New reporting highlights how “FOBO”—fear of becoming obsolete—has hardened into a defining psychological workplace condition, as workers increasingly cite AI-driven job loss and rapid skill shifts. The piece attributes the fear to fast-moving automation and forecasts from prominent AI leaders and policymakers. At the same time, the article points to a major MIT empirical study pushing back on the timeline narrative. Researchers analyzing real-world task performance from thousands of labor-market evaluations describe AI progress as a “rising tide” rather than sudden “crashing waves,” suggesting broad task impact without an instant apocalypse. For higher education, the practical takeaway is how closely labor-market messaging is shaping student expectations about course value, credentials, and reskilling. Institutions may face intensified demand for curriculum alignment, career services interventions, and evidence-based reassurance that avoids overstating either urgency or stability.