Artificial intelligence, my friends, is going to revolutionize business in a big way. We’re talking about even more profound transformation than what the internet brought us. And with this transformation comes huge opportunities for those who are equipped with the right skills and training. That’s the message coming from Dr. Stephen Choi, a business professor at Fresno State. He’s on a mission to open up these opportunities to more students through a brand new Artificial Intelligence in Business certificate program. And get this, folks, it’s open to ALL Fresno State students, regardless of their major. Even non-students can get in on the action through the Division of Continuing and Global Education. Now, let me tell you, according to Choi, we need to be ready for the tsunami that’s about to hit us. He’s recommending that every student, if you’ve got even just one spot in your schedule, take an AI class. Because, my friends, just like the PC revolution of the 1980s and the internet revolution of the 1990s, AI is going to eliminate some jobs but create a whole bunch of new ones. It’s a pattern we’ve seen before. Jobs like typists became obsolete, but then we got web design, podcasting, and social media marketing. And Choi predicts the same thing will happen with AI. We’ll see a dip in employment at first, but then there will be an explosion of new AI-related jobs. He’s saying that 40% to 60% of white-collar jobs could be eliminated, but that’ll free up professionals to create new products and services. So, if you’re a college student, my friends, you’ve got to be at the forefront of learning AI and applying it to your profession. Employers are already asking about AI skills in job interviews, believe it or not. But here’s the thing, folks. While the Department of Computer Science offers some fantastic AI classes in theory and programming, what we really need are business-oriented AI classes that focus on solving business problems. And that’s where this new AI in Business certificate program comes in. It offers a complete introductory course to business AI. To complete the certificate, you just need to file some paperwork and take the required 15 units of courses. And let me tell you, these aren’t just fluff classes. We’re talking about teaching you how to build applications, how to code, how to solve real-world business problems. It’s a complete package that shows employers you know your stuff. One student who’s already taken the plunge is Angel Martinez, a senior majoring in business administration. He’s studying to earn the AI in Business certificate, and he’s loving it. And let me tell you, this guy is thinking ahead. He wants to be a CFO for a corporation or maybe start his own cafe. And he knows that his AI training is going to give him a leg up in his career. He’s learned that to get the most benefit from AI tools, you need both the business know-how and the programming skills. And get this, my friends, he didn’t even know how to code before taking these AI classes, but now he’s confident in his coding abilities. He’s even thinking about adding a computer science degree to his finance degree. So, listen up, everyone. This AI revolution is happening, and it’s happening fast. That’s why Dr. Choi is offering two community workshops on artificial intelligence this semester. You’ve got “Introduction to AI” on October 27th, and “AI Algorithms Using Python” on November 3rd. These workshops are open to the public, and let me tell you, they’re going to be invaluable. You can attend in person or online via Zoom. Prices range from $150 to $300, with discounts available for Fresno State students, faculty, and staff. So, my friends, if you want to get ahead in this new economy, if you want to be a part of the future, you better jump on this AI train. Take it from me, the opportunities are endless.
