Fewer programmers, more philosophers: AI is changing the rules of the game in academia

Artificial intelligence is reshaping labor market demands and influencing academic study choices in Israel. According to the Council for Higher Education data, the number of computer science students dropped by 7.4%, while AI and data science saw an increase. Global Teams CEO Rinat Buchholtz notes a shift in demand toward developers with practical experience and backgrounds in mathematics, physics, and even philosophy. The CHE has approved new study programs and is promoting internships as part of degrees.

Artificial intelligence is reshaping labor market demands and influencing academic study choices in Israeli academia. According to the Council for Higher Education, the number of undergraduate students in mathematics, statistics, and computer science dropped by 7.4% in the past year, from 22,203 to 20,571. Concurrently, there was a 3.9% increase in students in AI, data science, and data engineering, from 2,174 to 2,259. A similar trend emerges from Aysaf Foundation data, where the share of applicants to computer science fell from 14.8% to 10.2%. Rinat Buchholtz, CEO of Global Teams, notes a shift in demand toward Full Stack developers with practical experience, favoring graduates of military units over those with academic degrees. She emphasizes the growing need for mathematicians, physicists, and engineers, and even hears demand for backgrounds in philosophy or Talmud study. Humanities saw a 10.9% increase in student numbers. The CHE has approved nine new AI programs and is promoting the 'Academia 360' program with a 200 million shekel investment to integrate practical experience into degrees.