filmmaker Ram Gopal Varma has sparked a new debate online with a series of tweets arguing that traditional education has been rendered obsolete by artificial intelligence. In back-to-back posts, the director claimed that degrees in medicine, law, engineering and other professional fields will soon be worthless, and that the only skill worth learning today is how to use AI itself.
“The problem is not NEET, it’s AI,” says Ram Gopal Varma
Departing from his usual film-related commentary, the director has turned his attention to India’s education system, arguing in a series of posts that traditional schooling, degrees and entrance exams have effectively become irrelevant in the age of artificial intelligence. Beginning his remarks with the statement, “NEET is not the problem. AI is,” Varma argued that while paper leaks, canceled exams and student protests dominate the headlines, AI represents a much deeper disruption to education and employment.According to him, education was historically built around the transfer of scarce knowledge, but that premise no longer exists in an age where AI can process and deliver information instantly. He suggested that fixed knowledge and technical skills are rapidly losing value as AI systems continue to evolve at an unprecedented pace.Varma further stated that the conventional belief of studying once to secure a job for life has become obsolete in the age of artificial intelligence.
“Education must be killed,” says Ram Gopal Varma
In another post, Varma stepped up his criticism of the current education system by declaring that it should be “killed” in its current form.He argued that students continue to spend years memorizing information even though AI already possesses the same knowledge and is able to analyze data much faster than humans.Using medical education as an example, Varma questioned whether students should continue to spend nearly a decade becoming doctors when AI is increasingly helping with diagnosis and robotic technology is transforming surgeries.According to him, students are still encouraged to follow outdated educational paths despite technological advances that are rapidly changing career landscapes.
AI should become the center of education, says RGV
Varma argued that the only meaningful education today is learning how to effectively use artificial intelligence.He argued that students pursuing professional degrees in engineering, medicine, law, accounting, management, architecture and other specialized fields could graduate into a job market dramatically transformed by AI.He further suggested that future professionals will increasingly rely on AI across multiple disciplines, allowing a single individual to perform tasks that traditionally require expertise from multiple professions.Varma also criticized educational institutions for not adapting quickly enough, urging schools, colleges and universities to aggressively integrate AI into their curriculum.The filmmaker also directed his criticism towards parents, teachers and educational institutions.He argued that parents who continue to measure success solely by exams and grades risk preparing children for careers that may no longer exist in their current form.Similarly, he asserted that educators who defend traditional curricula fail to recognize how quickly AI is transforming the workforce.Varma concluded that students should prioritize adaptability and continuous learning over memorization, stating that the ability to reinvent oneself would become the most valuable skill in the AI age.
Dharmendra Pradhan resignation comes in the middle NEET controversy
Varma’s comments came shortly after Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation, following weeks of nationwide protests surrounding the NEET controversy. The issue sparked a wide-ranging debate on examination reforms, transparency and accountability within India’s education system.