AI Will Accelerate Growing Disillusionment with Higher Education
Source: Jay Caspian Kang. "Will A.I. Make College Obsolete? | The New Yorker." May 5, 2026. www.newyorker.com
The Gist
The author argues that while AI won't kill colleges outright, it will speed up people's growing doubts about whether college is worth it. Since college mainly serves to give students a credential rather than actual knowledge, and AI can now provide much of that knowledge, people may stop paying high tuition fees for what amounts to an expensive stamp of approval.
Conclusion
AI will not singlehandedly destroy college, but it will accelerate an already growing disillusionment with higher education, potentially leading to a winner-takes-all scenario where elite schools survive while others die out
Premises
- College's primary function is credentialing rather than knowledge transfer - it signals intelligence, work ethic, and conformity to employers
- Public trust in institutions, including higher education, is at extremely low levels and declining
- The percentage of young adults who view college as 'very important' has dropped dramatically from 74% in 2013 to 35% in 2025
- AI capabilities in research, knowledge synthesis, and communication are reducing the knowledge-based advantages of college education
- Many college graduates are working in jobs that don't require their degrees, while tuition costs remain high
- Alternative pathways to success (like starting businesses or content creation) are becoming more viable and attractive to ambitious young people
- AI exposes the credentialing function of college more transparently, potentially undermining people's willingness to pay for it
Assumptions
- Current trends in declining trust and college enrollment will continue rather than reverse
- AI capabilities will continue to improve and become more accessible
- Employers' preference for college credentials can be overcome by demonstrated alternative skills
- The cost of college will not decrease significantly
- Young people will increasingly choose practical alternatives over traditional educational paths