Skills, Schools, and the Pace of AI

School's Out Saturdays on the AGI Podcast - Because our job is to prepare students for their future not our past. (Episode 55)

Episode Summary:What happens when a podcast host challenges his own city's mayor and economic development CEO about whether schools are keeping pace with AI? This conversation gets real about entry-level jobs disappearing, the gap between employer needs and education timelines, and why Hamilton County's 75% college-educated workforce might not be enough.

About My Guest Sue Finkam is Mayor, City of Carmel, IN | 2025 #2 Best Place To Live In the US | 12 years City Council experience before becoming Mayor in January 2024 | Enterprising Women of the Year 2023 | Indianapolis Business Journal Woman of Influence 2022. Located in Carmel, Indiana. Sue focuses on creating partnerships between leadership and residents while modernizing city operations.

Mike Thibideau is President & CEO at Invest Hamilton County | Economic development leader focused on workforce development and data-driven community solutions | Building systems that empower economic vitality across Hamilton County. Located in Hamilton County, Indiana. Mike leads collaboration on workforce development and quality of life priorities.

Guest Links Sue Finkam on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/suefinkam/Sue Finkam Website: https://www.suefinkam.com/City of Carmel: https://www.carmel.in.gov/Mike Thibideau on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mike-thibideau-a702b544/Invest Hamilton County LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/investhamiltoncounty/Invest Hamilton County Website: https://investhamiltoncounty.com/

Follow The ShowInstagram: @AGISchoolsoutFacebook + LinkedIn: @AGIPodcast

Don't get left behind! Future-proof your organization, your team, and your career → work with Jason → podcasts, keynotes, educational workshops, and one-on-one coachingLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasondkoehrer/X: https://x.com/AGIPodcast📧 jason@phoenixsolutionsgrp.comThe No-Code CAIO Newsletter https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/7252989148163751936/

Phoenix Solutions GroupAffordable, pragmatic education, training, and consulting in AI literacy, policy, and projects.🌐 https://www.phoenixsolutionsgroup.org

Key Timestamps: 03:15 - Why Carmel's education reputation might not prepare students for 203008:42 - Entry-level jobs are disappearing: What Purdue economists got wrong about AI's impact12:30 - Hamilton County has 3x more AI-literate residents than jobs requiring AI skills16:45 - Mayor Finkam on attracting talent: "My job is to create a community where skilled people want to live"19:20 - The blended skills advantage: Why healthcare needs computer science grads trained as paramedics23:15 - 86% of AI-focused jobs require bachelor's degrees, 26% need master's or PhD25:40 - Work-based learning pathways: Carmel's approach to closing the employer-student gap31:50 - Why learning to write without ChatGPT matters more than learning with it35:25 - The calculator debate redux: Are we repeating history's mistakes about technology in education?38:10 - How higher ed takes 3 years to adapt to employer needs (and why that's a problem)40:55 - Public libraries as AI education hubs: 5-year-olds using 3D printers at Carmel Clay Public Library43:20 - The job search nightmare: Why easy-apply buttons are killing your chances45:10 - Final thoughts: Why none of these perspectives are wrong, but silence isn't an option

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