Indian-American venture capitalist Vinod Khosla has sparked a major debate by suggesting that artificial intelligence may undermine the dominance of elite universities and high-prestige careers. Reacting to a report titled “The End of Prestige”, Khosla argued that AI tools are eroding the traditional value of expensive degrees in law, medicine, and finance by replacing the need for memorized knowledge with the ability to intelligently query AI systems. “The ROI of a $300,000 law or medical degree will evaporate,” he said, adding that future professionals will succeed not by rote expertise but by how well they collaborate with AI.

The report highlighted that tools like CASEY, Harvey, Med-PaLM 2, and BlackRock’s Aladdin platform are already performing tasks that were once the domain of junior associates and analysts. It argues that professions built on codified knowledge and credential barriers are highly vulnerable to disruption. Khosla’s post resonated with many online, with one user criticizing Ivy League degrees as “regurgitated knowledge” and calling for a shift toward AI research, vocational training, and merit-based systems. The conversation reflects a broader reckoning as technology rapidly transforms how society defines expertise, value, and career preparation.