AI is Redefining Adult Online Education, Says University CIO
Technology, and particularly AI, is redefining online education for adults, according to University of Phoenix CIO Jamie Smith. In a recent podcast, Smith discussed how student-centered innovation is creating stronger links between learning and career advancement. The transformation emphasizes the growing role of AI in shaping modern educational programs.
- The University of Phoenix has established a formal framework called the "academic AI pillars" to integrate AI literacy and skills throughout its degree programs and academic operations. - A key part of the university's strategy involves an AI-powered skills intelligence platform, Skillmore™, developed to help employers assess employee skills and align them with learning pathways for career development. - This focus on AI in education is set against a backdrop of significant workforce changes, with the World Economic Forum projecting that 39% of core job skills will be altered by 2030. - In the podcast, Smith emphasized that technology is designed to be the "third priority" for its students, fitting into their lives after family and work commitments by focusing on mobile optimization and on-demand access. - To further research and development, the university's College of Doctoral Studies launched the Phoenix AI Research Center, which focuses on generative AI projects and the ethical implications of AI in education. - AI applications in adult learning extend to personalized learning paths that analyze individual performance, as well as AI-assisted virtual tutors that provide real-time support to students. - The university is collaborating with the workforce development nonprofit Jobs for the Future (JFF) in a pilot program running through May 2026 to test how AI can validate and develop employee skills in real-world corporate environments. - Smith noted that AI is being integrated to augment the student experience by improving efficiency and responsiveness, rather than replacing human interaction, a concept he refers to as providing "bionics" for staff.
