- AI and automation are reducing traditional career paths in the humanities, journalism, business administration, law, and tourism/hospitality.
- Generalist profiles and those with many routine tasks will be the most affected between now and 2026.
- In Spain and Europe, the combination of overqualification and a shortage of skilled jobs is a cause for concern.
- The best prospects lie with hybrid profiles that combine traditional training with technology and data.
The rise of artificial intelligence is changing the job market from top to bottom and is beginning to influence one of the most important decisions for thousands of young people: which university degree to choose in the coming yearsWhat until recently was a choice based almost solely on vocation, now also forces us to face automation, the digitization of processes, and economic instability head-on.
Different analyses, international reports And even responses generated by AI systems coincide on one uncomfortable point: There are traditional degrees that could offer far fewer job opportunities from 2026 onwards. If they don't adapt quickly. It's not that they'll disappear overnight, but rather that there will be fewer stable contracts, tighter wages, and fierce competition for the few remaining jobs.
Humanities degrees: high cultural value, narrow job market
Among the first ones mentioned are the classical humanities, such as literature, philosophy, or historyThe expansion of generative AI has put tools within everyone's reach that can summarize texts, produce essays, translate documents, and analyze large volumes of written information in seconds.
This directly affects occupations where these profiles previously predominated: academic research, translation, and a large part of university teachingAI systems can create drafts, outlines, and even teaching materials, thus limiting the need to hire so many professionals for repetitive or highly standardized tasks.
In Spain and throughout the European Union, the situation is aggravated by a fact that dates back a long time: overqualificationThe European Commission has warned that the country has one of the highest percentages of graduates working in jobs below their skill level, a problem particularly acute in the arts and humanities. This means that not only will there be fewer specialized positions in these fields, but many of the existing ones are already filled or poorly paid.
Even so, these disciplines remain key to the critical thinking, culture and democratic lifeThe AI's warning is not against its social importance, but against the idea that simply completing these studies without further training would suffice. Those who choose this path will have to accept that The "classic" career path (research or stable teaching) will be more difficult to achieve.
Voices from the educational field have also begun to debate an additional risk: relying too heavily on AI for intellectual tasks. Some experts in pedagogy have warned of the “cognitive disengagement”That is, students who delegate reasoning and analysis to algorithms instead of developing their own abilities.
Journalism and communication: automated content and fewer junior positions
Another area under scrutiny is that of journalism and communicationAI is already capable of writing short news stories, generating headlines, producing summaries, subtitling videos, and creating social media content almost instantly. Many newsrooms have begun experimenting with these tools to cover routine information: sports results, financial reports, or official statements.
The main effect is noticeable at the base of the pyramid: entry points to the sectorThe need for writers for mechanical tasks is reduced, while profiles that can contribute something that the machine cannot master survive and gain relevance: in-depth research, analysis, verification, handling of complex data, or subject specialization.
Furthermore, traditional media outlets have been struggling for years with financial difficulties due to declining advertising revenue and changing news consumption habits. With fewer resources and increased pressure to produce content quickly, the temptation to automate processes is clear, which further shrinks the job market for recent graduates.
In this scenario, studying journalism without a clear strategy can leave many young people in a precarious position. The AI itself points out that Generalist profiles will tend to have fewer opportunities that those who combine communication with data, programming, fact-checking, in-depth political or economic analysis.
Business administration: the decline of the generalist profile
The list of degrees that artificial intelligence recommends you think twice about before studying is largely completed by generalist business administration and management (ADE)Many of the tasks traditionally performed by these professionals have been transferred to specialized software and AI systems.
Today it is common for algorithms and digital platforms to take care of manage inventories, analyze basic financial data, prepare standard reports, optimize resources, or project scenariosPreviously, this involved entire teams of administrative or junior staff; now, a combination of AI programs and models can do it in seconds.
This transformation does not eliminate the role of the manager, but it does It reduces the demand for graduates who only possess generic business knowledge.Companies are looking for hybrid profiles that combine finance with data analytics, management with programming, operations with automation, or business with cybersecurity.
Recent reports, such as those prepared by major technology companies, indicate that operations and finance they are moving towards increasingly “dominated by AI"In these fields, many tasks are performed with the help of intelligent assistants. Those who stick to the traditional curriculum risk being overtaken by colleagues who are proficient with these tools."
Right: automation of routine tasks and less space for junior staff
El legal field Nor is it immune to the impact of artificial intelligence. Law firms and corporate legal departments are already using systems capable of Review contracts, locate case law, perform advanced database searches and prepare drafts of standard documents.
These solutions do not replace a lawyer when negotiating, arguing in court, or making complex decisions, but they do They reduce the workload of repetitive tasks that used to be performed by younger employees.In other words, access to the profession is becoming more limited as technology takes over some of the groundwork.
According to projections from various AI models, the future of law will involve specializations related to technologyPrivacy and data protection, cybersecurity, algorithm regulation, intellectual property in digital environments, regulatory compliance in highly automated companies, etc.
