Billionaires Including Netflix Co-founder Reed Hastings Predict Liberal Arts Degrees Will Be More Valuable and More In Demand Than Coding in AI Era

Some billionaires suggest liberal arts degrees may gain value relative to computer science in the future.

Netflix co-founder Reed Hastings, speaking alongside LinkedIn founder Reid Hoffman and others, suggests liberal arts education offers key skills for an AI-dominated future. Their perspective challenges the long-standing emphasis on technical degrees and signals a structural shift in workforce preparation.

Hastings recently told the Possible podcast that after 25 years of urging people to “learn to code,” the rise of AI has changed the equation. He emphasized emotional skills and understanding human complexity as harder for machines to replicate. Although liberal arts degrees have declined over decades, there are signs of a resurgence. Hastings said if he had a 3-year-old today, he would double down on these emotional competencies. This view is related to a 2023 New Yorker article that declared “The End of the English Major,” highlighting the ebb and flow of humanities education.

While no timeline for widespread change was provided, the debate raises important questions about future workforce training.

For Montana Universities and businesses, this shift might prompt reconsideration of hiring and training priorities. In a state where community ties and interpersonal skills often drive success, the increased value placed on emotional intelligence and human understanding could reshape talent development strategies.

Netflix Co-Founder Reed Hastings Is the Latest Billionaire to Predict Liberal Arts Will Make a Comeback 
By Jessica Stillman, Inc