Choosing a university degree has never been straightforward. Students and parents have always asked which courses and majors offer the best returns and lead to secure careers.
But now the age of generative artificial intelligence, bringing powerful new tools such as ChatGPT and Claude, has made those decisions much more complex.
In New Zealand and elsewhere, students are finding it harder than ever to judge which careers will thrive, which skills will remain valuable and how AI might disrupt the professions they hope to enter.
Generative AI can already draft reports, summarise research, write code, analyse data and generate professional-looking content. Although not yet reliable enough to replace professional expertise, it is changing the kinds of work graduates are expected to do, particularly at the start of their careers.
A recent survey of New Zealand business leaders found 87% of organisations had seen job roles change or disappear because of AI, while one third reported slowing entry-level hiring.
