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Forbes
01-07-2025
- Business
- Forbes
The New Learning Curve: Adapting Education For An AI-Driven World
Michael E. Hansen is the CEO of Cengage Group, a global edtech company that enables student choice. Seemingly overnight, the artificial intelligence (AI) race is on in corporate America, and leaders across industries are seizing every opportunity to integrate this transformative technology into their operations and offerings. In fact, 92% of companies plan to increase their investments in the next three years due to the technology's proven ability to optimize processes. And notably, three-quarters of senior leaders report positive returns as a result when it comes to operational efficiencies, employee productivity and customer satisfaction. The World Economic Forum's Future of Jobs Report highlights that AI will contribute a net growth of 78 million jobs globally—a 7% increase in employment. However, over 40% of the workforce will be disrupted and need to reskill to meet the AI talent demand. This raises an important question: How should America's workforce development system evolve to equip learners and workers for an AI-driven economy? AI Talent Demands Sparked Educational Evolution Proficiency in AI has quickly become an essential skill for workforce participation. With ChatGPT's release to the public, demand for generative AI skills surged by 1,848% and currently, three in four workers are already using AI at work. To bridge gaps in AI expertise, 77% of employers have adopted skills-based hiring to fill specific skills gaps last year. This shift marked a pivotal transformation in U.S. workforce development and catalyzed an educational evolution that underscores the necessity to look beyond traditional four-year degrees and embrace diverse educational pathways to close employability gaps. Traditionally deemed essential to career success, four-year degrees are no longer viewed as the only path forward. In fact, rising tuition costs and emerging skills gaps have fueled interest in alternative educational pathways at a time when traditional degrees may not hold value throughout one's entire career span. Despite post-secondary enrollment rebounding, there is notable growth in shorter-term learning opportunities; by fall 2024, certificate program enrollment increased by 28.5% compared to 2019, the fourth consecutive quarter of growth. As AI reshapes learners' educational priorities and employer skilling needs, postsecondary institutions must evolve accordingly. I've previously explored how AI influences higher education and the workforce; now let's delve into post-secondary education's pillars of success in this future of work: Take A Thoughtful Approach: Evolving With The Workforce AI has tested the U.S. post-secondary education system's ability to swiftly and effectively adapt to a significant shift in workforce demands. As the demand for skilled AI professionals increases, educational institutions are under pressure to rapidly adapt and prepare students and workers for an AI-driven future. Many institutions are strategically tackling this issue head-on by thoughtfully evolving their curricula alongside the current pace of AI rather than simply "checking off" an AI literacy requirement. To adequately meet the demand for AI talent, I believe post-secondary leaders must think beyond theoretical instruction. Instead, institutions should integrate practical AI literacy into career-specific programs and lean on strategic partnerships with industry employers. For instance, in business courses, students can learn how AI tools can be leveraged to optimize operations, enhance decision-making processes and drive innovation. Moving beyond the basics of AI and incorporating industry-specific use cases or connecting students to internships that showcase real-world applications of AI, students gain a practical understanding of how these technologies can be applied in their respective fields. Truly integrating AI understanding across various fields of study through hands-on examples will enable post-secondary educational institutions to better equip graduates to thrive in an increasingly digital workforce. This approach not only boosts student engagement but also deepens their understanding of how technology will shape their respective industries in the years ahead. Don't Lose Sight Of Post-Secondary's Goal As perceptions of post-secondary education evolve and the cost of living continues to rise, learners are increasingly scrutinizing the return on investment of their educational pathways. This scrutiny is compounded by data indicating that higher levels of traditional education can sometimes correlate with longer periods of unemployment after graduation. Ultimately, employment is the primary goal of post-secondary education. Consequently, there is a growing demand for transparency and accountability from educational institutions regarding program outcomes. Students are gravitating toward institutions that provide clear reporting on program effectiveness, seeking assurance that their chosen pathway will lead to viable employment opportunities. When post-secondary institutions focus on equipping learners with employable skills, they can help ensure that curricula and other educational programs adapt responsively to both workforce demands and student needs. This alignment not only enhances the value proposition for students but also strengthens the institution's reputation as a leader in career-focused education amid a changing workforce. AI Is Just The Beginning Today, organizations evolve and innovate at an unfathomable pace, and AI is just one of many innovations set to disrupt the business world. To keep up with workforce needs, educational providers, employers and policymakers must collaborate rather than operate in isolation. For example, by partnering with employers to develop curricula and design internship or apprenticeship programs, educational institutions can create pathways that lead directly to job opportunities. Initiatives such as Best Buy's recent degree initiative or California's collaboration with Nvidia exemplify how such partnerships can effectively bridge the gap between education and the workforce. Embracing a comprehensive workforce development system not only enhances employability but also fosters a more dynamic and responsive economy capable of adapting to future challenges. The urgent demand for AI talent has catalyzed a significant shift toward skills-based learning, marking a pivotal moment in education. As industries prioritize specific competencies over traditional credentials, post-secondary education must adapt to remain impactful. By integrating practical experiences and fostering industry partnerships, leaders can help these institutions better prepare students for the evolving workforce and future challenges. Forbes Business Council is the foremost growth and networking organization for business owners and leaders. Do I qualify?
