Array ( [episodeID] => 405 [featureSeriesID] => 17 [featureSeasonID] => 1 [featureEpisodeID] => 1 [featureTitle] => Dr Kershen Pillay on why AI can't replace critical thinking [featureDescription] => AI is transforming education, but the ability to research, think critically, and apply knowledge could become more important than the qualification itself.\r\n\r\nDr Kershen Pillay, CEO of the Graduate Institute of Financial Sciences, explains why South Africa’s education system must adapt to a world where tools such as ChatGPT and Claude can provide information almost instantly.\r\n\r\nPillay argues that students should learn to use AI as a research tool without outsourcing their critical thinking. He discusses declining attention spans, the importance of reading, and why universities need more practical assessment, teamwork, debate, and problem-solving to test whether students can genuinely apply what they know.\r\n\r\nThe conversation also examines South Africa’s skills mismatch. Pillay explains why employers frequently encounter graduates who are not adequately prepared for the workplace and how GIFT bridges gaps in communication, mathematics, accounting, and other fundamentals before technical training begins.\r\n\r\nLooking ahead, he outlines a model where African students compete against global standards and gain access to world-class education.\r\n\r\n0:00 Intro\r\n1:10 What it means to be educated today\r\n2:11 Are traditional qualifications still enough?\r\n4:20 AI and critical thinking\r\n7:30 Why reading still matters\r\n12:49 Rethinking university assessment\r\n15:47 South Africa’s skills gap\r\n20:11 Building work-ready graduates\r\n\r\nFollow BusinessTech:\r\nX - https://twitter.com/businesstechSA\r\nFacebook - https://web.facebook.com/BusinessTechSA\r\nInstagram - https://www.instagram.com/businesstechsa\r\nWebsite - https://businesstech.co.za/news/\r\n\r\n#ArtificialIntelligence #Education #FutureOfWork [featureEpisode] => https://player.vimeo.com/video/1235020598 [featureDuration] => 30:39 min [featureImageMobile] => img/guests/ET-017-0032-001.jpg [featurePublication] => 2026-10-12 13:20:07 [featureLogo] => img/logos/SL171.png )