Should Indian parents stop funding 4-year degrees in the AI era?

Tarkify · 2026-10-18T14:41:20.276Z

Indian families are spending lakhs on engineering and management degrees, but AI tools are now doing entry-level coding and analysis work that freshers used to do. Recruiters are saying they care more about practical AI skills than the university name on the paper. This has parents panicking: if a 20-year-old can learn Python and prompt engineering in six months, is a four-year college education just an expensive delay before getting a job?

Yes, ditch the degree. Practical AI skills and a strong portfolio are all that matter now.

No, the degree is a safety net. AI changes fast, but a degree proves you can stick with hard things.

It depends on the field. Medicine and law need degrees, but tech jobs do not.

Parents are right to panic. Most Indian colleges are still teaching outdated, pre-AI curricula.