Forbes
17-06-2025
- Business
- Forbes
The AI-Readiness Crisis: Why Businesses Can't Wait for Universities
Jyoti Shah is a Director of Applications Development, a GenAI tech leader, mentor, innovation advocate, and Women In Tech advisor at ADP. More than half of recent college graduates don't know if their colleges have prepared them for "the use of generative AI," according to a Cengage Group cited by Higher Ed Dive, while about 66% of employers feel that potential job candidates should have "foundational knowledge" of generative AI tools. This disconnect is causing problems for the hiring process—especially, in my experience, for recent computer science grads. In my role, I've spoken with dozens of bright developers who have never used GitHub Copilot, have no idea how machine-learning pipelines or observability frameworks work and don't comprehend how SHAP or LIME describe models. Let me be clear: This is a reflection of how quickly industry changes and how slowly academia adjusts, not of these developers' abilities. Having managed international AI engineering teams, I've seen how these gaps manifest locally as longer onboarding times, a lack of trust in AI tools and lost chances to streamline development cycles. To solve this challenge, companies can't wait for universities to catch up to AI. They need to find ways to train engineers to adapt to this ever-changing technology. According to a 2024 survey from Kyndryl, 71% of business leaders feel their workforce is not yet ready to leverage AI, with many citing the lack of "skilled talent needed to manage AI" as a major reason. Companies without an AI-savvy workforce are compelled to postpone deployments, contract out critical functions or deal with poor product quality. The good news is that, according to McKinsey, nearly half of employees want more formal AI training, but other research shows that only 31% of employers are providing AI training. When AI talent can't be hired fast enough, it must be developed from within. Big Tech is already working on this, with Microsoft, Google, IBM, Intel, SAP and Cisco collectively planning to train over 100 million workers. I've seen the success of these types of programs at my own company, where we set up an internal AI bootcamp, started hands-on labs that were directly related to real-world projects and matched junior engineers with mentors who had experience with AI. To promote practical upskilling, we also host project-focused webinars, arrange hackathons with an AI focus and assign structured learning paths on sites like Udemy to guarantee ongoing improvement. Based on these experiences, here are five ways to bridge the AI skills gap at your organization: 1. Launch an internal AI learning program. Instead of using pre-made tutorials, create learning tracks centered on actual issues that your engineers encounter, such as using AI for CI/CD optimization, auto-generating test cases or enhancing search relevance with natural language processing. 2. Make AI a core part of DevOps. AI is not an "optional add-on." Tools like Amazon CodeWhisperer and GitHub Copilot are quickly taking over as the standard. Integrate them into documentation procedures, deployment flows and code reviews. 3. Promote peer mentorship. While formal training has its place, one-on-one, contextual mentoring frequently works better. Establish "AI champion" positions and facilitate team members' real-time shadowing and learning. 4. Measure AI tool adoption. Keep track of how often engineers use AI tools for backlog grooming, testing, debugging and code commits. Organize frequent hackathons or internal demonstrations centered on AI-enhanced engineering. 5. Partner with academic institutions. Talk to the faculty at the schools you hire a lot from. Provide real-world problem statements, fund student projects with an AI theme or collaborate on developing modular course materials. It helps your brand and the talent pipeline. There is no longer any room for speculation regarding the move toward AI-native development. It has already arrived. In addition to writing code, developers are now expected to work with machines to direct and verify the output of AI. Businesses that don't facilitate this change will experience increased turnover, higher training expenses and decreased developer productivity. On the other hand, companies will gain a compounding advantage if they make AI fluency a strategic capability for all engineers, not just data scientists. They will attract top talent who wish to build for the future rather than the past, ship more quickly and adapt better. Don't wait for the AI gap to be filled by higher education. Begin within your organization. Invest in mentorship, align tooling with learning and cultivate an internal culture of AI fluency. The ability to code with AI is more important than simply knowing how to code in the future of software engineering. Forbes Technology Council is an invitation-only community for world-class CIOs, CTOs and technology executives. Do I qualify?
