Introduction
South Africa faces a persistently high youth unemployment rate, influenced by various complex factors. However, before addressing unemployment itself, we must examine whether young people are adequately prepared for today's rapidly evolving workforce. Artificial intelligence represents one of the most transformative innovations currently reshaping every industry, yet educational institutions are struggling to adapt their approaches accordingly. While companies increasingly incorporate AI training within their organizations, a critical question emerges: Should schools and universities reform their curricula to align with this changing landscape, or would such changes provide little benefit to students?
The AI vs. Critical Thinking Debate
One concern frequently raised is that AI diminishes students' critical thinking abilities. But this prompts several important questions: What need is there for human critical thinking when artificial intelligence can think for us? Is it necessary to develop cognitive skills when robots can handle the thinking process? Does the modern workforce even require critical thinking when AI can generate ideas on demand?
We must be honest—independent thinking takes time, and idea generation can be even more time-consuming. Why would anyone choose the longer route of developing original ideas when AI can instantly synthesize virtually every concept ever conceived?
According to Gerlich (2025), AI dependency negatively impacts critical thinking skills. He argues that frequent use of AI tools leads to substantial cognitive offloading—the practice of using external resources or tools to enhance cognitive function while reducing mental effort (Askarov, 2024). Askarov further maintains that there's a strong negative correlation between AI tool usage and cognitive development due to this offloading effect.
While AI enables faster and more efficient work, humans still need to develop their own thoughts and ideas—it's what makes us human. The notion that AI is "taking over the world" doesn't mean it eliminates our human essence. AI can assist with many tasks, but it relies on information gathered from humans to generate content in the first place. This means if we stop thinking, AI will eventually lose its ability to generate new ideas as well.
Critical Thinking in the Workplace
Cohen emphasizes that even in professional environments, critical thinking remains essential: "In a world where AI can draft emails, reports, and even strategies, your value depends on how well you can push beyond the baseline. Can you question assumptions? Add insight? Navigate nuance?" Critical thinking involves building your own ideas upon foundational information. While AI can generate thoughts, humans need to develop their own perspectives based on what the technology provides.
We must question what's presented to us, especially since these AI tools, despite appearing trustworthy, are programmed by people whose biases may influence the responses we receive. This issue particularly affects young people in educational settings.
Rebecca (2025) argues that students are effectively cheating through their degrees by using ChatGPT and other sophisticated large language models (LLMs) to complete homework, write essays, and more. Earlier I questioned whether critical thinking skills remain necessary when we have AI. The evidence suggests we definitely need these skills—but what happens when people use AI to by earn degrees without genuine effort?
The South African Context and Future Employment
South Africa already struggles with high unemployment rates. What happens when more people use AI to obtain degrees without developing the underlying skills? While AI can generate information faster than we can say "go," there will always be situations requiring on-the-spot thinking with no time to prompt an AI tool for answers. Furthermore, AI lacks the ability to make moral decisions shaped by human experiences, upbringing, beliefs, and environment.
Carucci (2024) notes that AI doesn't possess the flexibility and adaptability inherent to humans. Yet we must confront the reality that companies are increasingly incorporating AI tools into their operations.
The Workforce and AI
Industries recognize the importance of equipping themselves with AI skills to improve efficiency and profitability. Businesses understand that time equals money—the less time spent on tasks, the better for their bottom line. But how does this shift impact young people entering the workforce?
Universities often view the AI trend as problematic, particularly because students use it to circumvent learning. However, could the inability of educational institutions to adapt to AI's rapid evolution contribute to future unemployment? Educational institutions need to discover better ways to embrace AI while developing new methods to assess critical thinking. Just as the recruitment industry is transitioning from traditional interviews to virtual reality assessments or AI-based evaluations, there's clearly a need for these technological skills as well.
Universities must become more creative with assessment methods, following industry's lead. Employers are increasingly reluctant to hire recent graduates due to concerns about practical experience. According to Michaelides, hiring managers hesitate to employ Gen Z graduates because of perceived issues with work ethic, professionalism, and interview preparation. While written assignments and theoretical knowledge matter, the ability to apply this knowledge practically is even more valuable—that's what companies seek.
Conclusion
AI offers significant advantages alongside its disadvantages. Universities should adapt their approaches to provide students opportunities to apply their learning, including through assessment methods. This practical orientation will enhance graduates' chances of securing employment opportunities in an AI-integrated workforce. The future belongs not to those who can simply use AI, but to those who can think critically alongside it, combining technological efficiency with uniquely human insight and judgment.
References
Askarov, R. (2024). What is Cognitive Offloading?. Moitask. [Link]
Carucci, R. (2024). In the age of AI, Critical thinking is more needed than ever. Forbes. [Link]
Cohen, N. (2025). Working Smarter With AI – Why Critical Thinking Is Still Your Superpower. allwork. [Link]
Davice, R. (2025). CheatGPT crisis – SA universities faced with burgeoning degree of AI-written academic assignments. Daily Maverick. [Link]
Gerlich, M. (2025). AI Tools in Society: Impacts on Cognitive Offloading and Future of Critical Thinking. Switzerland, MDPI. [Link]
Michaelides, S. (2025). Employers Don't Want To Hire New Grads — Can Young Professionals Turn The Tide In 2025?. Workforce, allwork. [Link]
Nwanua, K., & Brink, R. (2019). Investigating the prevailing issues surrounding ICT graduate employability in South Africa: A case study of a South African university. Santon, Sciflo South Africa. [Link]
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by Ndivhuwo Munyai, 09 May 2025, South Africa