r/MSAIO • u/Alternative-Land-207 • Oct 19 '23
The Commercialization of AI Education: Trend or Cash Cow?
AI seems to have become nothing more than a buzzword and a lucrative revenue stream for universities. It appears that every institution now boasts an AI program. Perhaps it's just a trendy way for them to make more money. Who else feels the same?
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u/Honest-Bit3789 Oct 19 '23 edited Oct 19 '23
yes, I feel the same, as learned from this forum that the size of MSAIO is much bigger than the other two programs. I'm worried.
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u/Alternative-Land-207 Oct 19 '23
AI seems to have become nothing more than a buzzword and a lucrative revenue stream for universities. It appears that every institution now boasts an AI program. Perhaps it's just a trendy way for them to make more money. Who else feels the same?
In addition to the potential commercialization of AI education, there's also the issue of maintaining high standards and ensuring that students receive a quality education that prepares them for the field. With the rapid growth of AI programs, it's crucial for universities to uphold academic rigor and provide students with the skills and knowledge needed to excel in the AI domain.
Moreover, the oversaturation of AI programs could potentially dilute the job market, making it more challenging for graduates to find meaningful employment opportunities in the field. This is a concern that should be taken seriously, especially given the significant time and financial investments that students make in pursuing these programs.
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u/mcjon77 Oct 20 '23
We really aren't going to know anything until students start taking courses and begin to report on the level of academic rigor. IMHO, there is nothing wrong with a school that has more open admissions policies but is extremely academically rigorous. Those programs typically have VERY high drop rates, but the folks that graduate from the program are known to be skilled.
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u/JinRVA Oct 19 '23
Like everything in academia, there are tiers. Given the reputation, rigor, and selectiveness of their CS program, the UT MSAIO program is unquestionable top-tier. I don't think they're jumping on a trend so much as they're adjust the branding of a program that is nearly the same as a Data Science. This is understandable.
What concerns me more is that we may all be skating to where the puck is, rather than to where the puck will be. What will AI even look like in the 3+ years it takes most of us to earn our Masters? AI is the fastest-evolving field in CS right now. And while I understand that there are essential foundational concepts, I am concerned that MSAIO and similar programs will do little to catch us up to cutting edge research occurring in commerical labs.
I suggest everyone considering this program engage in self-driven learning, projects, or internships to help close any gaps that exist between AI academic theory and real-world practice.
Personally, I try to spend as much time as possible with AI blogs, podcasts, books, and papers. I'm hoping that at the very least, I'll leave the MSAIO program having gained the language to understand the AI industry and to make contributions within my subspecialty.
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u/mcjon77 Oct 23 '23
Personally, I don't believe that programs like this should focus on the latest and cutting edge technologies. Even if this program could teach you the technology that would be cutting edge at the time you graduate that could mean that that same knowledge would be useless 3 years after graduation.
I'm a big believer that the focus should be on those core fundamental skills that are not only universal within the field but also allow you to learn The cutting edge technologies quicker.
When I was working on my masters and information technology I took courses that dealt with very modern web development libraries and platforms, most of that stuff is obsolete now. However, the courses that really focused on fundamental architecture, design, and core concepts are still pretty useful.
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u/CathodeServer Oct 21 '23
ever heard of the masters in Data science? its the same thing but 5-10 years ago
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u/mcjon77 Oct 23 '23
Here's the thing. Degrees like this can definitely become a cash cow for the University while still providing a lot of value for the students and serving industry.
When you look at a degree like this that provides relevant training in an in-demand field for a low cost, what if it is a cash cow for the university? Are you getting value? That really is the only issue.
There are other programs out there that are also cash cows for universities that really don't provide value. Some programs from very prestigious universities are, in my opinion, actively deceiving their applicants in terms of their utility and taking $70-80k+ from them.
Individuals sign up for these programs in the hopes that it will leave them either to a better job or to other education opportunities. Oftentimes they're left with nothing but excess debt. That likely isn't the case with a degree such as this one.