California universities expand AI degree programs and investments

Major California universities are rapidly integrating artificial intelligence into their curricula to meet evolving job market demands. The University of Southern California (USC) has launched an inaugural undergraduate artificial intelligence degree through its Viterbi School of Engineering, focusing on building technology for fields such as robotics and drug discovery. Meanwhile, UCLA has established the nation’s first freestanding Department of Digital Humanities, which teaches students to apply AI and digital tools to disciplines like sociology, history, and archaeology.

Across the California State University (CSU) system, institutions are investing heavily in AI tools. The CSU has renewed a partnership with OpenAI, committing $13 million annually for three years to provide AI training and tools to over 460,000 students and 63,000 faculty and staff. While some professors encourage using AI as a “tutor buddy” for studying, the integration has met mixed reactions. Concerns persist regarding the high costs of these contracts, the potential for academic dishonesty, and the long-term impact of AI on critical thinking skills.