Throughout Stanford’s Family Weekend, I heard the same concern from multiple parents: Will my kid still be able to get a job in the age of artificial intelligence (AI)? What is Stanford doing to manage this? It’s a fair question. We’re at an inflection point where AI’s capabilities are growing rapidly, automating tasks that once seemed untouchable. But here’s my perspective: There is no such thing as a job recession for people who always provide value. The rise of AI doesn’t mean the end of opportunity — it just means the nature of value creation is shifting.

So, what is the best major to have in this AI-driven world? The simple answer: Whatever major doesn’t tempt you to use AI.

Rethinking AI: a tool for critical thinking, not a crutch

Instead of seeing AI as a threat, what if we viewed it as a tool to aid us in critical thinking, vision-making and clarifying our purpose? The fear of job displacement is real — but the key to thriving in this landscape is learning how to work with AI rather than against it.

In my last article, I wrote about how AI can be a powerful asset if used wisely. Let’s talk about how we, as students, can leverage generative AI to make our academic skills the best they can be. Don’t use AI to do your work for you, use AI to enhance your learning, deepen your thinking and refine your skills.

A CS major isn’t useless because “AI will take your job.” It’s useless if you let AI do all your coursework. The value of a CS education is learning to think systematically — breaking down larger pieces of code into functions, loops and more. If you use AI as a shortcut for every assignment, you’re missing the point entirely.

Practical AI tips for any major

Here are some ways you can integrate AI into your academic life without letting it replace your intellectual growth:

• Notice when you want to use AI. I call this your “AI temptation zones.” If you feel an urge to offload a task to AI, ask yourself why. Is it because you’re disinterested? Overwhelmed? Unclear about the assignment? This awareness can help you make better academic and career decisions.
• Use AI as a personal grader. Run your essays through AI and ask: What level is this? How can I improve it? You’ll get valuable feedback that can help you refine your writing before turning it in.
• Bored in class? Challenge yourself. Write down a statement related to the lecture and ask AI to argue against it. Engaging in debate with AI can sharpen your critical thinking skills.
• Use AI to break through writer’s block. If you’re stuck, write messily and then ask AI: What are the main points in this? This can help you structure your ideas and gain clarity without falling into perfectionism paralysis.

Becoming an AI+ student

The best students in the age of AI won’t be the ones who avoid it entirely or rely on it blindly. They’ll be the ones who use it intelligently to sharpen their thinking, refine their skills and push their ideas further. Just as importantly, they’ll lean into what has always driven deep learning: books, conversations and curiosity — things AI still can’t fully grasp. If I were a freshman today, I’d hit the library, take a language class and double down on developing the kind of interpersonal skills and connections no algorithm can replicate.

So, what major should you choose? Pick the one that excites you so much, you wouldn’t dream of outsourcing the learning. Let AI be a freeing tool — not a crutch — to explore boldly. In a world increasingly shaped by AI, the most valuable people will be those who know how to think, question and create — not just those who know how to prompt. Choose a major that pushes you to do exactly that.