As AI reshapes industries, the question of who is ready — and who isn't — dominates the conversation. Jason Jabbari from Washington University in St. Louis argues that workers need adaptable skills, not just technical know-how, to thrive in an AI-driven job market. He highlights programs like LaunchCode and Per Scholas, which are already adjusting by offering upskilling courses and matching workers to roles where AI boosts efficiency rather than replaces it. The broader message: learning how to learn quickly may be the most valuable skill going forward.
A separate report on preparing the Class of 2030 echoes that theme. The World Economic Forum estimates that 39% of core worker skills will change by 2030, pushing universities to weave AI literacy and work-based learning into every year of study — not just into computer science programs. Creativity, empathy, and problem-solving are just as critical as technical knowledge, the report stresses.
On the enterprise side, the buying habits of companies are coming under scrutiny. One advisor to over 2,000 firms says organizations often negotiate fixed products instead of solving real problems, locking themselves into outdated tech through rigid procurement processes. Bundling AI services into long-term contracts can drive wasted spending and shadow IT. The advice: focus on outcomes and total cost of ownership rather than unit-price discounts.
Kevin Surace, CEO of Serious Computing, takes a more optimistic view. In his book, published September 1 by Amplify Publishing, he argues that AI handles joyless, repetitive tasks while humans keep the thinking and judgment. His core idea is that positivity and solution-focused mindsets help people spot opportunities others miss — a point illustrated in fields like cybersecurity, where AI handles routine work and humans steer strategy.
That cybersecurity theme carries forward in a report on offensive security, which says AI agents can test systems at scale but generate too many findings for teams to sort through. Humans still need to set scope, steer agents, and prioritize risks. Research shows organizations only pentest about one-third of their attack surface on average, making human judgment paired with agentic AI the preferred path from validated findings to prioritized risk.
Data centers are drawing heat too. The Salem City Council will vote on November 9 to clarify city code that could block AI and hyperscale data centers. Current code predates AI data centers and was written for traditional ones. City Attorney Dan Atchinson says the clarification targets the pending Verrus data center application, which has faced opposition from hundreds of residents. The council has never formally defined what a data center means in its code.
On the hardware front, CRDN highlighted 10 new edge computing products that bring AI closer to users. The lineup includes Cisco Unified Edge with Intel Xeon 6 and NVIDIA RTX Pro GPUs, HPE Juniper QFX5140 switches for AI inferencing, and Lenovo ThinkEdge SE455i with AMD EPYC and NVIDIA L4 GPUs. Ambarella's X7, a low-power AI accelerator for existing systems, also made the list. The edge computing market is expected to reach $273.73 billion by 2030.
Meanwhile, the UK is betting big on AI defense. The government announced about $800 million in funding for cyber defenses and AI security investments. AI minister Kanishka Narayan warned that cyber defenses will likely be compromised by AI tools and urged building technology in Britain to reduce dependence on foreign providers. Roughly $154 million goes to cyber defenses, though industry leaders criticize the split funding and worry the UK trails the US in growing homegrown AI companies.
Down under, Australian firms are grappling with rising AI-driven threats. ESET's Enterprise Cybersecurity Report 2026 found that half of Australian organizations see employee awareness as a top challenge despite 92% providing annual training. Sixty-six percent experienced at least one AI-related cyber threat in the past year, including AI-generated phishing and data leakage through AI platforms. Forty-one percent reported a shortage of skilled cybersecurity professionals, and 72% experienced at least one major cyber incident.
Retail banks are also adapting, but in a quieter way. They are rolling out AI-powered recommendation engines to personalize customer interactions, creating a marketing visibility problem that goes beyond website traffic. These opaque algorithms require marketers to track recommendations, source influence, and platform differences alongside traditional metrics to measure effectiveness and understand customer behavior more completely.
Key Takeaways
- Washington University expert Jason Jabbari says workforce programs like LaunchCode and Per Scholas are shifting toward upskilling workers for AI-augmented roles rather than AI-replaced ones.
- The World Economic Forum estimates 39% of core worker skills will change by 2030, urging universities to embed AI literacy and work-based learning across all degree programs.
- An enterprise procurement advisor warns that rigid RFP processes and bundled AI contracts lead to wasted spending and shadow IT across over 2,000 companies.
- Kevin Surace, CEO of Serious Computing, argues AI handles repetitive drudgery while humans retain judgment, creativity, and strategic thinking in his book released September 1.
- Cybersecurity research shows organizations only pentest about one-third of their attack surface on average, making human-led prioritization essential alongside AI agent testing.
- Salem City Council will vote November 9 on code clarification that could block AI and hyperscale data centers, targeting the pending Verrus project.
- CRDN identified 10 new edge computing products featuring Intel Xeon 6, NVIDIA RTX Pro, AMD EPYC, and NVIDIA L4 GPUs, with the edge market projected to reach $273.73 billion by 2030.
- The UK allocated approximately $800 million for cyber defenses and AI security, with $154 million directed to cyber defenses, amid concerns about falling behind the US in homegrown AI.
- ESET's 2026 report found 66% of Australian firms faced at least one AI-related cyber threat in the past year, while 41% report cybersecurity staff shortages.
- Retail banks using AI recommendation engines must now track source influence and platform differences alongside traditional metrics to measure marketing effectiveness.
