Dallas-Fort Worth continues to be one of fastest growing metropolitan areas by almost all measures. Fueled by a constant flow of businesses moves for several years now, our region has remained attractive for its abundance of land, energy, housing and talent, especially compared to places like California and New York.
But we are not immune to the massive change currently occurring in the economy thanks to artificial intelligence. AI is remodel entry-level positions across the country, and employers in our region’s booming sectors – finance, technology, energy and aviation – are rightly seeking efficiency in a competitive global marketplace. Yet a growing number of voices warn that this rush risks leaving us with a leadership vacuum that no algorithm can fill.
Pope Leo XIV warned that young people, bombarded with instant information, can confuse data with understanding, thereby stunting their moral and intellectual growth. Technology pioneers like Geoffrey Hinton, the “godfather of AI,” have sounded alarm, highlighting the existential risks to humanity that extend far beyond science fiction. And like psychologist Jordan Peterson urgeswe must cultivate wisdom commensurate with our tools or face destabilizing consequences.
As local employers automate rote work, they are discovering that critical operations, from strategic pivots in volatile energy markets to crisis management in aviation, require leaders with a rare virtue: wisdom. The question for business leaders should not be: “How much can AI save us?” » but rather: “Who will lead when the algorithms reach their limits? »
The solution is not to reject AI, but to double down on education that builds human strengths where machines fall short. A classic liberal arts foundation, still thriving at institutions right here in North Texas, is empowering graduates to thrive in the age of AI. Such education requires:
- Deep engagement with timeless texts, from Plato to Frederick Douglass, honing the ability to analyze the nuances and context that AI glosses over.
- Rigorous training in logic, philosophy, and ethics, enabling students to spot errors in data-driven decisions and ask “Should we?” next to “Can we?” »
- Immersion in history and literature, fostering moral imagination to anticipate how current technological trends echo past disruptions and how to direct them toward the common good.
- Real-world application through programs like a semester of study in Rome like that offered by the University of Dallas, where students confront the roots of Western civilization in the face of global challenges, or offer advanced degrees in the humanities and business sciences combining intellectual depth and professional acumen.
This approach to education, still valuable, laid the foundation for our thriving nation, and yet today it is wrongly considered impractical. In fact, a classical liberal arts education is the the most practical how a person can learn to become the adaptable and insightful leaders that large employers need. Graduates of strong liberal arts institutions don’t just fill roles, they elevate them, bringing the wisdom to innovate ethically, lead teams confidently through uncertainty, and sustain long-term growth.
To our region’s business leaders: As you integrate AI for greater efficiency, invest in talent that ensures it serves human interests. Collaborate with local universities committed to developing knowledgeable professionals. Your financial results and our shared prosperity depend on it.
Because in the age of AI, computing power is abundant. But the judgment to handle it well? This is the advantage that will allow D-FW to remain at the helm of the country.
Jonathan J. Sanford is president of the University of Dallas, a private Catholic liberal arts university with campuses in Irving and Rome.