College Students Lukewarm on AI Courses

While roughly half of college students believe proficiency with artificial intelligence tools is important to their future careers, a new survey suggests that far fewer are turning to their university for instructions on how to use it.

According to a survey of roughly 1,000 college students that Honorlock, an online proctoring service, published last week, only 31 percent of students are aware of AI courses their college or university offers, and fewer than 20 percent have taken them.

They’re using the technology, nonetheless, though it’s not clear if they’re using it to its full potential.

More than 56 percent of respondents said they are required to use AI in coursework and 63 percent said they use it for some of their assignments, but the majority said they mainly use it for low-level tasks such as editing, generating text, brainstorming and explaining concepts.

“The data indicates that students are learning AI on their own terms, not directly through structured coursework designed to apply advanced AI aptitude in the workplace. Universities have an opportunity to help students prepare for the use of AI across critical business applications including data capture and analysis, marketing, coding and cybersecurity,” Michael Hemlepp, CEO of Honorlock, said in a news release. “In addition, colleges have a duty to start educating students on the ethical use of these tools, their benefits and drawbacks as they prepare to enter the workforce.”