The End of the Degree, the Rise of the Builder: Amjad Masad on the Future of Education

We’re entering the era of the generalist. Everyone’s a builder now.” – Amjad Masad

In a world rapidly reshaped by artificial intelligence, traditional career paths and rigid educational systems are struggling to keep up.

What does success look like in 2025 and beyond? According to Amjad Masad, founder and CEO of Replit, the future belongs to the builder—not the degree-holder, not the code monkey, but the curious, scrappy generalist who can learn, adapt, and ship.

In a wide-ranging interview, Amjad shared hard-won insights about education, coding, and the explosive rise of AI. Here are the key takeaways—each one a blueprint for thriving in the years ahead.

Education Is Broken. Degrees Don’t Guarantee Success.

Amjad speaks candidly about his upbringing in Jordan, where the cultural expectation was clear: become a doctor or engineer, or be seen as a failure. Even within engineering, computer science was viewed as "less than" electrical or mechanical.

“My father didn’t want me to study computer science. He thought it wasn’t real engineering.”

But the problem runs deeper than parental pressure. Even in countries like Jordan—with strong educational systems—the youth face crushing unemployment. Tens of thousands of engineers are jobless despite their degrees.

“You go to school, check the boxes, get your degree, and expect a stable job. That formula doesn’t work anymore.”

What’s missing? Real-world value creation. The ability to solve meaningful problems, move fast, and adapt to new tools—especially AI.

From Code Monkey to Product Builder

Amjad makes a compelling case: if you're just turning Jira tickets into code, you're already being replaced. The bar has shifted. Software engineers can no longer afford to stay heads-down and disconnected from the product or user.

“You want to stop being just a ‘code monkey.’ Be someone who generates ideas, talks to customers, builds things.”

The new high-leverage skill set is that of a product builder—someone who doesn’t just execute but creates:

• Thinks critically about the product
• Talks directly to users
• Builds prototypes
• Drives business value

In other words, don’t wait to be told what to build. Identify the opportunity, create the solution, and present it to your team. That’s how you become indispensable.

Soft Skills Are Now Power Skills

Amjad’s journey didn’t just involve getting better at coding. He invested in public speaking and storytelling—starting with something as unconventional as improv classes in New York.

“I put myself in the most uncomfortable situation I could imagine. Improv forced me to think on my feet and fail in public.”

He treated growth like leveling up in a video game—always taking on new challenges. Over time, he became a better communicator, seller, and ultimately a stronger founder.

Why does this matter?

Because in the age of AI, the ability to communicate clearly, break down complex problems, and connect with users is more valuable than ever. It’s what separates builders from back-office executors.

AI Isn’t Replacing Developers—It’s Promoting Them

There’s a narrative out there that AI will kill coding jobs. Amjad disagrees—but with nuance.

“We're entering a world where everyone in a company—sales, HR, marketing—can build software. Everyone becomes a builder.”

This doesn’t mean software engineers disappear. It means they need to evolve. AI agents are pushing developers up the stack:

• From writing code → to reviewing AI-generated code
• From executing ideas → to originating ideas
• From building features → to building products

Amjad describes a future company where teams aren’t just “PMs + designers + engineers”—they’re all builders, empowered by AI and operating at higher levels of abstraction.

“We're moving from Python to natural language. English might be the next programming language.”

The key skill? Learn how to review and guide AI, rather than write every line yourself.

2025: The Year of Software Agents

Amjad believes we’re at the dawn of a new era: software agents. These are not just chatbots—they’re autonomous problem-solvers that can plan, debug, and deploy apps with minimal human guidance.

“Software agents now take screenshots, diagnose errors, fix bugs, and even change their own strategy.”

At Replit, Amjad demonstrated how an AI agent iteratively debugged a missing module, installed the fix, and relaunched the app—all with little human input. It’s not perfect, but the autonomy is real. And it’s improving fast.

“We’re going from request-response AI to agentic AI—tools that can make decisions and call other tools recursively.”

If you want to future-proof your skills? Start building agents yourself. Use tools like:

• Replit
• OpenAI Operator
• Manus
• Cursor
• Anthropic’s MCP

Don’t just wait and watch. Experiment, build, ship.

Builders Will Always Win

So how do you stay ahead in 2025? Amjad’s answer is clear:

“Become a builder. Start small. Show up every day. Get 1% better.”

Whether you're using AI agents to build apps, pitching new ideas at your job, or starting a side project—what matters is doing. That’s how you gain leverage in a world where code is increasingly free and commoditized.

And yes, maybe you’ll lose some technical sharpness—like how GPS ruined our sense of direction. But net-net? You’ll go further, faster.

“I don’t care about my sense of direction anymore. I have a phone. I want to get where I’m going.”

The Most Important Skill in 2025

Amjad ends with a powerful insight. If you want to thrive in the AI era, don’t just optimize for raw technical skill. Instead:

• Communicate complex ideas clearly
• Understand systems deeply
• Empathize with users
• Sell your ideas
• Think entrepreneurially

The next great products won’t come from specialists. They’ll come from builders who can wear many hats—and move fast.

“You don’t have to start a company. But you have to think like a founder.”