Stevens President Discusses AI's Impact on Job Market in CBS News Interview
Stevens Institute of Technology President Nariman Farvardin was featured on CBS News discussing how artificial intelligence is reshaping the job market and what institutions can do to prepare students for this evolving landscape.
The CBS segment explored new research showing that unemployment among recent college graduates has exceeded the national unemployment rate for the first time ever.
AI's Unprecedented Workforce Impact
President Farvardin provided analysis on what he sees as an unprecedented transformation, drawing on Stevens' decade-long preparation for the AI revolution.
"I think AI has the potential to either augment or maybe totally replace jobs that are physically or cognitively repetitive," Farvardin explained. "These jobs are not only done by entry people. There are certain people who do repetitive things for all of their life. Those jobs are in jeopardy."
He emphasized that the disruption will be far-reaching, predicting the workforce transformation will be "bigger than the disturbance brought on by the introduction of the internet, and it could last up to 15 years."
Educational Philosophy and Graduate Success
President Farvardin emphasized the importance of developing lifelong learning capabilities rather than simply teaching specific skills.
"We don't try to teach our students skills. We try to teach students a way to learn on their own for the rest of their lives," he said, noting that "workers who innovate alongside AI won't get left behind."
The segment also featured recent Stevens graduate Kailey Totland, who earned her computer science degree and secured a position with Verizon after completing an internship with the company as a sophomore. "I think it's something that's important with entry level jobs is the networking and the opportunities that you make from it," Totland shared.
President Farvardin's message to students remains consistent: "Get an education that will last a lifetime."
Stevens graduates from the Class of 2024 achieved a 96.8% successful outcomes rate within six months of graduation, with an average starting salary of $84,800.
The full CBS News segment aired as part of the network's coverage of changing employment trends for college graduates.
