Summary of the Core Points
The central argument of this article is that China's current education system is a product of the industrial era, essentially functioning as a "standardized talent assembly line" that uses mechanisms such as selection and diplomas to channel individuals into large organizations. However, AI is undermining the foundations of this educational model. It has reduced the role of intermediaries in knowledge transmission—such as teachers and diplomas—causing the value of these traditional educational credentials to rapidly decline. At the same time, AI presents an opportunity for education to return to its original purpose of inspiring individuals. In the future, there will be two distinct educational systems: one that continues with the old methods of examination and selection, and another that uses AI and self-study to cultivate individuals capable of solving problems independently. Ultimately, AI forces us to reconsider what makes a person valuable in a society when traditional intermediaries become obsolete.
Detailed Analysis
1. The Old Education System: A "Talent Mold" from the Industrial Era
Why does China's current education system resemble an assembly line? It was designed for the industrial era. Back then, the country needed to rapidly industrialize and urbanize, requiring a large number of standardized workers: engineers who could follow standard solutions, and middle-level managers who were disciplined and recognized by their diplomas. The purpose of this education system was not to ignite curiosity or inspire thought but to shape individuals according to a uniform template, making it easier for them to be integrated into large factories and companies.
For example, you needed high scores to get into good schools and a diploma to secure a good job, essentially proving that you obeyed the rules and were fit for the system. The competition was not about knowledge itself but about gaining recognition from the system. This is why efforts to reduce the burden on students have often failed: the family's focus on survival remained unchanged; a diploma was seen as a ticket to enter a stable system, and no one dared to truly step outside of it.
2. AI is Eroding the Foundations of the Old Education System
AI represents more than just an upgrade in tools; it is a fundamental reshaping of productivity. In the past, knowledge dissemination relied on intermediaries such as teachers, textbooks, schools, and diplomas. Now, ordinary people can access high-quality information directly through AI (for instance, using ChatGPT to learn programming), significantly reducing the value of these intermediaries.
More importantly, the needs of organizations have changed: tasks that previously required multiple people can now be completed by a single individual with AI. For example, coding used to involve collaboration among multiple team members for writing code, testing, and documentation, but now AI can handle all these tasks simultaneously. As a result, the standardized talents cultivated by the old education system are no longer in demand, leading to the devaluation of diplomas.
3. The Ugly Side Effects of the Old System's Decline
As the authority of the old education system weakens, those with power use more aggressive means to protect their interests. Graduate students often feel like they are being used as cheap labor by their supervisors, working on projects and writing papers without proper support for their development. This is not due to the supervisors' lack of integrity but rather because the authority of knowledge has diminished, leaving them with little other means to control students besides the power to grant degrees.
Company layoffs are also a result of this shift: it's not that the industry is failing, but AI has revealed that fewer people are needed to maintain traditional hierarchies and processes. What was once considered valuable talent may now be deemed redundant due to changes in productivity.
4. The Opportunity Brought by AI
AI doesn't just destroy the old education system; it also returns control to individuals. In the past, high-quality knowledge was monopolized by prestigious schools and teachers. Now, AI makes it accessible to everyone. What matters is no longer how much you know but your ability to ask valuable questions, discern the truth from misinformation, and apply knowledge to create practical outcomes.
Education can finally move away from simply imparting answers and help individuals develop their own thinking frameworks. The goal is not just to fit into a system but to become genuine, independent individuals.
5. The Future of Education
There will be two coexisting educational paths:
- The Old System:将继续 relying on exams, selection, and the pursuit of diplomas (the old order will not disappear overnight).
- The New Path: More people will learn through AI, self-study, and practical projects, with the aim of solving problems and creating value. In the future, what will be in demand are individuals who can think independently, learn on their own, and use AI to solve problems (for example, running a business alone using AI for design, operations, and customer service).
The difference between successful and unsuccessful individuals will no longer lie in their scores within the old system but in their ability to recognize the decline of traditional credentials and reorganize themselves into productive units.
Conclusion
AI makes the standardized approach of the old education system increasingly unsustainable, but it also offers us the chance to redefine education from a process of fitting people into a system to one that helps them become their own selves. This is both a challenge and an opportunity.