⚡ Key Summary
The Value of College and Essential Skills:
While college holds value as a space to develop basic networking and logical thinking, graduation itself is not essential; rather than a single area of specialization, a comprehensive execution capability to handle tasks across the board using AI is the core condition for survival.
Paradigm Shift in College Major Preferences:
Humanities, philosophy, and natural sciences—which cultivate logical and critical thinking as well as foundational judgment—are gaining attention because the uniquely human role of setting the stage for "what to execute and why" has become more important than simply acquiring technical skills.
A Message for Workers and Companies:
Workers must prepare for changes through domain-agnostic versatility and swift information gathering, while companies must look beyond short-term cost-cutting and maintain entry-level hiring and training to nurture talent equipped with future judgment capabilities.
Should You Go to College? "What I Told My Son..."
My son, who is a high school sophomore in the United States, often asks me, "Do I have to go to college? If so, where should I go?" I think college students entering the job market today face the same dilemma. Of course, it depends on what one values, but if someone asks, "What is a way to choose one of today's trending jobs and make it last long-term?" I have no choice but to say, "There is no answer." In this era, regardless of the field you are in, you can no longer survive by specializing in just one task as in the past; you must become someone who can handle everything centered around that work.
Q. When asked "Do I have to go to college?", what was your yes-or-no answer?
I said "yes," but told him he doesn't need to graduate. It is true that AI can now handle many tasks, and it is also true that one must develop logical thinking for that. However, when stepping out into the world with nothing to your name, you need at least a baseline level of networking to accomplish anything in society, and college seems to be that place. But I said that graduating does not seem strictly necessary. In fact, while attending college, I ended up working and couldn't attend classes, so I never graduated either.
Q. It sounds like you think one should go to college because networking will become crucial in this world.
I believe basic networking is necessary. Beyond that, it comes down to one's own capability. That is why, rather than studying a single field, developing well-rounded skills and cultivating the logical thinking needed to utilize tools seems to be the most important thing.
Q. If you were a job seeker today, how would you approach finding a job?
First, I would fundamentally build the capability to utilize AI. While studying to elevate my level of logical thinking, I would strive to develop comprehensive abilities to handle various types of work on my own through AI, regardless of the job function. I often tell my son, "You must become someone who can do everything using AI, and cultivating your own logic to leverage AI is the only way to survive in this world."
From that perspective, at Blind as well, I tell everyone—whether in legal, finance, or any other role—to build their ability to perform work more efficiently using AI. Blind's legal and finance teams are also coding themselves to automate and streamline a large portion of their work.
Q. Previously, there was a separate IT department, but could the need for it diminish?
In the case of manufacturing or sales, they are simply departments where the transition is slower; I believe all job categories can be streamlined or, in extreme cases, replaced through AI.
Q. Has the IT team actually shrunk at Blind as well?
Because there is so much to do, the work itself hasn't decreased, but we are able to get work done more efficiently and faster.
"In the End, the Major My Son Chose Was..."
Q. Recently, there was a buzzworthy article reporting that philosophy majors were more in demand in the job market than computer science graduates.
Looking at the majors California high school students are flocking to, in the past, computer science would have been number one. This year, bioengineering, medicine, physics, philosophy, and the humanities were overwhelmingly popular. It seems a shift is already underway.
I recently saw an article reporting that the employment rate for computer science majors fell below that of humanities departments. I think that is only natural. When Palantir posted an internship opening with the slogan "Interning at Palantir is far better than going to college," no one could deny it, because it is simply true.
Why are humanities and philosophy departments gaining favor? Fundamentally, because AI exists, cultivating the very logic of using AI and the ability to think logically seems to be the only path of advancement unique to humans. AI is replacing all areas where specialists previously existed—planning, design, development, finance, marketing—and many people believe that developing the judgment to decide "what should be executed and why" will be the only domain left for humans in the future, and I agree.
Q. So all that will be left for humans is setting the stage. Then what major did you recommend?
I told him I hoped he would study humanities, philosophy, or natural sciences. I said these disciplines seem to build one's own logic and cultivate rational judgment, and my son agreed. As a result, the field he chose was astrophysics. Since he is still a student, his mind could change, but what is certain is that he previously wanted to go into computer science or robotics. However, after watching the news and concluding, "Majors in these areas won't mean much anymore," and talking with me, he decided on astrophysics on his own.
If Companies Disappear Like This, Who Will Be Left in 20 Years?
Q. Having observed from the front lines this era dramatically transforming the corporate landscape, what is your final message?
The first message I would like to share with everyday workers is that it would be wise to learn the ability to execute across diverse areas without limiting yourself to a specific domain. Since the coming era will demand people who can handle all domains simultaneously rather than those working in a single field, only by becoming someone who can do it all based on past experience will you be able to survive long-term in the workplace of the future.
Second, I think you need to stay extremely sensitive to information. As uncertainty deepens, it will pose challenges not only for job seekers but also for current employees in the workforce. Watching how quickly society is changing, it will be crucial to carefully deliberate on career moves and how to develop your career path accordingly.
Lastly, I have a recommendation for companies. This is a story from the US Blind service that really resonated with me: "It's fine not to hire entry-level workers right now. So our senior employees are reviewing and evaluating AI-generated outputs. But in 10 years when we retire, who will do that work? If entry-level workers aren't nurtured now, in the future there will be no one left capable of making even those judgments. Therefore, considering future growth, companies absolutely must cultivate the talent needed to at least run and operate the business." There were many posts sharing these thoughts. Rather than merely thinking about cutting costs to invest, companies need to consider what must be prepared now with the future—10 years down the road—in mind.
※
Copying, redistribution, and unauthorized use in AI training are strictly prohibited.