I did an experiment to understand the scope of AI education disruption...

As AI continues to evolve, the role of education, especially the primary school curriculum, must adapt.

Traditionally, primary education has focused on teaching students fundamental skills like writing, data interpretation, persuasive communication, and artistic expression. These skills have formed the foundation for various careers, from law and journalism to engineering and public relations.

However, what happens when AI can do all of this better than humans?

If AI advances to possess empathy, judgment, investigative depth, insight, and legal interpretation, it could fully automate many knowledge-based jobs.

AI would write compelling speeches, conduct scientific research, create art, diagnose patients, and even make courtroom decisions.

This means that simply teaching children how to produce content—whether text, images, or reports, may no longer be enough.

Consider the implications: If AI gains empathy, judgment, and deep reasoning, it could replace most knowledge-based jobs. Creative and leadership roles (e.g., politicians, artists, teachers) would still require human uniqueness unless AI develops personal charisma and originality. AI in law, medicine, and economics would be game-changing, potentially replacing many professionals if it achieves full interpretative and ethical reasoning.

Mapping the Transformation

I did an experiment with AI to understand the scope of this disruption.

1. I found all the jobs in a modern democracy that create content.

2. I attached the relevant skills we teach in primary school to achieve these jobs.

3. I then attached AI's Current Ability to Perform This Skill, and AI's Ability if Advanced with Empathy & Judgment.

4. 
   

This last column, is due to happen very soon.

The rapid development of AI is astonishing, with nearly US$1 billion invested daily by companies like Google, Microsoft, Meta, and Amazon—about a quarter of the global R&D budget. Such massive investments in a single technology are unprecedented. As a result, many experts believe that the timeline for AI surpassing human intelligence is shrinking quickly. Elon Musk forecasts this could happen by 2025 or 2026, while others like Dario Amodei and Shane Legg suggest it may occur between 2026 and 2028. These predictions point to an event that seems increasingly imminent.

The Uncomfortable Truth

Have a look at the below table. Column 2 is what the curriculum teaches primary school students. Column 4 is what AI will be able to achieve very soon. I did this for my own benefit, but also wondered...

why do I feel like I am the only one asking this question?