Artificial intelligence is prompting young people to rethink their career plans
Nearly 39% of young people looking for work now use artificial intelligence. — AFP Relaxnews
Gone are the days when young graduates waited patiently for the doors to employment to open for them. Today, they are breaking with established norms by embracing artificial intelligence to transform their career choices. Between rapid adoption and profound upheaval, this generation is reinventing the rules of the professional game.
The scale of this silent revolution can now be measured in concrete terms. A recent survey conducted by Prospects among more than 4,000 British students and graduates reveals its full scope. The results paint a picture of a generation that is embracing artificial intelligence on a massive scale, while questioning the impact of this technology on its future prospects.
The figures speak for themselves. Nearly 39% of young jobseekers now use artificial intelligence to revise their resumes or cover letters, while 30% use it to write them from scratch. This widespread use of AI tools extends to preparing for job interviews (29%) and answering questions in application forms (23%).
This democratization is transforming job search strategies. As a result, one-fifth of young graduates submit more than 50 applications, an increase directly linked to the ease of use of AI tools. Those aged 25-34 are the most active in this field, with 44% using artificial intelligence to optimize their chances of finding work.
Rethinking career plans
Beyond resumes, artificial intelligence is becoming a career advisor. Nearly 18% of respondents consult ChatGPT or Microsoft Copilot for career advice, and 84% find these platforms useful for professional guidance. AI is thus establishing itself as a legitimate source of information, even if it remains less valued than human expertise.
Artificial intelligence is not only transforming job searches, it is also disrupting careers. In fact, 10% of students surveyed say they have already changed their career plans due to the emergence of this technology. Some are abandoning fields they believe are threatened by automation. "I was going to be a graphic designer, but after the big leap in AI development, I realized that most clients will no longer need my work," says one respondent. Others fear that their skills will become obsolete, particularly in translation and writing.
But artificial intelligence also opens up new career prospects. Some see unprecedented opportunities in cybersecurity and data analysis. "Technology is impacting the way we deal with and respond to crime. Therefore new and emerging jobs are being created to combat it," says one individual.
However, this revolution is causing anxiety. Students who have changed their career plans are more uncertain about their future (46% vs. 37%) and more pessimistic about their prospects (29% vs. 17%). "My job will be obsolete within 5 to 10 years, so I need to find something more secure now," says one respondent. This race against time creates particular stress for young people in training.
Faced with this change, educational institutions and companies need to rethink their approach. The challenge is to train a generation capable of working with AI without losing their professional identity. Artificial intelligence is transforming the professional landscape, but its impact will depend on our collective ability to make it a lever for fulfillment rather than yet another source of anxiety. – AFP Relaxnews
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Star
26 minutes ago
- The Star
Lawyers face sanctions for citing fake cases with AI, warns UK judge
FILE PHOTO: A message reading "AI artificial intelligence," a keyboard and robot hands are seen in this illustration created on January 27, 2025. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo LONDON (Reuters) -Lawyers who use artificial intelligence to cite non-existent cases can be held in contempt of court or even face criminal charges, London's High Court warned on Friday, in the latest example of generative AI leading lawyers astray. A senior judge lambasted lawyers in two cases who apparently used AI tools when preparing written arguments, which referred to fake case law, and called on regulators and industry leaders to ensure lawyers know their ethical obligations. "There are serious implications for the administration of justice and public confidence in the justice system if artificial intelligence is misused," Judge Victoria Sharp said in a written ruling. "In those circumstances, practical and effective measures must now be taken by those within the legal profession with individual leadership responsibilities ... and by those with the responsibility for regulating the provision of legal services." The ruling comes after lawyers around the world have been forced to explain themselves for relying on false authorities, since ChatGPT and other generative AI tools became widely available more than two years ago. Sharp warned in her ruling that lawyers who refer to non-existent cases will be in breach of their duty to not mislead the court, which could also amount to contempt of court. She added that "in the most egregious cases, deliberately placing false material before the court with the intention of interfering with the administration of justice amounts to the common law criminal offence of perverting the course of justice". Sharp noted that legal regulators and the judiciary had issued guidance about the use of AI by lawyers, but said that "guidance on its own is insufficient to address the misuse of artificial intelligence". (Reporting by Sam Tobin; Editing by Sachin Ravikumar)
New Straits Times
an hour ago
- New Straits Times
Experts call for relook on local STEM education as US tightens foreign student policies
