In a recent LinkedIn post, Simon Squibb discusses the critical disconnect between traditional educational systems and the demands of an increasingly AI-dominated future. Squibb contends that current schooling methods are inadvertently training students to be outmoded in a world where artificial intelligence can perform many of the core tasks with superior speed and efficiency.
Education’s Focus on Machine-Like Skills
Squibb highlights that the very skills schools often reward with top grades are those that AI excels at. He points out that the emphasis on memorization, following instructions, and performing under pressure are precisely the attributes of a machine.
Schools are training kids to lose to AI.
According to Squibb, this approach is fundamentally flawed because AI can already execute these functions instantaneously and without cost. He argues that by focusing on these teachable, repeatable tasks, educational institutions are failing to equip students with the unique capabilities that differentiate humans from machines.
The Un insegnable Skills AI Cannot Replicate
The core of Squibb’s argument centers on the skills that AI currently cannot replicate – the inherently human abilities that are crucial for innovation and entrepreneurship. He identifies critical thinking, problem-solving, salesmanship, and the ability to build ventures from the ground up as essential competencies that are largely neglected in standard curricula.
The things AI can’t do like spotting a problem, selling, building something from nothing. School doesn’t teach in a single lesson.
Squibb suggests that these are the skills that truly prepare individuals for the future workforce, particularly in roles that require creativity, strategic thinking, and interpersonal acumen. He asserts that the current system overlooks these vital areas, potentially labeling students who struggle with rote learning as failures, despite their potential in other, more valuable domains.
Personal Experience as Evidence
Drawing from his own background, Simon Squibb shares his personal experience as someone who was once considered a ‘failure’ by the traditional system. He uses his subsequent success in building businesses, employing over 60 people, and selling half a million books as a testament to the limitations of conventional education and the power of un-taught, yet essential, life skills.
We’re sending an entire generation into an AI world with the exact skills AI already replaced… and calling the kids who can’t sit still “failures.”
Squibb’s message is a call to action for a significant overhaul of educational practices. He advocates for a system that nurtures the uniquely human skills—creativity, critical thinking, and adaptability—rather than prioritizing skills that are becoming increasingly automated.
A Call for Systemic Change
In his concluding remarks, Squibb strongly advocates for a fundamental shift in how education is approached. He believes that the system needs to adapt to the realities of the modern world, focusing on developing the ingenuity and problem-solving capabilities that will be indispensable in an AI-integrated economy.
The system must change.
His post serves as a stark warning and a compelling argument for educators, policymakers, and parents to reconsider the objectives and methodologies of education to ensure future generations are not only prepared but also empowered to thrive in the age of artificial intelligence.
📝 About This Content
This article is based on insights shared by Simon Squibb on LinkedIn.
📅 Originally posted on August 15, 2026 | View original post on LinkedIn →