Robot-Proof: Higher Education in the Age of Artificial Intelligence

Driverless cars are hitting the road, powered by artificial intelligence. Robots can now climb stairs, open doors, win Jeopardy, analyse stocks, work in factories, find parking spaces, advise oncologists.

In the past, automation was considered a threat to low-skilled labour. Now, many high-skilled functions, including interpreting medical images, doing legal research, and analysing data, are within the skill sets of machines.

So how can higher education prepare students for their professional lives when professions themselves are disappearing?

In Robot-Proof: Higher Education in the Age of Artificial Intelligence, Northeastern University president Joseph E. Aoun explores how education systems can adapt to prepare students for an AI-driven future.

Aoun argues that traditional education falls short in teaching the unique human skills—creativity, ethics, and emotional intelligence—that machines cannot replicate. He proposes a new educational model he calls “Humanics,” emphasizing three literacies: technical (data and computation), human (creativity and ethics), and life (entrepreneurial thinking).

Aoun’s ideas challenge educators to rethink curricula to include interdisciplinary and experiential learning, positioning students to thrive alongside, rather than compete with, machines. His vision is a future in which students are equipped not only with technical skills but also with the adaptability to navigate a constantly evolving job market.

Robot-Proof is a thoughtful and inspiring guide for educators, policymakers, and anyone interested in the future of work and education.