California is rapidly becoming a hub for Artificial Intelligence, and with Governor Newsom’s recent partnership with Nvidia, the state’s higher education system is poised to lead the way in AI education. This initiative, starting with community colleges and expanding to four-year universities, aims to equip graduates with the skills needed to thrive in the burgeoning field of AI. For university graduates seeking a future-proof career path, AI programs in California offer a compelling opportunity to enter a dynamic and high-demand sector.
Nathan Lim, a student at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, exemplifies this new wave of AI-focused students. During his summer break, he developed an AI tool designed to assess the ethical implications of student projects. His work reflects the growing emphasis on not only technical AI skills but also responsible AI development. Across California, universities and colleges are adapting their curricula to meet the escalating demand for AI expertise, and initiatives like the Nvidia partnership are crucial in providing students with cutting-edge resources and industry connections.
The Nvidia collaboration is designed to inject AI curriculum, resources, and opportunities into California’s public higher education institutions. Initially focused on community colleges, the program seeks to broaden access to AI tools, including software, hardware, certifications, and workshops. The long-term vision is to extend these partnerships to the California State University (CSU) and University of California (UC) systems, creating a comprehensive statewide AI education ecosystem. This collaborative approach ensures that students gain practical experience with the same technologies used by leading tech companies, bridging the gap between academia and industry.
Alex Stack, representing Governor Newsom’s office, emphasized that these partnerships are vital for providing students with hands-on experience with industry-standard AI technologies. This practical approach is essential for preparing graduates for the realities of AI careers.
Lim’s academic journey at Cal Poly, where he is pursuing music and computer science with a concentration in AI, showcases the interdisciplinary nature of AI. He envisions AI’s transformative potential in fields like music education, making high-quality instruction more accessible through AI-powered tools.
“Imagine an AI private tutor capable of answering questions and providing personalized feedback on musical performance,” Lim proposes, highlighting the potential for AI to democratize education and make expert-level learning affordable for a wider audience. His personal experience as a self-taught musician, leveraging online resources due to the high cost of private lessons, fuels his belief in AI’s power to revolutionize access to education.
Lim draws a parallel between the current AI revolution and the advent of the internet, recalling initial skepticism followed by ubiquitous adoption. He anticipates a similar trajectory for AI, asserting its inevitable integration into daily life and professional landscapes. His coursework already reflects this shift, with tools like Google Colab incorporating AI to assist with coding tasks, signaling a fundamental change in learning and work methodologies.
“Learning is evolving from memorization to effective questioning, a skill that aligns perfectly with the nature of AI,” Lim observes, emphasizing the shift towards critical thinking and problem-solving in the age of intelligent machines. Inspired by his father, a computer science graduate, Lim recognized the career potential in AI early on. His specialization in AI is driven by a proactive approach to career security in a rapidly evolving job market. “Choosing to specialize in AI feels necessary to remain competitive and avoid job displacement by those with AI expertise,” he explains.
Pathways to Diverse AI Careers
California’s higher education institutions are actively developing programs to prepare students for a spectrum of AI-related careers. While some roles, particularly in AI engineering, require advanced degrees, universities and community colleges are creating pathways for students at all levels. These pathways include undergraduate programs and “blue-collar AI” opportunities, which are roles that involve working with AI applications without necessarily requiring advanced research or development expertise.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects a robust 12.9% growth in computer and mathematical occupations, including AI-related roles, over the next decade, making it the second-fastest-growing sector. This growth is fueled by the increasing demand for AI solutions across industries. Tech giants like Meta and Google are offering lucrative salaries, often exceeding $200,000 annually, for AI-related positions, underscoring the high value placed on AI skills in the current job market.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics report highlights the core drivers behind this job growth: the need for enhanced computer services, continuous advancements in AI, and the vast amounts of data requiring analysis. These factors collectively point towards a sustained demand for professionals skilled in AI and related fields.
Angel Fuentes, Dean of Business and Workforce Development at Evergreen Valley College, advocates for widespread AI literacy across all disciplines. He emphasizes the importance of understanding AI terminology, applications, and ethical considerations, even for students not pursuing technical careers. Fuentes recognizes AI’s growing influence across diverse sectors, from healthcare to humanities and business.
Fuentes also notes the emergence of “blue-collar AI” jobs, which offer accessible entry points into the AI field without requiring master’s or doctoral degrees. Prompt engineering, a role focused on crafting effective inputs for AI platforms like ChatGPT, is a prime example. Prompt engineers leverage AI to enhance business processes, create presentations, and streamline workflows, demonstrating the practical applications of AI skills in various professional contexts.
To prepare students for these diverse AI roles, several California community colleges now offer AI-focused degrees and certificates. These programs emphasize practical skills in computer programming and entrepreneurship, equipping graduates with the tools needed to navigate the evolving AI landscape. “The rapid pace of change in the world necessitates that our students are well-prepared for the future,” Fuentes states, highlighting the proactive approach community colleges are taking to address industry needs.
The California-Nvidia partnership is specifically designed to foster AI program development, provide essential software and hardware resources, and create dedicated AI learning spaces within community colleges. Louis Stewart, Head of Strategic Initiatives at Nvidia, outlines the three-year scope of the partnership, focusing on “AI-enabling” students and workers. Stewart stresses the importance of “reskilling and upskilling” initiatives to equip individuals, including career changers, with foundational AI knowledge.
