I had an interesting discussion with one of the university students who proudly told me he had just enrolled into a degree that would take four years to complete. He was excited, motivated, and full of ambition. Out of curiosity, I asked him a simple question: “What exactly will you be doing after graduation that artificial intelligence cannot already do faster, cheaper, or more efficiently?” He paused, smiled and then admitted he had never thought about it that way. This is the question I ask university students (including my own children) and this is the topic of my article today i.e. the education degrees that are losing value because of the Artificial Intelligence (AI).
For decades, educational degrees were seen as the safest path toward stability and success. A degree was almost like a guaranteed ticket to employment. But the world is changing very fast, and AI is now reshaping industries faster than universities can update their curricula. The uncomfortable truth is that some degrees may soon lose significant market value, not because education is unimportant, but because technology is becoming capable of performing many repetitive knowledge-based tasks, and even well suited to replace some humans as well.
This does not mean universities will disappear. It means students must think differently before investing years of their lives and large amounts of their or parents money into qualifications that may no longer provide a competitive advantage. One example is traditional data entry and administrative-focused business degrees. Many roles involving reports, scheduling, documentation, and repetitive office work are already being automated through AI systems and digital assistants. Companies today can use AI tools to summarise meetings, prepare presentations, generate reports, and even respond to emails with minimal human involvement. I know this for a fact.
Another example is basic graphic design programmes that focus heavily on simple visual production. AI tools can now generate logos, posters, social media designs, and marketing visuals in seconds. The value is shifting from “creating designs” toward creative strategy, branding psychology, storytelling, and originality. In other words, knowing how to click buttons on design software may no longer be enough. One needs to be more creative and hands-on to be relevant in this age of AI.
Even some entry-level programming and coding roles are changing. AI can now generate large portions of code, debug errors, and assist with software development. This does not mean software engineers will disappear, but it does mean the industry will increasingly favor problem-solvers, system architects, cybersecurity experts, and innovators rather than people who only learned basic coding syntax.
Translation and language-based degrees are also experiencing disruption. AI-powered translation tools today can instantly translate documents, meetings, and conversations with surprisingly high accuracy. Human translators will still matter in diplomacy, literature, and cultural communication, but routine translation work is becoming heavily automated.
Interestingly, the most valuable future degrees may not always be the most technical ones. AI struggles with human emotion, leadership, ethical judgment, negotiation, creativity, critical thinking, and relationship-building. Degrees connected to psychology, human-centered healthcare, advanced engineering, entrepreneurship, education leadership, cybersecurity, AI governance, and strategic communication may become even more important.
The future belongs less to people who simply “know information” and more to people who know how to think, adapt, lead, and solve complex problems. Students should stop asking, “What degree guarantees me a job?” and instead ask, “What skills make me difficult to replace?” This is where many educational systems still face a challenge. Some universities continue teaching students for a world that no longer exists. Memorisation-heavy learning, outdated curricula, and theoretical-only education may leave graduates shocked when they enter a market driven by automation and AI acceleration.
To conclude, my advice to students is really simple. Do not choose a degree because it was safe ten years ago. Choose something that combines human intelligence with technological understanding. Learn AI instead of fearing it. Build communication skills. Learn problem-solving. Understand business. Develop creativity. Strengthen emotional intelligence. Most importantly, become adaptable. Because in the age of artificial intelligence, the most dangerous thing is not AI replacing humans. It is humans refusing to evolve while AI continues to do so. Until we catch up again next week, I wish you all blessed Eid Mubarak
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