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Graduating into a tough job market, Stony Brook senior Abby-Gaëlle Sylvestre launched an event planning business with her sister amid challenges landing a full-time job. Nationwide, new grads face a hiring slowdown due to economic uncertainty, AI's impact, and increased competition. Job postings are down while applications are up. Some sectors, like consulting and accounting, are hiring more, but tech and finance have seen declines. Career experts urge adaptability, with students using AI tools to prepare for interviews and exploring jobs in alternate industries. For some, like Sylvestre, entrepreneurship offers a proactive response to limited traditional job opportunities.

Stony Brook Medicine is the first on Long Island — and one of a select number of healthcare systems nationwide — to implement an artificial intelligence (AI) technology, HeartFlow Plaque Analysis™, to enable its physicians to more accurately understand the blockages present in the coronary arteries of patients with suspected heart disease. This advancement, introduced at Stony Brook through a collaboration by the Division of Cardiology and the Department of Radiology, represents a significant milestone in the fight against heart disease, which remains the leading cause of death for adults in the United States.

Esther Takeuchi, a leading scientist with over 150 patents, focuses on advancing safe and efficient energy storage. A recipient of the National Medal of Technology and Innovation, she works at Stony Brook University and Brookhaven National Laboratory. Takeuchi emphasizes the importance of reducing energy waste and highlights the need to develop nonflammable and water-based batteries. With AI’s growing energy demands, she calls for diverse energy sources. She also warns that uncertain U.S. science funding could lead to a brain drain, urging continued investment in research and community involvement in energy projects to ensure safety and drive future innovation.

Despite concerns over artificial intelligence reducing entry-level tech jobs, many Long Island college students and faculty remain optimistic. Students like Stony Brook’s Hannah Lee believe human collaboration skills will remain vital. Colleges including Stony Brook, Hofstra, and NYIT are expanding AI-focused programs to prepare students for shifting job demands. While AI is automating routine roles, it’s also creating advanced positions across industries. Experts predict significant growth in AI-related careers, even as some companies reduce tech staff. Students are adapting by launching startups, upskilling, and leveraging AI as a tool, preparing for a future where technology changes, but opportunity persists.