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AI Surge: Top Campuses Embrace New Tech Major
9 Dec, 2025
Summary
- Nearly 330 MIT students major in AI, second only to computer science.
- New AI-focused majors launched at UC San Diego and USF attract many students.
- AI offers environmental benefits but faces energy and waste concerns.
Artificial intelligence is experiencing a dramatic surge in popularity on college campuses, signaling a new era for specialized computing degrees. At the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, nearly 330 students are now majoring in AI and decision-making, a field that has only been offered since 2022 and is already more popular than all but computer science.
Other leading institutions, including the University of California San Diego and the University of South Florida, are also establishing AI-focused majors that are quickly attracting substantial student enrollment. This trend is fueled by the widespread availability of AI tools like ChatGPT and the promising career opportunities with companies like Nvidia, alongside a challenging job market for traditional computer science graduates.
While AI offers promising environmental applications, such as improved weather forecasting and optimized agricultural practices, its widespread adoption also raises concerns about significant energy and water consumption, e-waste generation, and potential societal reliance on machines. Nevertheless, students are eager to pioneer this rapidly advancing field.
