College students are increasingly switching majors to avoid careers vulnerable to artificial intelligence, as concerns about job displacement grow. Josephine Timperman, a 20-year-old at Miami University in Ohio, recently changed her major from business analytics to marketing, citing fears that AI could automate the skills she was learning. "Everyone has a fear that entry-level jobs will be taken by AI," she said. Timperman now focuses on developing critical thinking and interpersonal skills, which she believes AI cannot replace. She plans to keep analytics as a minor and pursue a master’s program in the field.
The uncertainty is most pronounced among students in technology and vocational fields, where expertise in AI is both necessary and feared. A 2025 poll by the Harvard Kennedy School’s Institute of Politics found that 70% of college students view AI as a threat to their job prospects. Similarly, Gallup polling shows rising concerns among U.S. workers about being replaced by new technologies. A Quinnipiac poll found that most Americans believe it is important for students to learn how to use AI, reflecting a broader debate over how to prepare for an AI-driven job market.
Students describe choosing an 'AI-proof' major as a moving target, as the job market evolves rapidly. Many are reconsidering their career paths, balancing the need for technical skills with the importance of human-centric abilities. The shift highlights a generational anxiety about the future of work and the role of education in adapting to technological change.