The Academic Truth-Gap Auditor
(CDI Score)
Your degree says one thing. Your real proficiency says another. See how far your credentials are distorted in the AI economy.
The transcript is not the truth -- your proficiency is. Part of 108+ free AI tools for the new economy.
CDI Score Calculator
Enter your academic credentials and real-world proficiency. See how distorted your credential signal has become.
Degree Type
Field of Study
GPA
3.2Your cumulative grade point average (0.0 - 4.0)
Years Since Graduation
5 yrsHow long since you completed your highest degree
Self-Rated Proficiency
6/10How strong are your skills today? (1 = beginner, 10 = expert)
AI-Hardened Competency Score
55/100Your score on any AI-era skills assessment (0-100)
Industry Acceleration Rate
7/10How fast is AI changing your field? (1 = slow, 10 = total disruption)
CDI Score
14
Years Behind
21
Distortion
100/100
Tier
CRITICAL
CDI Score -- Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Credential Distortion Index?
The Credential Distortion Index (CDI) measures the gap between what your academic credentials claim about your abilities and your actual real-world proficiency in the AI economy. A higher CDI means your degree is over-representing your skills relative to current industry demands.
Why do GPAs fail in the AI economy?
GPAs measure past performance on static curricula. The AI economy demands real-time tool proficiency, adaptive learning, and output velocity that transcripts never measured. A 4.0 GPA from 2020 says nothing about your ability to use AI tools that launched in 2025.
How is my CDI Score calculated?
CDI equals Industry Acceleration Rate divided by the gap between your Credentialed Grade Level and Actual Proficiency Score. Your GPA maps to a 0-4 grade level, your self-rated proficiency and competency test score average into an Actual Proficiency Score, and the industry acceleration rate measures how fast AI is changing your field.
What does Years Behind mean?
Years Behind estimates how far your real skills lag behind what your industry now demands. It is calculated as CDI multiplied by 1.5. A score of 6+ years behind means your credentials are critically distorted and employers will quickly identify the gap.
Why are credentials collapsing in 2026?
AI tools now perform tasks that degrees used to certify. Employers increasingly test for tool proficiency rather than transcript grades. The signal value of a degree decays at the rate of industry acceleration -- in fast-moving fields, a 3-year-old degree is already outdated.
How do I close my proficiency gap?
The CDI tool generates a 90-day skill-recovery plan targeting your specific gap. Key actions include AI tool certification in your field, building portfolio projects that demonstrate current proficiency, and joining practitioner communities where AI workflows are shared daily.
Which industries have the highest distortion?
Technology, finance, and marketing have the highest CDI scores due to rapid AI tool adoption. Healthcare and education show moderate distortion. Trades and manual labor currently show the lowest credential distortion, though automation is accelerating in these fields too.
How does AI acceleration affect my degree?
AI acceleration is the rate at which tools in your field are changing. At an acceleration of 8 out of 10, your credential loses roughly 6 percent of its market signal value every 18 months without active skill investment. The faster your field moves, the faster your degree becomes decorative rather than functional.