College Still Matters: Esther Wojcicki’s Advice for Parents in AI Era

Esther Wojcicki, the renowned educator known as “The Godmother of Silicon Valley,” is pushing back against the notion that college has become obsolete. On a recent episode of the Silicon Valley Girl podcast, she argued that parents should prioritize sending their children to college, even in the age of artificial intelligence.

Wojcicki, whose three daughters became leaders in major tech companies—Anne co-founded 23andMe, the late Susan served as YouTube’s CEO, and Janet is a professor at UC San Francisco—emphasized that college develops irreplaceable interpersonal skills that AI cannot replicate.

The Critical Role of Interpersonal Skills

“College is an opportunity for you to hone your interaction with other human beings,” Wojcicki stated. She stressed that ages 18 to 22 represent a critical growth period when young adults need meaningful human interaction to develop social competencies. “You’re never going to be able to substitute college with an AI education,” she added, highlighting a gap in digital learning platforms.

Data Supports College Value

Research validates her perspective. A 2025 Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis analysis revealed that workers with bachelor’s degrees face unemployment rates at least 2.3% lower than high school graduates, a gap that persisted through the AI era. Additionally, McKinsey research shows employers increasingly prioritize “human skills”—critical thinking, communication, judgment, and collaboration—which remain difficult to automate.

Wojcicki isn’t alone in this view. Billionaire investor Mark Cuban similarly advocates for college, stating that students today have unprecedented resources available and should attend at least the first two years to develop foundational learning habits and exposure to diverse perspectives.

The consensus is clear: college remains essential for developing the uniquely human skills that define success in an AI-driven future.