Amid the AI revolution, a critical gap is emerging that could determine the trajectory of economies and industries worldwide: the global skills gap. As workplaces rapidly adopt artificial intelligence and automation, education systems struggle to keep pace. However, a recent Global Student Survey from Chegg– which spans over 11,700 undergraduate students across 15 countries– sheds new light on the transformative potential of what is possible if generative AI is responsibly deployed in academic settings, particularly in higher education.
Survey: Most Students Are Already Using AI
The study was conducted across 15 countries, including the U.S., India, and Brazil, and captures the perspectives of the generation that will soon lead our workforce. While the data shows that AI is already a critical part of how students learn, students still raise concerns about trust and accessibility, and inaccuracies or AI hallucinations remain key challenges.
The survey’s most compelling insights found:
- 67% of U.S. students have used generative AI (GenAI) tools for their studies, yet nearly half (48%) are concerned about inaccurate information from tools not built specifically for education.
- 27% of U.S. students turn to GenAI tools first when struggling with a concept or assignment, surpassing course materials (14%), peers (12%), and even free online resources (23%).
- 47% of U.S. students want AI tools designed specifically for education, emphasizing the demand for purpose-built solutions.
- 60% of U.S. students want their curriculum to include training on AI tools relevant to future careers, up from 47% in 2023. These findings highlight a pivotal tipping point: students are ready and eager to embrace AI but need the right tools to make the most of it.
AI and the Future Workforce
The workforce of tomorrow will be AI-assisted, with demand for AI literacy and skill-building growing at an unprecedented pace. Yet, the survey underscores a mismatch between the needs of students and the resources currently available to them. While students report that GenAI tools improve their ability to understand complex concepts (44%, up from 39% in 2023) and organize workloads (45%, up from 37% in 2023), the lack of education-specific AI solutions is a glaring gap.
As students increasingly want AI tools designed specifically for education, this disconnect presents an opportunity– or even a pressing demand– for AI platforms tailored for educational contexts— ones that emphasize accuracy, personalized support, expert guidance, and comprehensive study resources.
“This year’s Global Student Survey demonstrates that while generative AI is transforming learning experiences, students remain cautious about the accuracy and reliability of the information they receive. In today’s learning environment, AI alone cannot provide the deep, personalized support students need to truly learn and excel,” said Nathan Schultz, President and CEO of Chegg, Inc. “At Chegg, we work to understand the modern student to give them a product and experience that leads to greater learning confidence. We are proud of how we have integrated AI into our decades of learning science and human-supported applications. We stand behind our solutions with our Satisfaction Guarantee.”
An Economic Opportunity for Students and Institutions
The economic implications of bridging this gap are enormous. AI in education is projected to become a multi-billion-dollar industry, driven by tools that enhance learning and align with the needs of the AI-assisted workplace. According to Chegg’s survey, 76% of U.S. students believe their degree will be just as useful, if not more, in an AI-assisted workplace, signaling a demand for degrees that include robust training in AI applications.
Additionally, the survey reveals that students want faster, more affordable educational solutions—with 80% agreeing they would rather their universities offer more online learning options if it meant lower tuition. This shift toward cost-efficient, tech-driven education aligns perfectly with the promise of AI, which can deliver personalized, scalable learning at lower costs.
Charging lower tuition rates could even work to help U.S. universities, many of which have had to continuously raise tuition rates to offset a consistent decline in enrollments over the last decade. By offering more cost-effective programs, universities may be able to attract students who high price tags have deterred.
The Path Forward
The findings of this survey are both a wake-up call and a roadmap for companies and institutions. Students are clear about what they need: AI tools built with their specific challenges in mind, robust training on these technologies, and institutions that are open-minded about balancing innovation with academic tradition.
Chegg’s survey shows that students are not just passive participants in this transformation but active drivers of change. As they demand tools and training that equip them for the future, the businesses that respond effectively will not only thrive but will also play a pivotal role in closing the global skills gap and shaping the workforce of tomorrow.
Featured Image Credit: Photo by Anastasiya Gepp; Pexels
