Over the past two years, AI has advanced at an astonishing pace. Writing code, translating text, creating artwork, drafting reports, editing videos—tasks once thought to be the exclusive domain of humans are now being handled one by one by machines.

When ChatGPT first came out, people treated it as a novelty—a fun toy. But things have changed: companies are using it to get real work done, schools are having it grade assignments, law firms are relying on it to research cases, and banks are using it to review contracts. Efficiency has certainly improved, but where does that leave the human element?

As a result, more and more parents are asking: Is it still worth spending hundreds of thousands to send their children abroad for education?

To be honest, the answer might be different from what you expect.

01 What is AI phasing out?

Let’s start with a set of data.

A 2026 report by OpenAI indicates that roughly 18% of jobs face a high risk of automation, while 24% will be restructured into human–machine collaboration models. McKinsey’s data is even more stark: with the adoption of generative AI, the potential for automation to replace business and legal professionals has surged from 32% to 62%, and for STEM professionals, it has jumped from 28% to 57%.

Translation: Writing basic code, data cleaning, entry-level accounting, and template-based design—those standardized, process-driven tasks are increasingly being replaced by machines in bulk.

Over the past decade, the notion that “studying computer science equals earning a high salary” has been crumbling. If you only possess superficial skills, your post‑graduation competitors may no longer be human job seekers—but rather an AI that never sleeps.

02 What do companies really lack?

Now let’s look at another counterintuitive phenomenon.

Although AI capabilities are becoming increasingly sophisticated, companies are placing greater emphasis on candidates with overseas study experience when hiring.

A survey conducted by 36Kr among mid-level managers at 134 companies found that 67.91% of respondents view “cross-departmental collaboration skills” as the biggest weakness among returning overseas talent—yet this very shortcoming, paradoxically, underscores that companies are assigning these professionals to roles that demand frequent cross-functional coordination.

What does this mean? Companies are assigning overseas returnees to roles that AI cannot yet replace.

The “AI Era Study Abroad and Employment White Paper,” jointly released by Xintong Education and 36Kr, introduces a “CORE Model” that breaks down AI‑irreplaceable competencies into four dimensions: human‑machine collaboration, cross‑cultural agility across all domains, resilient core accountability, and critical empathetic insight.

These skills aren’t honed by endlessly drilling practice questions in the classroom; they’re forged through immersion in cross-cultural settings—collaborating with people from diverse backgrounds, solving problems under unfamiliar rules, and making decisions in uncertain circumstances.

So the value of studying abroad is shifting—from “earning a degree” to “developing skills.”

03 The data speaks for itself.

If you say studying abroad is useless, I suggest taking a look at the latest statistics.

In 2026, the proportion of undergraduate students expressing an intention to study abroad reached 63%, marking a 12-year high. When combined with master’s and doctoral students, the overall share of those planning to pursue studies overseas at the higher‑education level climbed to 77%.

Of particular note is the composition of the applicant pool: applicants from domestic regular universities account for as much as 49%, maintaining a dominant position for many years in a row. Meanwhile, students enrolled in public regular programs also represent 55% of those expressing an intention to study abroad.

Studying abroad is no longer the choice of just a handful of elite families; it has become a standard pathway that an increasing number of ordinary families are mapping out for their children.

Meanwhile, 2026 marks the inaugural year of the 15th Five-Year Plan. With the development of new‑type productive forces as its core strategy, China faces an unprecedented demand for talent possessing a global outlook and cutting‑edge skills. Overseas returnees, with their dual roots in both domestic traditions and international experience, serve as a vital bridge linking China to the world.

Finally, back to the beginning: In the age of AI, is studying abroad still worthwhile?

Yes. But the reason has changed.

In the past, studying abroad was about “earning a degree that others couldn’t,” but today, it’s about “developing skills that no one else can replicate.”

What AI can replace is “skills”; what it cannot replace are “perspective” and “resilience.” What it can substitute is the “standard answer,” but what it cannot replace are “cross-cultural judgment” and “human‑centered decision‑making.”

Ten years from now, when AI can handle most routine tasks, what will your child rely on to succeed?

Is it the score you rack up by endlessly drilling practice questions, or the real skills you develop after stepping out into the world and seeing it for yourself?

The answer is actually quite clear.