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20 February 2025

How Artificial Intelligence is Transforming Professional Development

Dean Hugo Villar, UC San Diego Division of Extended Studies

UC San Diego is one of the leading research institutions in the development of AI, and the Division of Extended Studies is actively engaged in analyzing how AI is impacting the workforce and labor skills to develop relevant courses and certificates.

With distinguished careers in industry and higher education, Dean of Extended Studies Hugo Villar has written extensively about using computers to solve complex problems in the life sciences, developed new technologies for the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries and promoted economic growth through workforce training.

In this guide, Dean Villar outlines how to harness AI to build critical work skills and chart your future career growth.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has become a ubiquitous topic in our daily conversations, with its impact already evident in our lives and work. While many of us associate AI with specific tools like Claude, ChatGPT, or Perplexity, this represents only a narrow aspect known as Generative AI. 

In reality, AI encompasses a much broader spectrum of technologies and applications, and it's rapidly transforming the global workforce and our collective future. Experts predict that generative AI alone will significantly impact 90% of jobs in the coming decade. 

AI is reshaping industries, creating new opportunities, and presenting challenges that require a proactive approach to skills and workforce development.

The University of California, San Diego (UC San Diego), is one of the leading research institutions in the development of AI, and the Division of Extended Studies is actively engaged in analyzing how AI is impacting the workforce and labor skills to develop relevant curricula.

To truly understand AI, we need to look deeper into its full spectrum. 

What is Artificial Intelligence? Understanding AI Basics

At its core, AI is a branch of computer science that aims to create machines capable of performing tasks typically requiring human intelligence. 

These AI systems are designed to analyze vast amounts of data, identify patterns, and make decisions or predictions based on that information. Their capabilities extend to understanding and translating language, analyzing complex data sets, making recommendations, recognizing objects and people in images, and solving problems.

The field of AI is inherently interdisciplinary, drawing from various areas such as computer science, data analytics, linguistics, neuroscience, and even philosophy. As AI technologies become increasingly integrated into our daily lives and various industries, they power applications ranging from virtual personal assistants and self-driving cars to fraud detection systems in banking and advanced medical diagnosis tools.

While AI is reshaping many industries and professions, it's important to recognize that current AI systems are typically designed for specific tasks and lack the full flexibility and general intelligence of humans across broader domains. As with any new technology entering our lives, we must remain alert and learn enough to leverage it for our professional and personal benefit, rather than feeling threatened by it.

The Future of AI: Where Are We Headed?

At the heart of AI lies machine learning, a revolutionary approach that enables systems to learn and improve from experience without explicit programming. This foundational technology has given rise to more advanced techniques like deep learning, which utilizes artificial neural networks to process complex data patterns, much like the human brain. 

As AI continues to evolve, it has branched into specialized domains like Natural Language Processing and computer vision, opening up new frontiers in various applications.

The rapid advancement of AI has been fueled by the exponential growth in computing power and the availability of vast amounts of data. Big data technologies have provided the raw material for AI systems to learn and refine their algorithms, while cloud computing has made these powerful tools accessible to businesses and researchers worldwide. 

Looking to the future, emerging technologies like quantum computing promise to dramatically expand AI's capabilities, potentially unlocking new realms of problem-solving and discovery.

Will AI Replace Jobs? The Future of Work and Human-AI Collaboration

The transition to an AI-powered workforce is not without challenges. There are concerns about job displacement, the need for ethical AI implementation, and ensuring equitable access to AI training and opportunities. Women, for instance, report less confidence in their employers' ability to train them on AI integration, potentially exacerbating existing workforce disparities.

As AI becomes more prevalent, the need for reskilling and upskilling has become urgent. Organizations are recognizing the importance of investing in their current workforce to adapt to this changing landscape. 

However, there's a noticeable gap between workers' self-reported AI skills and employers' perceptions, highlighting the need for clear standards to measure AI proficiency.

Overcoming Challenges: Adapting to an AI-Driven Job Market

For those of us who aren't techies, it's crucial to understand that the skills necessary to thrive in an AI-driven workforce are diverse and evolving. 

First and foremost, it's important to have a basic level of AI literacy and digital fluency to effectively leverage these technologies. While technical skills remain crucial, there's an increasing emphasis on uniquely human capabilitiessuch as critical thinking, problem-solving, creativity, innovation, emotional intelligence, communication, adaptability, and lifelong learning. Soft skills are becoming increasingly valuable as AI takes on more technical tasks. The ability to collaborate, lead teams, and navigate complex human interactions are skills that AI cannot easily replicate. 

However, the transition to an AI-powered workforce is not without challenges. There are concerns about job displacement, the need for ethical AI implementation, and ensuring equitable access to AI training and opportunities.

A multifaceted approach is necessary to address these challenges. This includes partnerships between businesses, academic institutions, and non-profit organizations to expand the reach and effectiveness of skilling programs. Additionally, there's a growing need for clear guidelines and codes of conduct for ethical AI implementation in the workplace.

Using Artificial Intelligence for Personalized Learning and Upskilling

At Extended Studies, we're already using AI in the classroom and embedding it into all our coursework as we identify the AI skills that can contribute to professional success. Whether it's offering highly technical courses on the technologies that underpin AI, such as Machine Learning, or addressing applications in business and finance, or even training the teachers in schools where AI will be second nature to Generation Alpha, we cover a broad range of educational topics to keep professionals at the top of their game. 

As we all navigate this technology, much like past transformational advancements, success depends on fostering a culture of continuous learning and adaptation. By embracing AI while prioritizing human skills development, we can create a workforce that is not only technologically proficient but also uniquely human in its capabilities. 

This approach will allow us to navigate the exciting opportunities and profound challenges that AI presents to society, ensuring we remain at the forefront of this technological revolution.

Extended Studies can be a partner in helping you thrive with a range of services tailored to your needs.

Customized Solutions

UC San Diego is one of the leading research institutions in the development of AI. By tapping this expertise, the Division of Extended Studies can customize any topic to suit an organization’s needs. 

Through our Custom and Corporate Education Department, we can build and deliver training solutions for any business, covering highly technical topics, the use of AI technology, and the labor skills that accompany it. 

AI Related Courses Offered at UC San Diego Extended Studies

Extended Studies courses and certificates are developed to harness evolving trends, helping learners and professionals build skills to stay relevant now and well into the future. Below is a comprehensive list of diverse options.

Get Started with AI and Machine Learning Today

Let’s hope that one of your mid-year resolutions will be to dive deeper into how AI can improve your life and make you more appealing to potential employers. UC San Diego Extended Studies will be honored to help you in that trajectory!

AI Related Courses Offered at UC San Diego Extended Studies

Extended Studies courses and certificates are developed to harness the moment and build skills for the future, offering a diverse range of options, like the following:

Certificates

Courses

For Pre-College Students