No Need For PHD and Doctorate? AI Will Make It Useless

For many decades now, the PHD and doctorate studies have been the most sought after degree of highest order. But the advancement of the AI revolution is likely to make these advanced studies a bit more useless if anything, suggest the latest reports.

A leading figure in generative artificial intelligence has warned that pursuing lengthy academic degrees like a PhD may no longer be a smart strategy for today’s graduates because AI is evolving so fast that by the time most doctoral programs finish, the field could look very different.

Traditionally, advanced degrees were seen as a safeguard in tough job markets, offering prestige and better pay. But with AI systems increasingly able to perform sophisticated work, some young people are turning to further study in hopes of standing out.

Jad Tarifi, who started Google’s first generative-AI team and holds his own PhD in AI, says that long programs like doctorates struggle to keep pace with the speed of innovation.

He warns that “AI itself is going to be gone by the time you finish a PhD,” and suggests that skills tied directly to rapidly changing practice, or even deeper human-centered capabilities, might be more valuable than traditional credentials.

He also questions whether even careers in law and medicine, which demand many years of study, are worth the time in a world where smart technologies are reshaping professions. Rather than stacking qualifications, he encourages young people to cultivate unique perspectives, emotional awareness, and the ability to connect with others qualities less easily automated.

Still, doctoral graduates remain in demand at top tech companies, and specialised research skills can lead to high-paying roles, showing that advanced degrees have not disappeared entirely.