As Artificial Intelligence (AI) becomes deeply woven into the fabric of learning and work, a fundamental question emerges: what will define success – and the human edge – for tomorrow’s students and professionals? Before we rush to answer that, it is worth pausing to ask a more foundational question: what do we really mean by education? Beyond degrees and credentials, what is the true purpose of education in an age where machines can (and I write this with reservation) seemingly think, write and even create?
To me, education has always been about preparing students for life, not merely for employment. It is about shaping independent, thoughtful and responsible adults, who can navigate the complex moral, emotional and professional challenges of the world. This is no small task, and I hope that the education of today is designed so as to help them find meaning, purpose, and fulfilment tomorrow – and, in doing so, also contribute towards making the world a better place.
When viewed through such a lens, employability becomes only one part of the broader educational purpose. Yet, the growing dominance of market forces has tilted it disproportionately towards job readiness. In that narrow pursuit, the deeper goals of curiosity, empathy and relational awareness are often lost. And yet, ironically, these very qualities – once dismissed as ‘soft skills’ – are becoming the hardest to replace in an AI-driven world.
Even if, for this column, we take a pragmatic view and focus only on employability – I want to argue that the abilities that will differentiate tomorrow’s professionals will not be technical skills alone. They will be what I call the three ‘superpowers’ of the modern learner: resilience, radical collaboration and critical thinking.
Education systems that prioritise reflection, dialogue and experiential learning will equip students not only to use AI intelligently but also to question it ethically
The third – and perhaps most vital – is critical thinking, the ability to ask powerful questions. In an AI-saturated world that provides endless answers at the click of a key, the true advantage lies not in finding answers but in framing questions that matter. The quality of one’s inquiry will define the quality of one’s insight.
When ChatGPT or any other AI tool generates a response, it is limited by the depth of the question posed to it. Lazy, superficial questions will yield banal answers. Insightful, well-framed questions, on the other hand, can unlock new pathways for thought and action. Critical thinking, therefore, becomes the bridge between human curiosity and machine capability. It is what transforms AI from a crutch into a catalyst.
These three superpowers – resilience, radical collaboration and critical thinking – are not new. What is new is the urgency with which education must nurture them. As we embrace digital learning, it is tempting to equate technology adoption with progress. But the real progress will lie in how we use these tools to deepen, not dilute, humanity.
For India, this has profound implications. Our universities and institutes are not just centres of learning – they are incubators of the talent that will shape the nation’s future economy. Education systems that prioritise reflection, dialogue and experiential learning will equip students not only to use AI intelligently but also to question it ethically. We need curricula that move beyond content delivery to cultivate discernment and self-awareness. Leaders across sectors – industry, academia and government – must therefore come together to reimagine learning models that develop both competence and consciousness.
If the 20th century was about knowledge accumulation, the 21st is about wisdom application. The future will not belong to those who know the most answers, but to those who can ask the most meaningful questions. In that lies the true human edge.