Nvidia’s commitment to covering the costs of training and resources underscores the industry’s investment in building a skilled AI workforce. Stack from the Governor’s office emphasizes the strategic importance of community colleges as accessible hubs for disseminating AI education. “Community colleges serve as vital access points, ensuring that AI tools and resources reach a broad spectrum of students who may otherwise face barriers to entry,” Stack explains.
While community college transfer rates to four-year universities are around 20%, the goal is to inspire and prepare students for continued AI studies or entry-level AI-related positions. Ensuring ethical AI understanding is a key priority for community college administrators and faculty. Past missteps in AI implementation in education, as seen in Los Angeles and San Diego school districts, underscore the need for careful vetting, clear communication, and ethical considerations in AI initiatives. These instances highlight the importance of thoughtful AI integration in educational settings.
Nasreen Rahim, a professor at Evergreen Valley College, advocates for embracing AI across disciplines, emphasizing its pervasive and enduring nature. “Resistance to AI is not a viable approach; instead, fostering an open and adaptive mindset is crucial,” Rahim asserts, highlighting the need for educators and students to engage proactively with AI technologies. To this end, the California community college system has established academic integrity guidelines for AI, promoting responsible AI use and setting clear expectations for students.
Brian Sawaya, a biomedical engineering student at Foothill College, exemplifies the drive and ambition of community college students in the AI field. He leads his college’s robotics team, utilizing AI for object detection and navigation in robots. Sawaya emphasizes the unique value of community college students in diversifying the tech workforce. “Community college students bring diverse perspectives and high levels of motivation, making them valuable assets for companies seeking to broaden their talent pool,” Sawaya notes, as he prepares to transfer to a four-year university to further his studies in wearable technology and prosthetics.
Expanding AI Programs at Four-Year Universities
Building upon the community college initiatives, the UC and CSU systems are also prioritizing AI education. Governor Newsom has indicated future AI industry partnerships will extend to these four-year university systems. The CSU system, for example, has requested $7 million in its 2025-26 budget to enhance AI infrastructure for faculty and students.
Currently, four CSU campuses – Cal State East Bay, San Francisco State, San Jose State, and Cal Poly San Luis Obispo – offer dedicated AI programs. The CSU Generative AI Committee was formed to provide system-wide guidance on AI program development and responsible AI use. At Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, the Computer Science and AI Club provides a peer-learning environment for students to deepen their AI knowledge.
Leo Horwitz, president of the Cal Poly AI Club, describes its mission as creating a space for both experienced and novice AI enthusiasts to learn and collaborate. The club hosts workshops on AI fundamentals and engages in practical AI projects, such as AI-powered code generation and automated game refereeing. Industry partnerships and student government funding support the club’s activities, demonstrating a multi-faceted approach to fostering AI education.
Horwitz expresses enthusiasm for potential industry collaborations, recognizing the importance of staying at the forefront of AI advancements. “Direct industry partnerships are invaluable for keeping academia aligned with the rapid pace of AI innovation,” Horwitz observes, emphasizing the need for continuous engagement with cutting-edge technologies.
Leo Horwitz, President of the Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Club at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, leads efforts to expand AI education.
Franz Kurfess, a professor at Cal Poly, integrates industry collaborations into his courses, providing students with real-world AI application experience. His project involving Nathan Lim, focused on AI-driven senior project evaluations, exemplifies this approach. “Industry collaborations offer invaluable practical learning opportunities, exposing students to professional work environments and expectations,” Kurfess explains, highlighting the importance of bridging the gap between academic learning and industry practice. Cal Poly’s partnership with CalMatters to develop Digital Democracy, an AI-powered website for legislative tracking, further demonstrates the university’s commitment to applied AI research and development.
Across the UC system, there’s a concerted effort to integrate AI across various disciplines while addressing ethical considerations. A UC presidential working group has established “responsible AI principles,” emphasizing transparency, safety, and privacy in AI applications. Chris Mattmann, UCLA’s Chief Data and Artificial Intelligence Officer, underscores the need for both innovation and ethical AI development. His role, the first of its kind in the UC system, reflects the growing institutional commitment to AI leadership.
Mattmann’s focus includes overseeing AI strategy across UCLA, promoting AI literacy among faculty, students, and staff. UCLA’s adoption of ChatGPT enterprise accounts for select groups is a step towards demystifying AI and fostering responsible experimentation. “(Our aim) is to make AI accessible and understandable, highlighting both its potential and the critical need for ethical guidelines,” Mattmann concludes, emphasizing the balanced approach necessary for navigating the AI revolution in higher education. Private universities like USC are also expanding their AI offerings, with USC developing a new AI major to meet surging student demand. Nenad Medvidović, USC’s computer science department chair, notes the diverse motivations driving student interest in AI, ranging from academic curiosity to career readiness. He emphasizes the transformative impact of AI, surpassing previous technological waves in its potential and reach.
Delilah Brumer and Jeremy Garza contributed to this report through the College Journalism Network, a CalMatters-student journalism collaboration.
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