University degrees are a thing of the past!
PwC: Artificial Intelligence Threatens University Degrees... They're a Thing of the Past!
A recent report by financial consulting firm PwC warned that university degrees could lose their value at an accelerating rate, especially in jobs directly impacted by AI technologies. It urged individuals to continually develop their technical skills to keep pace with the radical shifts in the labor market.
PwC's "AI Jobs Index 2025" report revealed that demand for university degrees is generally declining, but is accelerating in jobs exposed to AI, such as financial analysis, compared to less affected jobs, such as physical therapy.
The report indicated that the skills required in jobs exposed to AI are now changing 66% faster than in other jobs, compared to only 25% last year, reflecting a significant acceleration in the skill lifecycle. It indicated that AI allows individuals to quickly acquire specialized knowledge, which could make academic qualifications less important to employers.
The report stated that this shift could open the door to a broader category of job seekers, especially those who don't have the time or resources to obtain university degrees, as the focus is now on "what you can do today, not what you studied in the past."
Learn AI from Home
Joe Atkinson, Global Head of AI at PwC, emphasized that education is no longer limited to universities, noting that AI tools and large language models (LLMs) allow anyone to learn from home, according to what he told CNBC. He added, "The ability to access a vast amount of knowledge is becoming available to everyone, and this raises the bar for everyone."
Atkinson emphasized that the rapid evolution of AI models is astonishing, saying, "If you're not uncomfortable with the speed of change, you're probably not paying enough attention." He recommended experimenting with different models and learning how to interact with them through "intelligent prompting," following tech blogs, and practicing using the tools on a regular basis.
Applied skills are key.
"AI skills are practical skills; they can't just be learned theoretically, but must be put to practical use," Atkinson said, adding that a commitment to self-learning has become the "new minimum" for anyone who wants to stay competitive.
He added, "We can't fear technology; we have to embrace it." At the same time, he noted that formal education remains important for developing critical thinking and interpersonal skills, abilities that will become increasingly valuable in the future.
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