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#175: Gen Z is not interested in degrees?
Education Next- Hundred and seventy fifth Edition
Priyanka Modi
September 21, 2025
Welcome to EducationNext #175, your weekly spark for creators, innovators, and AI enthusiasts.
Fiverr’s shift to an AI-first model offers lessons for freelancers amid gig economy changes.
New research reveals how ChatGPT and Claude are revolutionizing education, while Gen Z ditches degrees for trade schools and self-learning.
Top Stories:
Fiverr’s AI-First Transformation: Lessons for Freelancers
Fiverr CEO Micha Kaufman announced layoffs of 250 staff to enter “startup mode,” embracing AI tools like Neo and Fiverr Go for agility. “We’re building on what we’ve accomplished,” Kaufman says, focusing on enterprise clients and AI orchestration.
The takeaway: Freelancers should upskill in AI to automate tasks, diversify platforms, and niche in high-value areas like creative strategy.
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ChatGPT & Claude: AI’s Surge in Education
OpenAI’s ChatGPT hits 700M weekly users (10% of adults), with education at 10.2% of messages; Claude’s educational use rose from 9.3% to 12.4% in eight months. High-income regions lead, but low-income areas lag, risking gaps.
The edge: Students thrive with AI for tutoring and coding, but over-reliance hurts critical thinking—use for guidance, not completion.
Gen Z Ditches Degrees: New Paths to Success
25% of Gen Z regrets college amid $38K annual costs and 62% mismatched jobs, per 2025 surveys. They pivot to trade schools, Coursera, and freelancing for affordability and relevance.
The shift: With AI automating entry-level roles, self-learning and apprenticeships offer quicker ROI.
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Deep Dive: AI, Education, and the Gig Economy
Fiverr’s AI pivot signals a leaner gig world where freelancers must adapt with tools like Neo for efficiency. ChatGPT and Claude democratize learning—700M users for personalized tutoring—but uneven access widens gaps, urging equitable policies.
Gen Z’s rejection of degrees (25% regret) favors practical paths like trades and online skills, aligning with AI’s automation of routine jobs.
For young innovators: Blend AI literacy, resilience, and bold pivots to redefine success in education and work.
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EducationNext is a collaborative newsletter produced by thought leaders in education, worldschooling, digital nomadism, remote work, and AI.
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