AI Experts Come Together for First SME BILT Meeting
Last month, NITIC convened a discussion with employers in the artificial intelligence (AI) space to identify and prioritize essential entry-level job skills. This marked the first time a National Science Foundation (NSF) national IT center has brought together AI industry experts for such an initiative.
Twelve employer partners from across the country participated in reviewing a detailed list of more than 80 program-specific entry-level job skills. While various knowledge areas were explored, cybersecurity assessments in AI sparked particularly strong debate. Some employers believed these assessments were beyond the scope of entry-level roles, while others emphasized that security awareness should be fundamental for all AI professionals. As a result, the group agreed to refine the language, replacing “cybersecurity” with “risk” to better reflect industry needs.
In addition to industry leaders, 10 community college educators attended the meeting to listen in and gain insights. The results of this prioritization session will be shared with educators in our network and posted on our website, providing a concrete, actionable guide to help align curriculum with workforce demands.
Access Meeting Resources:
📄 KSAs (Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities) List: NITIC-KSA-AI_PRINT.pdf
📝 Meeting Minutes: BILT Meeting Minutes – 3/4/25
🔗 Learn More About the BILT: BILT Overview