A policy-focused argument contends that AI-driven job losses could disrupt millions of knowledge-worker roles, but it says the U.S. conversation has largely skipped the question of how to prepare the next generation. The piece references predictions from short-seller Carson Block and warnings from Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei, while pointing to a parallel from a century ago when agricultural jobs vanished and states expanded compulsory schooling to build workforce readiness. The article claims that today only 61% of students who enroll in college complete a degree within six years, and that many graduates end up underemployed, framing secondary education as a potential lever to reduce downstream credential and employment mismatches. It highlights state activity including education waivers tied to the federal K-12 law and points to Alabama’s proposal to reimagine high school so young people are prepared for work and life, not only college. The piece argues the urgency is tied to shifting technology expectations about what “prepared” means. While it is not a regulatory or court action, the story’s emphasis on compulsory education and school structure makes it relevant to universities because it signals earlier pipeline changes that could alter incoming student readiness, advising needs, and developmental education demands.