Think about your last family vacation. The costs add up fast — plane tickets, hotel stays, meals out. Now imagine that's how you feel every year with college tuition.

The conventional wisdom has long held that a college degree is the key to economic success and stability. But as artificial intelligence (AI) transforms industries at an unprecedented rate, tech executives are questioning whether this truism still holds water.

"I'm not sure if my kid should even go to university," says Sarah Chen, a CEO of a major software company. "We hire based on skills and experience now more than anything else."

The Obama-era push for higher education was well-intentioned but perhaps overlooked the rapid changes in technology that are making many traditional college programs less relevant by the year.

So what's changed? The answer lies in automation. As machines take over routine tasks, there's a pressing need for workers who can think critically and creatively — skills often honed through experience rather than years of formal education.

To understand this shift, imagine your household budget suddenly shrinking while the cost of keeping up with neighbors remains the same or grows faster. Can you afford it? The same dilemma faces students today as they weigh the financial burden versus uncertain job prospects.

For many young people, the decision to pursue higher education comes down to a gamble on whether it will pay off later in life. With AI's rapid advance, that bet is getting riskier.

I did not want to believe this when I first heard tech leaders talking about the future of work without college degrees. But as my late husband always said, "If you can't change your circumstances, at least understand them."

What does it mean for our children and grandchildren? It means we need to start thinking differently about education and career planning.

I just want people to understand the complexity of this issue. We're not talking about rejecting schools altogether; rather, rethinking what kind of schooling can best prepare young minds for a tech-driven world.

As I stayed up last night pondering these questions, I felt a mix of concern and resolve. Concern for my family's future and resolve to make sense of it all.

The conversation about the value of college is just beginning, but we owe it to ourselves and our loved ones to be part of it. Share your thoughts — what do you think? -Patricia