Technology and Innovation Community

Recent note published on the FED site on Educational Exposure to GenAI.

note

Key findings:

• College Majors. Mathematics and Computer Science-related fields, Political Science and Government, and Accounting may be most affected by generative AI. The available data does not specify the potential of the occupations associated with these fields to be automated away or augmented. If the associated occupations are automated away, the labor demand for graduates with majors in Mathematics and Computer Science-related fields, Political Science and Government, and Accounting may decrease and cause declines in staffing and student engagement in affiliated departments at educational institutions. Conversely, if the associated occupations are augmented, the labor demand for these graduates may rise, expanding affiliated programs and personnel.
• Demographic Groups. Demographic groups may be affected differently by generative AI's potential effect on college majors. College majors with higher percentages of Hispanic and Asian graduates may be more exposed to certain aspects of generative AI, while college majors with higher percentages of females, whites, and blacks may be less exposed. Given that higher exposure to generative AI may mean automation or augmentation of the jobs of these demographic groups, it is ambiguous whether higher exposure will improve or worsen the welfare of Hispanic and Asian graduates.
• Educational Institutions. Finally, the impact of generative AI may be more pronounced at Liberal Arts I institutions, which award a relatively high percentage of Social Sciences degrees, and Research University I institutions, which award a relatively high percentage of STEM degrees.

- Todor