AI for Students: AI Futures

Activity 1: Careers Intelligence 

Resources to Use: 

• WEF Future of Jobs Report 2023
• McKinsey State of AI 2023

The links in the top-right of this page include the full reports (they are very big) and the reports loaded into AI tools (ChatPDF and Perplexity) that you can use for focused reading and research. 

What are the impacts of AI on industries and the skills that are required to be successful? Use the resources above to find out more.

Reflective questions - when you have done som research, discuss with your group: 

1. What are some opportunities that might open up for me in the future? 
2. What are some skills that I have as strengths that will help me? 
3. What are some skills that I will need to develop further? How? 
4. What have I learned from reading these resources that might help me in applications and interviews, to show that I am informed about the impacts of AI on the future of work? 

Activity 2: AI & My Future

Resources To Use: 

• WEF & McKinsey resources
• Start a new Perplexity Thread 

In this activity, Perplexity can help you refine your research on your chosen area of study or career pathways.

Open a new Thread and copy-paste in the following prompt: 

I am a high school student applying for universities, and I am concerned about the impact that AI might have on my chosen courses and future career pathways. I want you to act as an industry intelligence analyst and provide resources and advice that will help me prepare for the future of my career, in relation to potential careers, necessary skills and possible opportunities. Present your findings in the form of a brief analysis, along with a table of potential impacts and mitigations. Conclude with a section on recommendations for how I can prepare for university statements and interviews, as well as list of possible alternative careers related to the field that are going to be enhanced by AI. Provide reliable references for your findings. My chosen career pathway is XXXXXXXX.

• Read and critically evaluate the response given by Perplexity. 
• Check the sources provided by Perplexity - are they reliable? Open and read the sources you find interesting. 
• Make notes: what are some opportunities and skills related to your chosen field of study that might be impacted by AI? 

Continue the Thread

As you learn more, you should generate more questions. Continuing the Thread should provide more links and resources to use. Try the following prompt after your results: 

How can I demonstrate my understanding of this in college applications and interviews?

Reflection Questions - Have a conversation with your group. 

1. What did you learn new from this activity about your career pathway? 
2. What surprised you? 
3. What do you need/want to learn more about? 
4. How might this learning help prepare you for applications and interviews? 

Activity 3 Short Reflection Survey

Please take a moment to complete this short survey*. It is anonymous. 

Questions are: 

• Rating the session for usefulness. 
• What will you consider as you think about preparing for careers and university?
• How do you think being a WAB learner will help you in the future?
• How has AI helped you (if at all) with your studies? 
• What else would you like to learn about in order to prepare for the future of work? 

*link removed, session has ended. We used TroveAI for the survey, and the results have been analysed. 

Here is a diagrammatic representation (mermaid chart) created from the qualitative response to the question "How do you think being a WAB learner will help you in the future?", using the ChatGPT Plus plugin Diagrams: Show Me.