A new MIT-Oak Ridge simulation estimates current AI systems can economically and technically perform tasks representing roughly 11.7% of U.S. wage value — about $1.2 trillion annually — flagging wide potential impact across white‑collar roles. Project Iceberg models 151 million workers across 923 occupations and finds AI is already cost‑competitive for many cognitive and administrative tasks. The researchers stressed this is a technical and economic exposure metric, not a timetable for mass job loss, but they warned higher education and workforce planners should prioritize reskilling, curriculum redesign and close industry partnerships. Early adoption has concentrated in tech sectors, but healthcare, finance and professional services show large near‑term exposure. For universities, the findings intensify pressure to reform degree programs and certificate offerings to emphasize complementary skills — supervision of AI systems, ethics, domain expertise — while accelerating lifelong learning and stackable credentials to help displaced workers transition.