Netflix co-founder and current Chairman Reed Hastings recently stated that he believes the current artificial intelligence revolution may lead to a renewed appreciation for the humanities.
Hastings previously earned a master's degree in computer science and artificial intelligence from Stanford University and participated in the early AI revolution, which ultimately ended in failure. However, he indicated on a podcast last week that the current wave of AI is showing signs of radically disrupting the existing labor market and could even transform education.
Although Hastings himself pursued graduate studies in a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) field, he suggested that AI will alter the academic disciplines that universities prioritize in the future.
"Stanford is almost entirely dominated by STEM," Hastings remarked. "Now we might see a shift back towards the humanities, with a renewed emphasis on combining history and literature."
"If I had a three-year-old child today, I would place double the emphasis on developing their social-emotional skills," he added.
Hastings made these comments at a time when AI has already significantly transformed the early job market for computer science graduates. According to data from the job site Indeed, the proportion of tech job openings aimed at candidates with two to four years of experience is projected to decline from 46% in mid-2022 to 40% by mid-2025.
Boris Cherny, founder of Anthropic's Claude Code, predicted in February that the title of "software engineer" might even disappear by the end of this year, as AI tools empower all employees to write code.
Hastings himself, however, is skeptical that AI will completely replace human software engineers.
"While many companies may reduce hiring for software engineers, numerous other opportunities will still emerge within software development," he stated during the podcast.
Despite this, Hastings remains firmly convinced that the humanities will grow in importance in the coming years. Last year, the Netflix co-founder donated $50 million to his alma mater, Bowdoin College, to establish the "Hastings Initiative for AI and the Humanities." These funds will help Bowdoin hire ten new faculty members and support research into the societal impacts of AI.
"The goal is to prepare the next generation of leaders to responsibly navigate the opportunities and challenges presented by AI," Bowdoin College described the initiative on its website.
Although Hastings foresees dramatic changes in education and the workforce, he expressed greater optimism than ever about the future and the role AI will play in improving the world.
"The next 20 years will be incredibly exciting. I believe it will usher in an era of abundance," he said.
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