For those considering enrolling in this degree program in 2026, the recurring message is that The "procedural" right will increasingly be in the hands of machinesMeanwhile, profiles capable of interpreting rules in new contexts, working with technological teams, and understanding what can or cannot be delegated to an automated system will gain value.
Tourism and hospitality: digital platforms and unstable employment
The sector tourism and hospitalityThe classical version, so important in Spain and much of Europe, is also among those with a more uncertain future. The proliferation of online booking platforms, virtual assistants, recommendation systems, and automated check-in and customer service processes It has reduced the need for intermediaries and certain customer service profiles.
Automated receptions, chatbots that answer travelers' questions, systems that adjust prices in real time, and tools that organize entire trips without going through an agency are already a reality. This doesn't eliminate all jobs, but It transforms the type of work available and tends to concentrate it on less stable or more seasonal tasks..
The AI warns that opportunities will continue to exist, but with significant pressure on wages and working conditions in lower-skilled roles. To improve their position, those studying these fields will need Knowledge in digital management, data marketing, user experience, sustainability, and the design of complex tourism products, far from purely operational training.
Furthermore, the European context of ecological transition and changes in travel habits (greater climate sensitivity, teleworking, long-stay tourism) necessitates rethink many business models in the sectorProfiles that do not adapt to this shift will have a shorter career path.
A strained European labor market: overqualification and precariousness
Warnings about these races don't come in a vacuum. In Europe, and especially in Spain, the mismatch between university education and the actual structure of the labor market This has been a source of concern for years. There are far more graduates than skilled jobs available, and AI threatens to further complicate this equation.
El Future of Jobs Report The World Economic Forum estimates that artificial intelligence and automation will create millions of new jobsBut they will also eliminate a significant number of jobs, especially in repetitive tasks, basic analysis, or routine office work. The overall balance may be positive, but the distribution will be very uneven across sectors and job profiles.
Meanwhile, reports from technology companies indicate that many administrative functions, support and coordination They are evolving towards models where AI systems are at the heart of operations, relegating humans to supervisory or occasional decision-making roles. Without professional retraining, some employees risk becoming obsolete.
In Spain, the result is a mixture of precariousness, overqualification, and a feeling of being stuck. Creating the perfect resume This can make all the difference for those competing for very limited positions. The country stands out for the number of graduates, but not so much for its ability to generate highly skilled jobs to absorb them. The expansion of AI could exacerbate this problem if curricula and continuing education policies are not reviewed in time.
Does all this mean that we shouldn't study these subjects?
The AI itself qualifies its warnings: It's not about banning certain degrees, but about understanding the context properly. in which they will develop. Humanities, journalism, law, tourism or business administration will continue to exist, but the way of practicing these professions is changing very rapidly.
Specialists and AI models agree that the real risk factor is not the discipline itself, but the lack of adaptation to a technology-dominated environmentPeople who pursue these degrees without acquiring digital skills, such as learn pythonThose with data handling skills or basic AI knowledge will have more difficulty differentiating themselves from their peers.
At the same time, the idea is growing that artificial intelligence does not "take away jobs". but tasksCustomer service systems, machine translation tools, technical support assistants, and design programs facilitate and automate parts of the workday. The problem arises when, as the volume of necessary human tasks decreases, so do the available positions.
Some leaders in the technology sector have emphasized this idea. Messages such as “you won’t lose your job because of AI, someone who knows how to use it better than you"They emphasize the importance of learning to live with these tools instead of ignoring them." The recurring advice is clear: the sooner they are integrated into the training, for example training in artificial intelligenceAnd in daily work, there will be more options to stay relevant.
What companies are looking for: hybrid profiles and technological expertise
When considering whether or not to study a degree with a risk of automation, it is also worth looking at the profiles that International reports and the companies themselves consider them to be on the rise.Emerging job listings often share a common pattern: jobs that combine deep human knowledge with a strong technological component are on the rise.
Positions such as data specialists, cybersecurity experts, AI and machine learning professionals, software engineers or profiles that act as a bridge between disciplines, such as biotechnology supported by massive data analysis. It's not just about programming, but about knowing design systems, make complex decisions, and assume responsibilities in environments of high uncertainty.
For those who feel drawn to careers now labeled as "risky," the solution does not necessarily involve giving them up, but rather combine them with complementary training in technology, data or sustainabilityA historian who is proficient in analyzing large documentary corpuses, a journalist who works with data journalism, or a tourism manager specializing in business intelligence have a very different fit than a purely traditional profile.
Most experts consulted agree that There is no "bulletproof" race against AIWhat makes the difference is the ability to learn new things, reinvent oneself when the sector changes, and use technological tools as allies, not as substitutes. The decision of what to study in 2026, more than ever, depends on combining vocation with a realistic understanding of where employment is headed.
Given this scenario, the careers that various artificial intelligence models recommend avoiding, or at least reconsidering, in the coming years are those that rely heavily on repetitive and easily automated tasks, are concentrated in already saturated sectors, and offer few avenues for technological specialization. Choosing what to study ceases to be merely a matter of personal preference and becomes a delicate balance between personal passion, adaptation to AI, and real possibilities for professional development.
