Chris Gray, Ph.D.
Founding President, Erie County Community College of Pennsylvania
Artificial Intelligence is no longer a futuristic concept. It is a present reality shaping nearly every industry, and we see it growing by leaps and bounds. From healthcare and finance to education and manufacturing, AI is transforming how work gets done. I can't think of an industry that's unaffected, actually. A 2024 World Economic Forum report predicted that 97 million new roles would emerge globally by 2025 and that they would be adapted to the new division of labor between humans and machines. It also postulated that 85 million jobs would be displaced by automation and AI-driven processes (World Economic Forum, 2024). As a result, employers have spoken clearly: as AI makes its way into all facets of the workforce, graduates who understand how to use AI tools will have a distinct competitive edge in the job market.
That said, AI is not just for tech professionals. Basic AI literacy is becoming as fundamental as digital literacy was a decade ago. McKinsey research shows that generative AI could automate as much as 60 to 70 percent of work activities in some sectors, including data analysis and content creation (McKinsey & Company, 2023). Graduates who know how to leverage AI for efficiency and problem-solving will stand out in every field.
Employers increasingly expect candidates to demonstrate familiarity with AI tools to aid in the performance of tasks such as summarizing complex information quickly and automating repetitive processes. It can and should also be used to enhance creativity and brainstorming in addition to supporting decision-making with data-driven insights. It's not an overstatement to say that AI is becoming a core skill, not a niche specialty.
At EC3, we believe that, if we expect students to become conversant with AI, we must model its use ourselves. That is why we have challenged all faculty and staff to integrate AI into their work in ways that make sense for their curriculum. We know that learning happens best when students see it in action. Like any tool, AI is only effective when used properly. I'm showing my age here, but when I first learned computer use, we routinely heard the adage "garbage in, garbage out." It's truer than ever; out students need to learn how to use AI in ways that enhance their extant skills, and they will not learn this without our help.
When asked, I proudly share that, in my role as president, I routinely use AI every day in practical ways. I employ it to help me clean up writing, especially to refine for clarity and tone, and I used it to help brainstorm ideas for strategic plans and community engagement — and even the occasional blog post. I find it invaluable in helping to break down and aid in my understanding of complex processes, especially regulations or research, and I find that it can be helpful in generating outlines or frameworks for reports and presentations. It can even be helpful as I read up on current trends and the latest innovations, crucial information as we work together to keep EC3 ahead of the curve
These tools do not replace critical thinking, and I'm not offloading the heavy lifting; rather, I'm just using the best tool available to maximize my own productivity. I find that AI is most helpful to me in freeing up some of my time for deeper analysis and creativity. Our students need to learn how to do this well.
All that being said, we also recognize that AI is not a magic solution. We fully recognize its limitations and the ethical and environmental concerns surrounding its use. Issues such as bias in algorithms, copyright violations, data privacy, and the carbon footprint of large-scale computing are real and require thoughtful consideration and a measured analysis of the costs and benefits. At EC3, we have always trained learners to critically evaluate sources, and AI is no different. Students must learn to create effective prompts, use appropriate context cues, question outputs, verify facts and sources, and apply their own judgment to AI-generated products. That is the foundation of responsible AI use, and it's critical thinking in action.
The bottom line is that AI is here to stay, and graduates who understand how to use it responsibly will have a significant advantage over those who don't or those who use it unethically or sloppily. EC3 is committed to preparing students for a reality that includes an ever-expanding AI presence by continuing to embed AI literacy into our culture and curriculum. We are not just teaching skills for today. We are equipping learners for the future. As we must and should.
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