Yahoo
04-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Gale, Part of Cengage Group, Introduces AI Leveler Tool in Beta to Personalize Learning and Support Student Reading Comprehension
New GenAI tool is now available to K-12 educators in more than 50 school districts across 21 states; enables educators to adjust reading level to improve student outcomes. BOSTON, June 04, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Today, Gale, part of Cengage Group, announced the launch of AI Leveler, a generative AI-powered (GenAI) tool within Gale In Context: For Educators that allows K-12 educators to adjust and personalize the reading level of instructional content for each student. AI Leveler provides a safe and convenient way for K–12 educators to efficiently adapt Gale educational resources, enabling personalized learning that improves reading comprehension. This personalization is crucial, especially as the 2024 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) reports that 1 in 3 American students fail to demonstrate basic, age-appropriate reading skills. "Educators are at the heart of learning, and our focus is on giving them the tools they need to personalize instruction and drive student success," said Darren Person, Chief Digital Officer at Cengage Group. "With AI Leveler, we're enabling educators to tailor instruction at scale—especially in critical areas like reading and STEM—while maintaining full control over content quality and the classroom experience. Adjustments to reading levels can be made discreetly, respecting student privacy and allowing learners to engage with material at the level that suits them best. We developed this tool based on direct educator feedback to ensure it supports efficient, safe, and high-quality instruction tailored to individual student needs." AI Leveler helps educators deliver tailored scaffolding to students to address gaps in reading comprehension. This approach enables more learners to engage with grade-level concepts while building and strengthening their skills. Unlike some standalone AI tools that generate content, AI Leveler does not create instructional material. Instead, it works exclusively with trusted, authored and sourced content from Gale, helping personalize how that content is delivered. This ensures source transparency and keeps high-quality, curriculum-aligned materials at the center of the learning experience. Key features include: Customizable Text Levels: Educators can adjust Gale content to 12 different Lexile reading levels, allowing educators to modify text complexity on demand and create multiple leveled versions of the same resource for each individual student. Editable Results: Once content is leveled, educators can edit and customize content to their exact needs. This enables educators to add formatting and headings to support student comprehension, remove sections of content that aren't relevant to their instruction or ensure vocabulary needed for the lesson is incorporated into the text. Auto-Generated Citation: Every modified resource includes a citation that notes AI-assisted adjustments for transparency and proper sourcing, which is critical for information literacy. AI Leveler is part of Cengage Group's broader commitment to advance AI and machine learning technologies to personalize learning, improve student outcomes, enhance and scale the instructor experience and, ultimately, connect education to real-world careers. It follows recent launches of Cengage's Student Assistant, Faculty Insight Dashboard and Infosec's Skills Navigator, all of which are AI-powered tools designed to enhance the human element of education. "At Cengage Group, we continue to evolve learning and prioritize technologies like GenAI to reimagine what's possible for both educators and learners," said Person. "Improving and enhancing learning outcomes – with the help of personalized learning tools – is our main priority, and GenAI-powered enhancements, like AI Leveler, allow educators to strategically and safely personalize learning to improve reading comprehension. We want educators to feel empowered to change the trajectory of learning for each student in a safe, controlled environment, and AI Leveler is just one example of how we're making that a reality. We look forward to introducing this product to our customers and continuing to complement their teaching efforts with tools that will help them continue making a difference in the classroom." Integrated directly into Gale In Context: For Educators, the tool allows educators to save and assign this adapted content through platforms such as Google Classroom, Canvas and Schoology. The AI Leveler beta release also leverages AI techniques to strengthen the "Find Resources by Standard" tool to provide better alignment between standards and content. Gale In Context: For Educators is an award-winning instructional tool developed by curriculum experts that merges current, relevant, standards-aligned content with rich lesson plans. For more information about Gale and its new AI Leveler tool, visit the product webpage. About Cengage GroupCengage Group, a global education technology company serving millions of learners, provides affordable, quality digital products and services that equip students with the skills and competencies needed to be job ready. For more than 100 years, we have enabled the power and joy of learning with trusted, engaging content, and now, integrated digital platforms. We serve the higher education, workforce skills, secondary education, English language teaching and research markets worldwide. Through our scalable technology, including MindTap and Cengage Unlimited, we support all learners who seek to improve their lives and achieve their dreams through education. Visit us at or find us on LinkedIn or X. About GaleGale, part of Cengage Group, believes in the power and joy of learning. For schools, the company helps drive positive outcomes by providing essential, curriculum-aligned content that empowers educators to solve curriculum challenges and meet students where they are. Gale's K-12 offerings extend from educational databases and custom eBook collections to instructional tools and professional development resources. For more information, please visit: Follow Gale on: Twitter Gale Blog Facebook LinkedIn Instagram YouTube View source version on Contacts Media: Emily Featherson, Vice President, Corporate CommunicationsEmail: Error while retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data
