AI is no longer a distant threat; it is a present reality. It is eating away many jobs and layoffs even in reputed MNCs are in alarming limits.
Students today must carefully decide what to study and what to avoid without second thought.
A survey conducted by Gallup-Lumina in the United States found that nearly 70% of students in technology and vocational programs have seriously considered changing their majors.
The reason is simple; they realize that entry-level jobs in their fields are increasingly being taken over by AI tools.
Many experts believe that spending years learning only programming languages and basic coding may not guarantee job security anymore.
Routine coding, debugging, and quality-testing roles are replaced by AI systems that can complete these tasks faster and more efficiently.
Because of this shift, courses that focus only on basic programming without innovation, research, or leadership skills may become less valuable in the coming years.
On the other hand, students in humanities, healthcare and natural sciences currently feel less threatened. Fields like nursing, medicine manufacturing and surgery will continue to require human expertise, even if AI assists in decision-making.
Skilled professions such as electricians, plumbers, carpenters, chefs, and domestic workers are also expected to remain in demand.
Interestingly, though these professions are often undervalued in countries like India, they may soon earn more than many entry-level corporate jobs.
In the engineering stream, simply choosing computer science or IT may not be wise unless students focus on innovation, project development and leadership.
The current syllabus in many colleges is outdated and not aligned with the AI-driven world.
In many ways, learning only basic coding today is like memorizing multiplication tables in the age of calculators. AI tools can already handle complex programming tasks that once required years of study.
Some technology experts suggest that students interested in computers should explore hardware-related fields, which may not be immediately replaced by AI, although automation could eventually affect them as well.
Ultimately, students must rethink their choices carefully. In the AI era, success will depend not just on degrees, but on creativity, innovation, and the ability to lead and build new solutions.