Experts note that without digital transformation, universities risk losing relevance and students.
The University of Arizona has begun using GPT-4 chatbots to support students, while Stanford unveiled Co-STORM, an AI system that generates summaries of scientific research. Faculty stress the need for ethical and academic regulations for AI use.
Online master's programs and professional certification courses are also expanding. Virginia Tech launched an online master's in Data Science, and platforms such as Coursera, edX, and FutureLearn are broadening their professional course offerings, gaining reputations as leaders in corporate learning. According to a Pearson report, 75% of learners now consider online certificates from Google, IBM, and other companies equivalent to traditional academic degrees.
Investment is flowing into the sector: Brave Bison acquired MiniMBA for £19 million, while VR startups Red 6 and zSpace are advancing training in medicine and aviation.