Summary
The title may sound surprising, but it reflects an important truth about today’s world. Artificial intelligence (AI) dominates global conversations, universities are racing to launch new programs, companies are competing to recruit AI talent, and the public repeatedly hears that AI is the future of every industry, job, and economy.
Each year, after the release of high school results and during the university application period, experts receive numerous calls and messages from parents asking: “What should our children study?” With growing enthusiasm around AI, many students and families now view it as the ideal choice for their future. Yet, experience shows that this decision requires careful reflection. Success in AI is not determined merely by job market trends, it depends on genuine readiness for the intellectual and emotional journey the field demands.
Understanding the Nature of the Field
AI is not for everyone. Entering it simply because it is popular or because “everyone is studying it” can lead to disappointment and burnout. As the saying goes, “Choosing the wrong path might keep you walking for a long time, but you will never arrive.”
This discipline requires true passion for technology, mathematics, and statistics, along with curiosity about how things work from the inside. If you do not enjoy solving problems, creating solutions, and approaching challenges with originality, you may find yourself lost among complex codes, equations, and mathematical concepts.
As Einstein wisely stated, “It is not enough to know, you must understand.” Success in AI depends not on memorization but on comprehension, exploration, and creative thinking.
Continuous Learning: The Lifelong Commitment
Learning AI is a continuous and lifelong process. What is new today may become obsolete within months, or even weeks. The field evolves at an incredible pace, with new tools, techniques, and concepts emerging almost daily.
Experts in the field often emphasize:
“You must read research papers and articles regularly, and practice on platforms such as Kaggle, Hugging Face, and GitHub.”
These platforms should become part of your daily routine, just like social media, visited frequently to explore ideas, solve challenges, and share projects. In AI, true learning comes not from listening but from consistent, practical application.
Embracing Uncertainty and Experimentation
AI projects are often full of surprises. Datasets may be incomplete or contain errors, models may fail to perform as expected, and results can contradict initial assumptions. Yet, these challenges are not signs of failure, they are part of the process.
To succeed in AI, one must develop patience, adaptability, and resilience, along with the willingness to experiment repeatedly until achieving the right solution. Each challenge teaches valuable lessons, reinforcing the mindset that progress is built through persistence and curiosity.
The Right Mindset for AI Students
If you are self-motivated, enjoy solving problems, view every challenge as an opportunity for growth, and find joy in discovering new things each day, then AI could indeed be your gateway to a rewarding and globally relevant career. The field opens doors to international opportunities and allows individuals to make a meaningful impact on people and societies.
- However, before committing to this path, test your interest and aptitude:
- Attend free online lectures or courses.
- Try writing simple code and experimenting with AI tools.
- Explore real-world AI projects to understand the field’s practical demands.
These experiences will help you decide whether you see yourself thriving in AI over the next decade.
Checklist: Don’t Study AI Unless You…
Before you choose AI as your major, make sure these statements describe you:
- Have a strong desire for lifelong learning and adaptability to fast technological change.
- Enjoy problem-solving and take pleasure in approaching problems differently.
- Are interested in mathematics, statistics, logic, and programming.
- Can persevere through a long learning journey, developing skills before reaching your dream career.
- Are comfortable working with imperfect data or unexpected results.
- Enjoy experimentation, iterative testing, and learning from trial and error.
- See learning as a continuous journey that extends far beyond lectures and textbooks.
- If these describe you, AI could be one of the best academic and career decisions you ever make, opening global opportunities and allowing you to contribute to real-world transformation.
If, however, you prefer a stable field where information changes slowly and routines remain predictable, AI might not be the right fit.
Closing
Artificial intelligence is an exciting and transformative field, but it demands curiosity, dedication, and the ability to keep learning. Those who view education as a lifelong pursuit and embrace challenges with creativity will find fulfillment and success.
Don’t study artificial intelligence unless you are ready to grow with it. The field rewards not those who follow trends, but those who combine technical skill with passion, patience, and an enduring love of discovery.