AI vs Jobs: Why Students Need New.

Artificial Intelligence is no longer a technology limited to laboratories or software companies. From education and banking to media, business and software development, AI is rapidly changing the way people work — and experts say students who fail to develop new digital skills could find themselves struggling in an increasingly competitive job market.

Keeping pace with this changing technological landscape, the University of Engineering and Technology (UET) Peshawar is providing free technology training opportunities for students, including courses focused on Artificial Intelligence and related fields.

Speaking to Pakhtoon Digital, an IT expert said the purpose of such training is to help students understand AI from its foundations rather than treating it as simply a chatbot or an online tool.

“AI is not one subject. It has many categories,” the expert explained.

He said the field involves several areas, including computer science fundamentals, programming languages, chatbot development, Android development, cybersecurity, error handling and system development.

The expert said the training is structured step by step, enabling students to begin with basic programming and systems before progressing towards more advanced applications.

AI and the changing job market

The rapid development of AI is also raising an important question among students: Will AI replace jobs?

Global labour-market research suggests the reality is more complicated than simply replacing workers with machines.

The World Economic Forum’s Future of Jobs Report 2025 estimates that technological and other major labour-market trends could create around 170 million jobs and displace 92 million jobs globally by 2030. The report specifically estimates that AI and information-processing technologies could create about 11 million jobs while displacing around 9 million. (World Economic Forum)

The report also identifies AI and machine-learning specialists, big-data specialists, and software developers among the fastest-growing occupations, while several clerical and administrative roles are expected to decline. (World Economic Forum)

This means the bigger challenge for young people may not simply be AI “taking jobs”, but AI changing the skills employers expect from workers.

The IT expert said this is why students should start learning AI and related technologies now.

“From BS students to university professors, everyone is learning AI to stay relevant,” he said.

For students in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, free training programmes such as those offered through UET Peshawar could provide an opportunity to gain practical skills without the cost normally associated with technology courses.

UET Peshawar has also promoted free technology programmes covering areas such as Python and AI, with the aim of helping students develop skills relevant to global technology careers. (University of Engineering and Technology)

The expert said young people should not wait until AI becomes deeply embedded in every workplace before beginning to learn it.

“This is step-by-step development. If our youth starts now, they can compete on a global platform,” he said.

For KP’s students, the message is increasingly clear: the AI era is not only about learning how to use ChatGPT or other AI tools — it is about understanding the technology, developing practical skills and learning how to work alongside increasingly capable machines.