“The future is already here,” says Prof. Yacov Hel-Or, Dean of the Efi Arazi School of Computer Science. “The moment we have been preparing for over the past few years is here.”
Hel-Or is referring to the accelerating wave of artificial intelligence developments reshaping industries, academia, and everyday life. At Reichman University, this shift is marked by a deep transformation within its existing Computer Science and Computer Science & Entrepreneurship programs, where AI has become a central and defining component of the curriculum.
Over the past few years, the university has steadily expanded its AI-focused coursework and integrated machine learning tools across multiple subjects. What were once elective courses introducing students to AI tools and applications are now becoming core requirements. Today, students pursuing Computer Science or Computer Science & Entrepreneurship are expected to graduate not only with strong programming foundations, but with practical fluency in AI systems and methodologies.
These changes are most visible in the advanced years of study, where students engage more deeply with AI-driven projects, applications, and interdisciplinary use cases. However, the integration begins earlier, reflecting a broader shift in how computer science itself is taught.
Hel-Or stresses that AI’s impact extends far beyond the boundaries of computer science. “Computer science is no longer confined to a standalone discipline of algorithmic and abstract reasoning,” he explains. “It has evolved into a fundamental tool that every researcher, in every field, must have in their toolbox.”
In this context, AI functions as a kind of “superpower” one that can be applied across virtually all domains. Basic programming skills, combined with the ability to effectively leverage AI tools, are becoming essential for success. Those who lack these skills, he warns, risk being outpaced by those who possess them.
What will the future look like?
Looking ahead, Hel-Or predicts significant disruption in the job market. Certain professions and fields of study may disappear altogether, while others will be forced to adapt rapidly to new technological realities.
When asked whether machines could truly surpass human capabilities, he offers a blunt assessment: “In the future, whether near or far, machines will be smarter and better than humans,” he says, adding that this turning point may arrive sooner than many expect.
“AI is no longer the future,” he concludes. “It is the language of the present.”
This article was written in cooperation with Reichman Computer Science