Professional, Continuing, and Online Education Update by UPCEA
Daily updates of news, research and trends by UPCEA
Click on the URL at the end of posting to visit the relevant article or website mentioned in the post.
Wednesday, February 4, 2026
Measuring US workers’ capacity to adapt to AI-driven job displacement - Sam Manning, Tomás Aguirre, Mark Muro, and Shriya Methkupally; Brookings
To save entry-level jobs from AI, look to the medical residency model - Molly Kinder, Brookings
As Wisconsin’s population ages, UW-Green Bay offers hundreds of courses for older adults - Beatrice Lawrence, WPR
As a retired family doctor, 76-year-old Norm Schroeder knows a thing or two about how to live a healthy life. That’s why, for the last eight years, he’s been keeping his mind and body active by taking classes through the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay’s Lifelong Learning Institute. And he’s been encouraging others his age to do the same. “(It’s) good for our brain health because there’s cognitive stimulation in the classes where you either can learn new things, or relearn things that you’ve forgotten many years ago,” Schroeder told WPR’s “Wisconsin Today.” “And for our physical health, we even have classes in line dancing, nature hikes and bicycling. I can cover all those bases.”
Tuesday, February 3, 2026
Online Learning Works Best When Markets Lead, Not Governments. Project Kitty Hawk Shows Why. - Jenna Robinson, the Fulcrum
McKinsey Quarterly: Digital Edition - Growth
Project Genie: Experimenting with infinite, interactive worlds - the Keyword, Google
In August, we previewed Genie 3, a general-purpose world model capable of generating diverse, interactive environments. Even in this early form, trusted testers were able to create an impressive range of fascinating worlds and experiences, and uncovered entirely new ways to use it. The next step is to broaden access through a dedicated, interactive prototype focused on immersive world creation. Starting today, we're rolling out access to Project Genie for Google AI Ultra subscribers in the U.S (18+). This experimental research prototype lets users create, explore and remix their own interactive worlds.
https://blog.google/innovation-and-ai/models-and-research/google-deepmind/project-genie/
Monday, February 2, 2026
The Biggest Trends in Online Learning for 2026 - Busines NewsWire
Gemini 4: 100+ Trillion Parameters, Autonomous AI, Real-Time Perception & the Future of Work - BitBiasedAI
Gemini 4 marks a significant transition in artificial intelligence, moving from models that simply reason through problems to systems capable of autonomous action [02:30]. Unlike previous versions that were primarily reactive, Gemini 4 utilizes "Parallel Hypothesis Exploration" to test multiple solutions simultaneously, allowing it to be proactive rather than just responding to prompts [03:11]. This evolution is supported by Project Astra, which provides real-time multimodal perception—seeing and hearing the user's environment—and Project Mariner, a web-browsing agent that can navigate websites, fill out forms, and complete multi-step tasks like booking travel or managing finances entirely on its own [05:37]. The broader ecosystem is built on robust security and hardware, featuring the Agent Payments Protocol (AP2) to ensure secure, cryptographically signed transactions [08:03]. This infrastructure is powered by the seventh-generation Ironwood TPU, which provides the massive compute power needed for real-time background processing and persistent contextual memory [12:02]. As AI moves toward an "agentic" economy, the primary skill for users will shift from simple prompting to complex orchestration, where individuals act as managers of multiple specialized agents [22:19]. (summary assisted by Gemini 3)
Healthcare and tech workers are ditching degrees for quick-fire courses - Yajush Gupta, Dynamic Business
New research from Risepoint shows 26% of online learners gained salary increases after short courses, as two-thirds study in high-need sectors like healthcare and education. What’s happening: New research reveals two-thirds of online learners in Australia are studying fields facing acute talent shortages, including healthcare, education and technology. Why this matters: As Australia grapples with persistent workforce shortages across critical sectors, short-form courses and micro-credentials are emerging as a practical solution.
Sunday, February 1, 2026
Here’s the Best Way to Onboard a Manager - Henning and Angie Basiouny, Knowledge at Wharton
The new era of browsing: Putting Gemini to work in Chrome - the Keyword, Google
We’re introducing major updates to Gemini in Chrome 1 for MacOS, Windows and Chromebook Plus that help you get the most out of the web. Built on Gemini 3, our most intelligent model, we’re integrating powerful new AI features in Chrome that help you multitask across the web with a new side panel experience. We’re also bringing deeper integrations across our most popular Google Apps so you can be more productive, helping on complex multi-step workflows with auto browse and, in the coming months, you’ll get more contextually relevant help with Personal Intelligence. The new Gemini in Chrome is like having an assistant that helps you find information and get things done on the web easier than ever before.
https://blog.google/products-and-platforms/products/chrome/gemini-3-auto-browse/
Prism is a ChatGPT-powered text editor that automates much of the work involved in writing scientific papers - Will Douglas, MIT Technology Review
Saturday, January 31, 2026
Report: University diplomas losing value to GenAI - Alan Wooten, Rocky Mount Telegraph
Professional learning in higher education: trends, gaps, and correlations - Ekaterina Pechenkina, T and F Online
How the best CEOs are meeting the AI moment - McKinsey Podcast
Friday, January 30, 2026
Change is changing: How to meet the challenge of radical reinvention - Aaron De Smet, Arne Gast, Erik Mandersloot, and Richard Steele, with Carmen James, McKinsey Quarterly
How Americans are using AI at work, according to a new Gallup poll - MATT O’BRIEN and LINLEY SANDERS, AP News
How can boards best help guide companies through the competitive dynamics unleashed by AI? - Aamer Baig, Ashka Dave, Celia Huber, and Hrishika Vuppala, McKinsey
Thursday, January 29, 2026
Which Jobs Are Safest from AI and Automation? - US Career Institute
What You MUST Study Now to Stay Relevant in the AI Era - Jensen Huang, Future AI
In 2026 AI-Powered Superagents Will Radically Change HR, Driving the Largest HR Transformation in Decades - PR Newswire
Josh Bersin Company predicts that HR teams will restructure, coordinate with IT, and rapidly accelerate AI adoption in 2026, as "superagents" automate many core HR processes
AI tools will evolve from assistants to workflow automation systems, requiring up to 30% fewer HR staff, while delivering dramatic improvements in employee services
More than 100 potential HR agents identified, grouped into new Superagent families, with top use cases across employee services, recruiting, performance management, coaching, learning & development, and workforce management
All findings, as well as company benchmarking tools, now built into The Josh Bersin Company's Galileo® AI HR agent, enabling HR leaders to redesign their HR organizations in a customized, actionable way