Ex-Google AI leader says law, medicine degrees are waste of time: AI will catchup by graduation

The former Google AI executive urged Gen Z to invest in 'the art of connecting deeply with others' and the 'inner work of connecting with themselves,' instead of chasing lengthy academic qualifications.

A former Google AI leader has issued one of the sharpest warnings yet on the future of elite professions, arguing that traditional degrees — including medicine, law, and even PhDs — may no longer guarantee relevance in an AI‑driven economy. Business Insider reported that Jad Tarifi, who built Google’s first generative‑AI team, believes the rapid acceleration of artificial intelligence is rendering years‑long academic paths obsolete.

Tarifi, who earned his own PhD in AI in 2012, told the publication that young people risk “throwing away” years of their lives pursuing degrees that cannot keep up with how quickly AI is advancing. According to him, even applying AI to robotics — once considered frontier work — will be “solved” before today’s PhD students graduate. He added that medical and law degrees, which demand nearly a decade of training in some cases, may leave students entering the workforce with knowledge that is already outdated.

Tarifi sees higher education itself approaching obsolescence, arguing that future success will rely less on formal credentials and more on human qualities AI cannot replicate — such as emotional awareness, agency, and strong interpersonal relationships, Fortune reported. He urged Gen Z to invest in “the art of connecting deeply with others” and the “inner work of connecting with themselves,” instead of chasing lengthy academic qualifications.

Tarifi’s critique reflects a broader shift in Silicon Valley, where several tech leaders have questioned whether universities can keep pace with technological change. He warned that what students learn in medical school is “so outdated and based on memorisation,” making long‑established pathways to security increasingly fragile.