Artificial intelligence has moved decisively from research corridors into the core of undergraduate education across the United States, forcing universities to redraw academic priorities with unusual speed.In the latest move, Northwestern University has announced a standalone undergraduate major in artificial intelligence, scheduled to roll out in the fall of 2026. The decision places the institution squarely within a rapidly expanding cohort of universities formalising AI as a primary field of study rather than a peripheral specialisation as reported by USA Today.The shift is not cosmetic. It signals a structural reorientation of higher education towards a technology that is already reshaping labour markets, governance frameworks, and industrial systems.
