'Colleges are dead': AI replacing degrees? Zerodha's Nikhil Kamath questions if MBA's are still worth the time or money

Zerodha co-founder Nikhil Kamath has questioned the relevance of traditional higher education, particularly MBA programs, in the modern world. Speaking during Zerodha’s 15th anniversary discussion alongside co-founder Nithin Kamath and other team members, he expressed his belief that the value of college education is rapidly declining in the age of technology and open learning.

‘Colleges Are Dead’
During the conversation, Kamath said, “Colleges are dead,” adding, “If you're 25 and going to an MBA college today, you must be some kind of idiot.” He explained that the lessons taught in management schools are now freely available on the internet. “Everything you are taught in an MBA college is available for free on YouTube,” he said, adding that learners can access even more detailed and updated information through online platforms.

Kamath also noted that artificial intelligence has made self-learning much easier. “I can go to ChatGPT and deep research a case study or build a case study in a way that an MBA college could have taught me. The syllabus is not as dynamic as the open-sourced world is,” he said.

MBA No Longer a Practical Investment
Kamath emphasized that spending two years and large sums of money on an MBA degree offers little practical utility. “If you want to alleviate insecurities, I think there are better ways to do it than spend two years and a lot of money on an MBA college,” he said.

While others pointed out that MBA programs often give students from smaller towns the confidence to enter the corporate world, Kamath maintained that confidence should not come at such a cost. He further mentioned that global companies are gradually moving away from degree-based hiring. “When large companies like Meta or Apple start saying in job applications that qualification does not matter, it’s only a matter of time before that trickles down here,” he added.

A Changing Approach to Learning
Kamath acknowledged that colleges offering strong mentorship and teaching people how to think critically still hold value. However, he said such institutions are rare in India, and most MBA programs remain focused on conventional learning rather than curiosity-driven education.

He also predicted that vocational or trade-based learning will become more popular than generalized degrees like MBAs, as industries increasingly demand specific, practical skills.