Associated Press
04-06-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
Gale, Part of Cengage Group, Introduces AI Leveler Tool in Beta to Personalize Learning and Support Student Reading Comprehension
BOSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jun 4, 2025-- Today, Gale, part of Cengage Group, announced the launch of AI Leveler, a generative AI-powered (GenAI) tool within Gale In Context: For Educators that allows K-12 educators to adjust and personalize the reading level of instructional content for each student. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: Gale, Part of Cengage Group, Introduces AI Leveler Tool in Beta to Personalize Learning and Support Student Reading Comprehension AI Leveler provides a safe and convenient way for K–12 educators to efficiently adapt Gale educational resources, enabling personalized learning that improves reading comprehension. This personalization is crucial, especially as the 2024 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) reports that 1 in 3 American students fail to demonstrate basic, age-appropriate reading skills. 'Educators are at the heart of learning, and our focus is on giving them the tools they need to personalize instruction and drive student success,' said Darren Person, Chief Digital Officer at Cengage Group. 'With AI Leveler, we're enabling educators to tailor instruction at scale—especially in critical areas like reading and STEM—while maintaining full control over content quality and the classroom experience. Adjustments to reading levels can be made discreetly, respecting student privacy and allowing learners to engage with material at the level that suits them best. We developed this tool based on direct educator feedback to ensure it supports efficient, safe, and high-quality instruction tailored to individual student needs.' AI Leveler helps educators deliver tailored scaffolding to students to address gaps in reading comprehension. This approach enables more learners to engage with grade-level concepts while building and strengthening their skills. Unlike some standalone AI tools that generate content, AI Leveler does not create instructional material. Instead, it works exclusively with trusted, authored and sourced content from Gale, helping personalize how that content is delivered. This ensures source transparency and keeps high-quality, curriculum-aligned materials at the center of the learning experience. Key features include: AI Leveler is part of Cengage Group's broader commitment to advance AI and machine learning technologies to personalize learning, improve student outcomes, enhance and scale the instructor experience and, ultimately, connect education to real-world careers. It follows recent launches of Cengage's Student Assistant,Faculty Insight Dashboard and Infosec's Skills Navigator, all of which are AI-powered tools designed to enhance the human element of education. 'At Cengage Group, we continue to evolve learning and prioritize technologies like GenAI to reimagine what's possible for both educators and learners,' said Person. 'Improving and enhancing learning outcomes – with the help of personalized learning tools – is our main priority, and GenAI-powered enhancements, like AI Leveler, allow educators to strategically and safely personalize learning to improve reading comprehension. We want educators to feel empowered to change the trajectory of learning for each student in a safe, controlled environment, and AI Leveler is just one example of how we're making that a reality. We look forward to introducing this product to our customers and continuing to complement their teaching efforts with tools that will help them continue making a difference in the classroom.' Integrated directly into Gale In Context: For Educators, the tool allows educators to save and assign this adapted content through platforms such as Google Classroom, Canvas and Schoology. The AI Leveler beta release also leverages AI techniques to strengthen the 'Find Resources by Standard' tool to provide better alignment between standards and content. Gale In Context: For Educators is an award-winning instructional tool developed by curriculum experts that merges current, relevant, standards-aligned content with rich lesson plans. For more information about Gale and its new AI Leveler tool, visit the product webpage. Follow Gale on: View source version on CONTACT: Media: Emily Featherson, Vice President, Corporate Communications Email:[email protected] KEYWORD: MASSACHUSETTS UNITED STATES NORTH AMERICA INDUSTRY KEYWORD: SOFTWARE PROFESSIONAL SERVICES TECHNOLOGY OTHER EDUCATION ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE PRIMARY/SECONDARY EDUCATION PUBLISHING HUMAN RESOURCES COMMUNICATIONS FINANCE OTHER TECHNOLOGY SOURCE: Gale Copyright Business Wire 2025. PUB: 06/04/2025 08:28 AM/DISC: 06/04/2025 08:26 AM
Business Wire
04-06-2025
- Business
- Business Wire
Gale, Part of Cengage Group, Introduces AI Leveler Tool in Beta to Personalize Learning and Support Student Reading Comprehension
BOSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Today, Gale, part of Cengage Group, announced the launch of AI Leveler, a generative AI-powered (GenAI) tool within Gale In Context: For Educators that allows K-12 educators to adjust and personalize the reading level of instructional content for each student. 'Educators are at the heart of learning, and our focus is on giving them the tools they need to personalize instruction and drive student success,' said Darren Person, Chief Digital Officer at Cengage Group. Share AI Leveler provides a safe and convenient way for K–12 educators to efficiently adapt Gale educational resources, enabling personalized learning that improves reading comprehension. This personalization is crucial, especially as the 2024 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) reports that 1 in 3 American students fail to demonstrate basic, age-appropriate reading skills. 'Educators are at the heart of learning, and our focus is on giving them the tools they need to personalize instruction and drive student success,' said Darren Person, Chief Digital Officer at Cengage Group. 'With AI Leveler, we're enabling educators to tailor instruction at scale—especially in critical areas like reading and STEM—while maintaining full control over content quality and the classroom experience. Adjustments to reading levels can be made discreetly, respecting student privacy and allowing learners to engage with material at the level that suits them best. We developed this tool based on direct educator feedback to ensure it supports efficient, safe, and high-quality instruction tailored to individual student needs.' AI Leveler helps educators deliver tailored scaffolding to students to address gaps in reading comprehension. This approach enables more learners to engage with grade-level concepts while building and strengthening their skills. Unlike some standalone AI tools that generate content, AI Leveler does not create instructional material. Instead, it works exclusively with trusted, authored and sourced content from Gale, helping personalize how that content is delivered. This ensures source transparency and keeps high-quality, curriculum-aligned materials at the center of the learning experience. Key features include: Customizable Text Levels: Educators can adjust Gale content to 12 different Lexile reading levels, allowing educators to modify text complexity on demand and create multiple leveled versions of the same resource for each individual student. Editable Results: Once content is leveled, educators can edit and customize content to their exact needs. This enables educators to add formatting and headings to support student comprehension, remove sections of content that aren't relevant to their instruction or ensure vocabulary needed for the lesson is incorporated into the text. Auto-Generated Citation: Every modified resource includes a citation that notes AI-assisted adjustments for transparency and proper sourcing, which is critical for information literacy. AI Leveler is part of Cengage Group's broader commitment to advance AI and machine learning technologies to personalize learning, improve student outcomes, enhance and scale the instructor experience and, ultimately, connect education to real-world careers. It follows recent launches of Cengage's Student Assistant, Faculty Insight Dashboard and Infosec's Skills Navigator, all of which are AI-powered tools designed to enhance the human element of education. 'At Cengage Group, we continue to evolve learning and prioritize technologies like GenAI to reimagine what's possible for both educators and learners,' said Person. 'Improving and enhancing learning outcomes – with the help of personalized learning tools – is our main priority, and GenAI-powered enhancements, like AI Leveler, allow educators to strategically and safely personalize learning to improve reading comprehension. We want educators to feel empowered to change the trajectory of learning for each student in a safe, controlled environment, and AI Leveler is just one example of how we're making that a reality. We look forward to introducing this product to our customers and continuing to complement their teaching efforts with tools that will help them continue making a difference in the classroom.' Integrated directly into Gale In Context: For Educators, the tool allows educators to save and assign this adapted content through platforms such as Google Classroom, Canvas and Schoology. The AI Leveler beta release also leverages AI techniques to strengthen the 'Find Resources by Standard' tool to provide better alignment between standards and content. Gale In Context: For Educators is an award-winning instructional tool developed by curriculum experts that merges current, relevant, standards-aligned content with rich lesson plans. For more information about Gale and its new AI Leveler tool, visit the product webpage. About Cengage Group Cengage Group, a global education technology company serving millions of learners, provides affordable, quality digital products and services that equip students with the skills and competencies needed to be job ready. For more than 100 years, we have enabled the power and joy of learning with trusted, engaging content, and now, integrated digital platforms. We serve the higher education, workforce skills, secondary education, English language teaching and research markets worldwide. Through our scalable technology, including MindTap and Cengage Unlimited, we support all learners who seek to improve their lives and achieve their dreams through education. Visit us at or find us on LinkedIn or X. About Gale Gale, part of Cengage Group, believes in the power and joy of learning. For schools, the company helps drive positive outcomes by providing essential, curriculum-aligned content that empowers educators to solve curriculum challenges and meet students where they are. Gale's K-12 offerings extend from educational databases and custom eBook collections to instructional tools and professional development resources. For more information, please visit: Follow Gale on:
