Netflix Inc. (NASDAQ:NFLX) Co-founder Reed Hastings said the long-standing emphasis on STEM education may be reaching its peak as artificial intelligence rapidly reshapes which skills will matter most in the future workforce.
AI Driving Shifts Away From STEM
Last week, speaking on the "Possible" podcast, Hastings framed his view around what AI does well versus what still depends on human connection.
Hastings said AI's strengths lean toward structured, rule-based work, pointing to areas like software development and healthcare as places where capabilities could advance quickly.
He contrasted that with experiences driven by emotion and culture, arguing that those won't become the central focus of an AI-led economy.
“You’re not going to watch a basketball game of robots,” Hastings said. He also described entertainment, art, and sports as emotional domains that are not “the big thrust of the AI world.”
Hastings suggested education may swing back toward disciplines that train people to understand stories, history and how humans relate to one another.
“If I had a three-year-old today, I would be like doubling down on the emotional skills,” he said.
Hastings said the past two decades elevated STEM and coding as must-have skills, but he now sees signs of saturation.
“As everyone sees that coding is overdone, my guess is we’ll see that STEM is overdone,” he said.
AI Jobs Debate: Musk, Pichai, Gates Clash On Future Of Work
Earlier, Elon Musk said universal high-income payments could offset AI-driven job losses if automation boosts output enough, though Sanjeev Sanyal criticized the idea as economically risky.
Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOG) (NASDAQ:GOOGL) CEO Sundar Pichai said the U.S. should lead AI development, highlighting benefits across industries while warning of job disruption and the need for regulation.
Bill Gates added that AI was already reshaping work and could eventually shorten the workweek, urging policymakers to prepare for economic changes without backing a single solution.
Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
Photo Courtesy: catwalker on Shutterstock.com
Login to comment