KUALA LUMPUR: The tightening of foreign student policies in the United States may have disrupted the study plans of many worldwide, but Malaysian experts say this is an opportunity to relook at support and funding for local institutions. Former deputy higher education director-general Professor Datuk Dr Noor Azizi Ismail said with the right ecosystem, greater autonomy and stronger funding, local universities could offer high-quality education in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) subjects. "We have the talent. Many of our academics are graduates of world-class universities, but they also possess a better understanding of our local context," he said to the New Straits Times. Noor Azizi, who is also former UMK vice-chancellor and Malaysian Graduate School Entrepreneurship and Business lecturer, acknowledged that the US remained home to top STEM institutions like the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Harvard and Stanford. But he said the current restrictions could steer students toward equally strong alternatives. "In fact, our local universities may even be more relevant in addressing regional challenges and industry needs," Noor Azizi added. International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM) principal director (Academic and Internationalisation) Professor Dr Amir Akramin Shafie echoed the view, saying that "brain stay" could strengthen domestic institutions and fill talent gaps, particularly in Malaysia's key sectors, like semiconductors and advanced manufacturing. Amir Akramin, who is also a lecturer at IIUM's Mechatronics Engineering Department, highlighted the strengths of British and Australian universities, with the former known for its excellence in fundamental sciences and engineering, while the latter led in environmental science, mining and biotechnology. "The perception that the US is the sole leader in STEM might be partially outdated," he said. Amir added that Germany, Japan and South Korea had also invested heavily in STEM education and could now offer globally respected programmes. While some students might initially struggle to shift away from the "US dream", Amir Akramin believed many would adapt and develop new preferences. "This will enhance our diversity and increase the overall international experience of our STEM workforce," he said. Both academics also said with the current US policy, the country might experience reduced exchange of ideas and fewer international collaborations, which would eventually shift the global innovation landscape away from American institutions. "On the upside, a shift from "brain drain" to "brain stay" could help Malaysia strengthen local innovation, build institutional capacity and establish itself as a regional hub for STEM education," said Noor Azizi. On May 27, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio ordered a suspension of student visa processing as President Donald Trump's administration ramped up vetting of their social media. It was the latest move after Rubio rescinded hundreds of visas and the Trump administration moved to bar Harvard from admitting non-Americans. Rubio had used an obscure law that allowed the removal of foreigners for activities deemed counter to US foreign policy interests. The most visible targets had been students involved in activism over Gaza. Trump administration officials accused the students of anti-Semitism, charges strenuously denied by a number of those targeted.
New Straits Times
3 hours ago
- New Straits Times
India's Modi opens strategic railway in contested 'crown jewel' Kashmir
SRINAGAR: Prime Minister Narendra Modi made his first visit to Kashmir today since a conflict with arch-rival Pakistan, opening a strategic railway line to the contested region he called "the crown jewel of India". Modi launched a string of projects worth billions of dollars for the divided Muslim-majority territory, the centre of bitter rivalry between India and Pakistan since their independence from British rule in 1947. Nuclear-armed India and Pakistan fought a four-day conflict last month, their worst standoff since 1999, before a ceasefire was agreed on May 10. "Pakistan will never forget... its shameful loss," the Hindu nationalist premier told crowds a month since India launched strikes on its neighbour after an attack on tourists in Kashmir. "Friends, today's event is a grand festival of India's unity and firm resolve," Modi said after striding across the soaring bridge to formally launch it for rail traffic. "This is a symbol and celebration of rising India," he said of the Chenab Bridge which connects two mountains. New Delhi calls the Chenab span the "world's highest railway arch bridge", sitting 359m above a river. While several road and pipeline bridges are higher, Guinness World Records confirmed that Chenab trumps the previous highest railway bridge, the Najiehe in China. Modi called it "an extraordinary feat of architecture" that "will improve connectivity" by providing the first rail link from the Indian plains up to mountainous Kashmir. With 36 tunnels and 943 bridges, the new railway runs for 272km and connects Udhampur, Srinagar and Baramulla. It is expected to halve the travel time between the town of Katra in the Hindu-majority Jammu region and Srinagar, the main city in Kashmir, to around three hours. The new route will facilitate the movement of people and goods, as well as troops, that was previously possible only via treacherous mountain roads and by air. More than 70 people were killed in missile, drone and artillery fire during last month's conflict. The fighting was triggered by an April 22 attack on civilians in Indian-administered Kashmir that New Delhi accused Pakistan of backing, a charge denied by Islamabad. Rebel groups in Indian-run Kashmir have waged an insurgency for 35 years demanding independence for the territory or its merger with Pakistan. Modi also announced further government financial support for those families whose relatives were killed, or whose homes were damaged, during the brief conflict — mainly in shelling along the heavily militarised de facto border with Pakistan, known as the Line of Control. "Their troubles are our troubles," Modi said.
