The Astonishing Growth of AI
The recent advances in AI have been nothing short of remarkable.
Ask ChatGPT a question, and it can provide answers that are not only accurate but also incredibly easy to understand—often exceeding my expectations.
Sometimes, I’m so impressed by the clarity of its explanations that I wonder:
Will I lose my job because of AI?
That fear is real, especially as someone whose job is to teach.
A Question Born from the Classroom
As a cram school teacher, I spend every day teaching students the importance of studying.
But now, with AI becoming more and more a part of our lives, I’ve found myself asking an important question:
Is it possible that knowledge will one day lose its value?
When Times Change, Values Change
History shows us that values change with time.
In the Middle Ages, horses were indispensable for transportation, farming, and carrying loads.
Today, very few people use horses as a means of transportation.
In other words, what is considered useful changes over time.
So what about the knowledge we’re trying to gain today?
Will there come a time when it is no longer valuable?
My Answer: Knowledge Will Always Have Value
To give you my conclusion first:
I believe knowledge will never lose its value.
That said, the form of knowledge we need to acquire might shift a little.
(Just to be clear, I’m not from the future—this is only my personal theory based on observation.)
Differences in Knowledge Levels Still Exist
Even in today’s world, there are large gaps in how much knowledge people have.
Most adults possess enough knowledge to get through daily life.
But beyond that basic level, the amount and type of knowledge people hold begins to differ widely.
Some people have deep expertise, while others don’t—and that’s okay.
AI Will Change How We Value Expertise
AI may make it much easier to access specialized knowledge than ever before.
If that happens, the value of simply possessing that knowledge could decline.
This means that in the future, having deep knowledge in just one narrow field may not be as valuable as it used to be.
(Important note: easier access to knowledge doesn’t mean easier access to skills. For example, we will always need professionals like doctors who can apply that knowledge in real-world situations.)
The Rise of Broad, Interdisciplinary Knowledge
On the other hand, in order for the average person to access and understand specialized knowledge, a broad foundational knowledge is still necessary.
That’s why I believe people who know a little about a lot of things—law, economics, history, math, science, art, languages, and more—will have the advantage.
Even if you’re not an expert, having basic knowledge in many areas allows you to use AI effectively to dive deeper when needed.
In fact, how far AI can take you might depend on how much you already know when you start.
A Thought Experiment: Can a Baby Use AI?
Let’s look at this from a completely different angle.
Suppose knowledge truly becomes unnecessary in the age of AI.
In that case, even a baby—someone with zero knowledge—should be able to use AI skillfully.
Clearly, that’s impossible.
So we’re left with one conclusion:
The ability to learn is still essential.
No Such Thing as Perfect—Not Even AI
One last and very important point: nothing in this world is perfect.
Humans aren’t perfect, and since AI is made by humans, it too is not perfect.
That’s why, even as we rely on AI for information, we must also develop the ability to judge whether that information is reliable.
Learning to ask the right questions, to verify the answers, and to think critically—these are the skills we’ll need in the age of AI.
Final Thoughts
These are my current thoughts on the value of knowledge in the age of AI.
I’ve started using AI tools in my own work recently, and I plan to write more about that in another post—there’s just too much to say here.
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