Zeng serves as panelist about AI and the workforce
July 3, 2025
Dr. David Zeng shared his expertise on artificial intelligence and the workforce at University of South Dakota’s AI Symposium in June.
Zeng, an associate professor in the College of Business & Information Systems, and director of the Center for Business Analytics Research, was joined by other AI experts from SD EPSCoR, Direct Companies, Collins Aerospace, and the EROS Center.
“The panel addressed a broad range of intersecting topics at the heart of AI’s impact on the future of work,” Zeng said.
Some of these topics include:
- Transformation of job roles
- The growing need for interdisciplinary AI literacy
- The importance of reskilling and upskilling the current workforce
- Ethical and regulatory considerations
- University-industry collaboration models
- The value of AI agents and autonomous systems
“Our college’s newly developed AI in Organizations program, designed specifically for non-computer science students, was highlighted as an innovative response to these challenges – bridging the AI literacy gap in managerial, entrepreneurial, and administrative domains,” Zeng added.
He gained insight from his fellow panelists regarding AI’s impact on businesses so far. Some of the most impactful insights, AI adoption is already reshaping how companies manage data, customer interactions, and internal workflows. There’s a strong demand for “AI translators” who understand AI and can communicate with those who do understand AI and those who do not. Additionally, higher education must lead –– not follow–– in preparing the workforce.
“Our ongoing contributions to the NSF-funded AI-powered materials discovery initiative and our participation in statewide AI panels reflect this collaborative mindset and signal our college’s commitment to serving both the institution and the state through faculty led, workforce-aligned initiatives,” he said.
Zeng describes the recent advances in AI as much more than a technological shift. “Preparing for an AI-driven economy requires not only building technical talent, but ensuring that all students, regardless of major, understand how to use, manage, and lead with AI, ethically and effectively,” he said.
DSU is meeting this challenge by embedding AI literacy across all disciplines.
“Our programs like AI in organizations are a direct response to this need, ensuring that AI literacy is not siloed, but democratized,” Zeng said.