Economist Sanjeev Sanyal has argued that traditional degree-based higher education is rapidly losing relevance as artificial intelligence reshapes how knowledge and skills are acquired. Speaking in an interview with ANI, the Prime Minister’s Economic Advisory Council member said lecture-driven universities were becoming outdated, describing AI as “vastly superior” at delivering instructional content.
He said routine university attendance was once an elite pursuit but technological advances have diminished its value, creating a mismatch between formal education and real-world skills. He described this gap as a failure of the skilling ecosystem, noting that practical training had long been undervalued compared to academic degrees.
Highlighting India’s technology sector, Sanyal said institutions such as National Institute of Information Technology played a greater role in building software talent than conventional degree programmes.
He also called the pursuit of Union Public Service Commission careers for long-term job security “a complete waste of time” in the current era, saying such paths made sense decades ago but not today.
He argued that academia struggles to keep pace with rapidly evolving technology, unlike consumer tools that are upgraded frequently. Instead, Sanyal advocated early entry into the workforce, apprenticeships, and flexible education models. Citing entrepreneurs like Sridhar Vembu and Elon Musk, he said degrees could be pursued alongside work, including through online learning.
Sanyal added that AI-driven disruption was inevitable, but those who adopt it early would be best positioned to upgrade their skills.
