Elite Colleges Will Survive AI. The Rest Need to Adapt.

I have long argued that AI will not hurt the status/prestige of elite colleges. This is because the difficulty and selectivity implicitly act as an IQ filter. Even if AI enables widespread cheating in coursework, admissions can still be based on assessments that are largely immune to AI, such as proctored SATs and mathematics competitions, where the use of electronic devices is prohibited or limited. So, even with AI, getting into Harvard still signifies above-average IQ. Detecting AI is especially important for middling colleges, that cannot rely on prestige alone to differentiate themselves. If cheating becomes too widespread, the credential will become devalued in the eyes of employers, leading to reduced attendance and wasted money. At worst, it could pose an existential threat to the institution of higher education itself, save for elite colleges. Employers would be forced to rely less on degrees to prescreen applicants. But schools are fighting back against AI, leading to an…