AI Is Making Degrees Obsolete… But There’s One Thing It Can’t Replace.
In 2024, 41% of software developers held bachelor’s degrees. Only 25% had master’s degrees.
Yet, 97% used AI tools like GitHub Copilot to code.
Google revealed over 25% of its new code is now AI-generated.
So why invest time and money in a degree when AI can teach faster, cheaper, and better?
Because as miraculous as AI is, there’s one thing it can’t replace—and that makes all the difference in your professional (and personal) life.
This isn’t your grandparents’ education system anymore. Degrees used to be a golden ticket. Today, they’re an expensive bet that might or might not pay off.
And with AI offering free, instant, personalized education, you might think universities are on the brink of extinction.
They’re not. But they’ve changed forever.
Let’s dive into why—and how you can thrive in this new era where knowledge is infinite and networks are priceless.
You Have No Excuse for Staying Unskilled
We live in a time when learning is literally at your fingertips:
- AI tools like ChatGPT can tutor you in anything from quantum physics to public speaking.
- You can even share your screen with AI, letting it see your work and guide you in real time.
- Countless experts are posting free content daily—YouTube channels, Twitter threads, online workshops.
So, if the world’s knowledge is available for free, why do so many people still feel lost?
Because the real challenge isn’t access anymore. It’s direction and depth:
- AI can teach you everything, but it can’t give you a diploma.
- It can explain anything, but it won’t discipline you into learning the boring, foundational stuff.
- It can empower you to build, but it can’t provide the networks that open high-level doors.
Meanwhile, universities still hold on to a powerful trump card:
- They certify you.
- They network you.
- They force you to learn foundational knowledge you’d probably skip on your own.
Are those three things worth the price tag?
Or has AI made universities truly obsolete?
Before we get into that, let’s see just how easy it is to learn any skill with AI—fast.
AI Can Teach You (Almost) Anything
It’s 2025, and learning has never been easier.
All you need is:
- A dash of curiosity.
- An AI tool connected to the internet.
- A few prompting skills to get the most out of it.
In my personal experience, I now learn almost everything by myself. Even when I hire an expert, I first study the topic to explain exactly what I want. I've learned video editing, coding Chrome extensions, building complex authentication systems and apps, optimizing my taxes (yes!), converting images to WebP and videos to any type of GIF I want, complex concepts in music, working with Logic Pro, and more.
I believe I've learned more in these past 18 months than I did during my entire university education.
The True ‘Cheat Code’: Learning How to Learn
No matter what new technology arises, one skill remains future-proof: learning how to learn.
AI just made this x100 easier, but you still need to ask the right questions and commit to practice.
25 AI Prompts to Master Any Skill Faster
Below are 25 prompts you can use to turn ChatGPT (or any AI tutor) into your personal learning machine.
1. Learn 80% of Anything, Fast
Prompt:
“I want to learn about [insert topic]. Identify and share the most important 20% of learnings from this topic that will help me understand 80% of it.”
You: “I want to learn about video editing. Identify the 20% of techniques that will give me 80% of what I need to know.”
ChatGPT:
“The core 20% includes: mastering clip cutting, adding basic transitions, simple color correction, and understanding export settings.”
You: “Great. Now help me choose the right software and how to set up a practice project.”
ChatGPT:
“Try Adobe Premiere Pro or DaVinci Resolve as they’re industry-standard. Let’s walk through importing your first clip and setting up a timeline…”
2. A 30-Day Plan for Any Skill
Prompt:
“I want to learn [insert skill]. I am a beginner. Create a 30-day learning plan that will help me improve step-by-step.”
You’ll get a roadmap that breaks the skill into weekly modules, which is far more motivating than a vague goal.
3. Turn Knowledge into Stories
Prompt:
“I’m learning about [topic]. Turn the key lessons into stories and metaphors to help me remember them.”
Stories = better retention. AI can convert dry facts into memorable tales.
4. Mind Map Anything
Prompt:
“Create a mind map of [topic]. Include main branches and sub-branches. Provide it in markdown format.”
Visual learners, unite.
5. Quiz Yourself
Prompt:
“After studying [topic], quiz me with detailed questions. Provide feedback and explanations for wrong answers.”
Active recall is the secret to long-term mastery.
You can find the entire list of prompts in this thread:
The Gates of Knowledge Are Wide Open
Make it your reflex: want to learn something? ChatGPT is your first stop.
But hold up - I see people rushing to declare universities dead.
Is that really the whole story?
AI hands you the tools, but it won't build your discipline.
It'll flood you with information, but it won't hand you that precious recognition.
Let me paint you a picture:
Imagine you want to learn video editing to break into the content game.
- ChatGPT can design a 30-day learning plan for you (Prompt: “Create a beginner-friendly 30-day plan to master Adobe Premiere Pro”).
- It can act as your personal tutor (Prompt: “Quiz me on advanced color correction techniques for video editing”).
- It can help you solve specific problems (Prompt: “I’m struggling with [specific editing technique]. Walk me through a solution step-by-step”).
Within a month, you’d have skills that rival many professionals.
And yet… will that knowledge alone get you hired?
What Universities Still Offer (That AI Doesn’t)
Let’s talk about why universities haven’t collapsed—and why they might never fully disappear.
a) Certification Still Matters in 2025
Degrees are still the currency of trust in many industries.
If you want to be a doctor, an engineer, or a lawyer, no one cares if ChatGPT taught you.
They care if a recognized institution has certified your competence.
Even in tech—where bootcamps and self-teaching are celebrated—many top companies (Google, Tesla, Amazon) still hire from elite universities.
Why? Because scaling recruitment is hard.
Degrees are an easy filter for competence, even if they’re imperfect.
And while AI may someday replace this filter, regulations won’t let it happen anytime soon.
b) Hands-On Learning Can’t Be Replaced
Some things simply can’t be taught online.
You can’t learn surgery through YouTube.
You can’t build a helicopter in a simulator.
You can’t master particle physics without a particle accelerator—I guess.
Universities provide the labs, tools, and real-world practice that many fields still require.
c) Constrained Learning is a Hidden Benefit
This one might surprise you.
Universities force you to learn boring, difficult, but necessary things.
Let me ask you this:
Would you study harmonic functions or geometric algebra on your own?
For 99% of people, the answer is no.
But these “boring” fields are the foundation of breakthroughs in science, engineering, and innovation.
Without the structured pressure of a university, most of us would avoid them entirely.
d) The Power of Networks
At its core, university isn’t just about knowledge—it’s about people.
You’re buying access to professors, alumni, and peers who might change your life.
You’re joining a network that opens doors ChatGPT never will.
If you want to work at a top-tier company or break into competitive fields, that network is often important.
I'm not saying that universities is the ONLY way for building network, but it's an important head start.
Find the Middle Ground: AI + Universities
So how do we truly thrive in this new era?
- Use AI for Rapid Skill Acquisition
AI can teach anything about everything. There's no excuse for not learning anymore.
- Pursue Formal Credentials Where They Matter
If your field is highly regulated or you need deep lab work, go after that degree. But don’t just rely on the classroom; use AI to accelerate and enrich your learning.
- Broaden Your Network, With or Without College
- If you skip university, build your own community—start a mastermind, attend local meetups, or grow an online personal brand.
- If you go to college, maximize every networking opportunity. Attend conferences, talk to professors, get involved in research.
Education is no longer a one-size-fits-all system.
Rather than choosing sides, use both to your advantage.
Education isn’t about degrees or AI.
It’s about building the life you want—and knowing that you can.
So go.
Start building.
—Charafeddine