Formal education may be on the verge of losing its prestige: AI will transform the value of academic degrees and pave the way for informal learning.
In just a few years, artificial intelligence (AI) will redefine education as we know it. Universities are witnessing how their traditional evaluation methods—exams and written papers—will no longer certify real knowledge: passing will no longer prove understanding, but rather the ability to manipulate AI tools.
According to projections consolidating by 2025, the use of AI to cheat in UK universities has already risen to 7.5 cases per 1,000 students, up from the current 5.1—which already amounts to nearly 7,000 incidents during the 2023‑24 cycle.
In Scotland, these cases have multiplied, with a 700% increase—from around 130 to over 1,000 in just one year.
Meanwhile, AI-based plagiarism detection systems are, for now, not as reliable as expected: it is estimated that 94% of AI-generated content is undetectable, and false accusations against students will become a frequent issue—giving rise to lawsuits, compensation claims, and all kinds of legal disputes.
The future collapse of formal prestige
Academic degrees, which today hold prestige and value, are at risk of becoming mere pieces of paper with no real substance.
What’s new is the emergence of informal education as an effective and economical alternative. Let’s not think of public and free education, because that is not the norm outside of Argentina.
In the same landscape, AI will lower the costs of learning and survival: informal education—based on tutorials, communities, micro-credentials, and mentoring—will become the preferred option. The global market for AI in education, which in 2024 hovered around US$ 5 billion, is projected to reach between US$ 32 billion and 75 billion by 2030–33, with an annual growth rate between 34% and 47%.
In a time when AI will be able to answer almost any question instantly, what will set leaders apart is their ability to ask intelligent questions and think critically.
In this near future, a reflection from Julián Colombo, an Argentine CEO whose company specializes in software and AI solutions, will serve as a beacon:
“The future doesn’t belong to those who know the most, but to those who ask the best questions.”
In summary
Very soon, the legitimacy of formal education will face its most demanding test: with evaluations undermined by AI and detection systems falling short, academic prestige will be called into question. At the same time, informal education will grow as an agile, affordable, and skills-focused alternative.
In this context, the ability to ask good questions, learn independently, and think with flexibility will become the true currency in the knowledge economy—as Colombo predicts.
