USC President: AI ‘Not Going Away,’ University Focuses on Human Leadership and Curriculum Innovation

University of Southern California President Beong-Soo Kim stated that the institution is proactively embracing artificial intelligence to prepare graduates for a changing job market, while doubling down on human leadership skills that AI cannot replicate.

In an interview, Kim emphasized optimism as a core strategy. Referencing former USC football coach Pete Carroll, he noted the approach of “wearing them out with our optimism.” He highlighted the growing importance of skills such as listening, empathy, and teamwork amid AI automation and a challenging employment landscape.

“Those human leadership qualities we emphasize so much at our university are really going to advantage our graduates,” Kim said.

Kim acknowledged student ambivalence toward AI, noting that many recognize its power and potential while harboring concerns. Rather than debating the downsides, USC is focusing on opportunities, he explained, including AI’s capacity to save lives, cure diseases, help businesses, enhance national security, and empower artists and creatives to work more efficiently.

At the same time, the university is confronting challenges head-on, including impacts on the employment market and academic integrity. Nearly a year ago, USC leadership decided the technology “is not going away” and “will only become more prevalent.” The university developed plans to innovate its curriculum by equipping students across all majors — whether history, dance, engineering, or business — with AI skills relevant to their fields. A general class on how AI is changing society was also introduced to help students think critically about societal choices and maintaining human control over the technology.

Kim expressed excitement about Coach Pete Carroll’s return to teach a leadership course at USC, building on philosophies around “winning forever” to empower students.

On campus discourse, Kim said he found it unfortunate that students booed former Google head Eric Schmidt during a commencement speech at the University of Arizona. He stressed that universities must remain places where ideas can be expressed, heard, and respectfully disagreed with. “I don’t think it is appropriate to boo a commencement speaker who is there in order to try to give the graduates advice,” he said.

Kim connected this to broader issues at some campuses, including obstructions and students feeling unwelcome. In contrast, USC aims to be a community that tolerates different points of view and actively leans into them. “That is one important piece to keep in mind as we move forward,” he added.

The president also addressed the need to thoughtfully innovate educational models as knowledge becomes more accessible, balancing benefits and challenges of AI without denial or unchecked optimism.

USC recently received a $200 million gift from venture capitalists Mark and Mary Stevens to establish a new school focused on these areas.

Kim’s comments underscore USC’s commitment to its core mission of producing career-ready graduates, maintaining focus on education even amid external events.