WashU expert says workers need adaptable skills for the AI era
Jason Jabbari from Washington University in St. Louis says education must blend technical training with durable skills like critical thinking and adaptability. He co-authored a chapter on how workforce programs like LaunchCode and Per Scholas are adjusting to AI-driven job markets. Per Scholas now offers upskilling courses for past graduates. LaunchCode focuses on matching workers to roles where AI boosts efficiency. The article stresses that learning how to learn quickly is becoming the most important skill for economic mobility.
Report urges universities to prepare grads for an AI-driven job market
A report on preparing the Class of 2030 says universities must focus on adaptability rather than just today's AI tools. The World Economic Forum estimates 39% of core worker skills will change by 2030. The article calls for AI literacy across all fields, not just computer science. It says employability and work-based learning should be built into every year of a degree. Graduates need human skills like creativity, empathy and problem-solving alongside technical knowledge.
Expert says companies buy technology wrong in the AI age
An opinion piece argues that enterprises often negotiate fixed products instead of solving real problems when buying technology. The author advises over 2,000 companies yearly and says using detailed request for proposal processes can lock firms into outdated tech. Bundling AI services with long-term software contracts can lead to wasted spending and shadow IT. The article urges procurement teams to focus on outcomes and total cost of ownership rather than unit-price discounts.
Kevin Surace says AI can remove drudgery and restore joy at work
Kevin Surace, CEO of Serious Computing, argues that AI takes over joyless repetitive tasks while humans keep the thinking and judgment. His book, published Sept. 1 by Amplify Publishing, focuses on joy as a driver of success. He believes people who stay positive and solution-focused spot opportunities others miss. A fireside chat explored how this mindset applies to fields like cybersecurity, where AI handles routine work and humans focus on strategy.
Human experts will still be vital as AI transforms offensive security
A cybersecurity report says AI agents can test systems at massive scale but create too many findings for teams to sort through. Humans must set scope and guardrails, steer agents during testing, find business logic flaws and prioritize which risks to fix first. Research shows organizations only pentest about one-third of their attack surface on average. The article says combining human judgment with agentic AI is the preferred approach to move from validated findings to prioritized risk.
Salem City Council considers ban on AI data centers through code clarification
The Salem City Council will vote on November 9 to clarify city code that could block AI and hyperscale data centers. Current code only covers traditional data centers and was written before AI data centers became common. City Attorney Dan Atchinson said the clarification would apply to the pending Verrus data center application. Hundreds of people opposed the Verrus project and other AI data centers. The council has never formally defined what a data center means in its code.
10 new edge computing products bring AI closer to users
CRN highlighted 10 new edge computing products that help companies deploy AI closer to where data is generated. The products include Cisco Unified Edge with Intel Xeon 6 and NVIDIA RTX Pro GPUs, HPE Juniper QFX5140 switch for AI inferencing, and Lenovo ThinkEdge SE455i with AMD EPYC and NVIDIA L4 GPUs. Other offerings include Ambarella X7, a low-power AI accelerator for existing systems. The edge computing market is expected to reach $273.73 billion by 2030.
Virginia Tech Science Festival returns with AI exhibits
The Virginia Tech Science Festival returns on November 7 for its 13th year with over 50 free interactive exhibits. The event runs from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Center for the Arts and Newman Library. One exhibit inside the Cube uses generative AI and digital storytelling to bring centuries-old Arabian, Persian, and Indian storytelling traditions to life. The festival is designed for families, students on field trips, and Virginia Tech students to explore science and research.
UK invests in AI defense and tech sovereignty amid security concerns
The UK announced about $800 million in funding for cyber defenses and AI security investments. AI minister Kanishka Narayan said cyber defenses will likely be compromised by AI tools and urged building technology in Britain to reduce dependence on foreign providers. The funding package faces criticism for being split across many initiatives, with roughly $154 million going to cyber defenses. Industry leaders worry the UK is behind in growing homegrown AI companies compared to the US.
Australian firms struggle with cyber skills gaps as AI threats rise
ESET's Enterprise Cybersecurity Report 2026 found that half of Australian organizations see employee awareness as a top security challenge despite 92 percent providing annual training. 66 percent experienced at least one AI-related cyber threat in the past year, including AI-generated phishing and data leakage through AI platforms. 41 percent reported a shortage of skilled cybersecurity professionals. 72 percent experienced at least one major cyber incident in the past year. The study surveyed 400 Australian cybersecurity decision-makers.
Banks Need New Metrics to Track AI Recommendation Impact
Retail banks are using AI-powered recommendation engines to personalize customer interactions. These systems create a new marketing visibility problem that goes beyond simple website traffic. The engines use complex algorithms that are not transparent about how they make decisions. Marketers must track recommendations, source influence, and platform differences alongside traditional search and referral metrics. This approach helps measure effectiveness and understand customer behavior more completely.
Sources
- WashU Expert: Preparing workers for the age of AI
- Preparing the Class of 2030: Equipping Graduates for an AI-Driven World of Work
- In the era of AI, we are all buying technology wrong
- Fireside Chat: Kevin Surace says AI can eliminate drudgery — and bring joy back to security teams
- Human Experts Will Cover 4 Key Roles as AI Transforms Offensive Security
- Salem City Council to vote on clarifying code to halt AI data centers
- 10 New Products For AI Edge Solutions
- Virginia Tech Science Festival returns with immersive AI exhibits
- UK Wades Into Tech Sovereignty Amid AI Policy Changes
- Training and cyber skills gaps continue to grow as AI threats increase
- Bank Marketing’s AI Visibility Problem Is Bigger Than Website Traffic
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