Amid the rapid advancement of AI technology, career education for college students urgently requires transformation. Generative AI offers a novel approach to innovating career education: personalized career planning is achieved through precise profiling systems based on big data, learning experiences are enhanced via immersive scene reconstruction (such as virtual simulation technology), and traditional didactic methods are supplanted by coaching guidance to foster students’ independent exploration. AI-driven career education encounters significant challenges, such as data privacy and ethical concerns, algorithmic bias leading to compliance issues, and threats to educational equity due to unequal distribution of technical resources. Future career education must balance technological advancement with humanistic values, leveraging AI’s efficiency and intelligence while maintaining a “people-oriented” educational approach. This balance aims to nurture well-rounded individuals who possess both professional expertise and social responsibility.