solutions, and communication skills are essential for collaboration.
- Always prioritize fairness, safety, and responsibility.
Many online credentials are available, including Microsoft Certified: Azure AI Fundamentals, Google AI Essentials, Amazon/AWS Certified AI Practitioner, Claude 101 from Anthropic Academy, and AI Fundamentals from Cisco Networking Academy.
These courses provide certifications in AI and Cloud Fundamentals, Practical AI Skills, Machine Learning, Generative AI, Prompts, and Fundamentals.
Dr. Washington recommends starting with a free or beginner course, checking age requirements, and saving any certificates or badges to display on your LinkedIn profile.
She encourages her students to enjoy the learning process, avoid harsh judgment from others, and persevere.
