These are the five university degrees that you shouldn’t study, according to AI
The unstoppable advance of Artificial Intelligence has changed the way some jobs operate, forcing them to reinvent themselves.
Artificial intelligence is here to stay — whether we like it or not. And every year, it becomes more woven into our daily routines. Sometimes it works quietly in the background; other times, it plays a very visible role in how we work, communicate, or create. But one thing is certain: AI is reshaping the world, and pretending otherwise isn’t an option.
Like every major technological shift, AI brings changes that ripple across the job market. Automation has already reduced the need for human labor in assembly‑line roles, and now it’s influencing the academic paths students choose. Some degrees that once guaranteed strong job prospects are losing ground as AI tools take over tasks that used to require specialized training.
Many students pick a college major based on future job opportunities — not necessarily passion — and the arrival of AI has changed that calculus. Some fields have become outdated, while others have had to reinvent themselves to stay relevant. When el Economista asked an AI system which degrees it would no longer recommend in their traditional form, several majors landed on the list. The takeaway wasn’t “don’t study them,” but rather: study them differently.
1. Translation and Interpretation
AI‑powered translation tools now offer impressive accuracy, making the traditional translation degree less essential. Instead, the recommendation is to specialize — for example, in legal or medical translation, where nuance, confidentiality, and domain expertise still require human judgment.
2. Accounting
Routine accounting tasks can now be handled by software with minimal human input. That doesn’t make the field obsolete, but it does shift the value. Students are encouraged to pursue deeper specializations such as advanced financial analysis or specialized auditing, where human oversight and strategic thinking remain crucial.
3. Law
Law will always need lawyers, but the job market is crowded — and AI is increasingly capable of handling basic research, document review, and other repetitive tasks. The future lies in niches like technology law, data privacy, and cybersecurity, where human expertise is indispensable and demand is growing.
4. Business Administration
A general business degree is still popular, but its broad scope can make it harder for graduates to stand out. Without a specialization, it risks blending into the background. Students are now encouraged to focus on areas like business analytics, operations strategy, or digital transformation, which align more closely with the AI‑driven economy.
5. Graphic Design (without a digital focus)
Traditional graphic design has been heavily disrupted by AI tools that generate visual content in seconds. That doesn’t mean creativity is obsolete — far from it — but the field is shifting. The strongest opportunities now lie in UX/UI design and digital product design, where understanding user behavior and crafting intuitive experiences go far beyond what AI can automate.
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