Rio Salado College President Kate Smith recently joined Dr. JP Novin, CEO, founder and Chairman of Plexuss Inc., on the Plexuss Presidential Podcast for a wide-ranging conversation about how artificial intelligence is reshaping the workforce and redefining the role of higher education. Plexuss is an education technology company based in California’s Silicon Valley.
During the episode, Smith shared that AI is not replacing most jobs, but fundamentally changing them, making adaptability and continuous learning essential for today’s graduates. The discussion explored the growing importance of durable skills such as data literacy, critical thinking, communication, and learning how to learn, as well as the need for colleges to move beyond traditional degree models toward more flexible, skills-based, and lifelong learning pathways.
The conversation highlighted microcredentials, ongoing reskilling, ethical judgment, and human-centered skills as critical components of preparing learners for careers that will continue to evolve alongside AI. It offers a forward-looking perspective on how higher education can lead in an era of rapid change.
You can listen to the full conversation on the Plexuss Presidential Podcast.