The New York Times with this: College students are increasingly opting for artificial intelligence majors over traditional computer science degrees, reflecting a significant shift in educational trends. This fall, over 3,000 students enrolled in a new artificial intelligence and cybersecurity program at the University of South Florida, while the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s “A.I. and decision-making” major has become its second-largest undergraduate program, with nearly 330 students. According to the Computing Research Association, about 62 percent of computing programs reported declines in undergraduate enrollment this year, attributed in part to job market concerns, as many graduates face challenges in securing tech jobs. The rise of A.I. is prompting universities to adapt their curricula to meet the growing demand for specialized skills in this rapidly evolving field.
Why do we care?
The real insight here is that the next wave of tech workers won’t look like the last wave. Students are chasing AI degrees because CS job prospects cooled off. Universities are following the money. But that means you’re going to interview candidates who know a lot about models and very little about the infrastructure that actually makes businesses run.
And for MSPs, that’s a problem. We need people who understand identity, networking, security hygiene, backups, and how messy SMB environments really are. Not people who can write a transformer from scratch.
So don’t assume an AI degree equals job readiness. It often means the opposite. You’ll need better screening, more internal training, and clearer expectations. Frame MSP work as “AI enablement” — because that’s the truth. SMBs don’t need bespoke models; they need governance and integration so AI doesn’t break something.
The talent pipeline is shifting, and if you want strong operators, you’re going to have to build them. Universities aren’t doing that work anymore.