For most of modern economic history, “execution” was king. Ideas were cheap, it was said – everyone had them.
What mattered was the ability to execute: to build, to scale, to distribute. More importantly, execution was expensive and a whole domain of science and management studies emerged to make execution more efficient. Investors sought founders who could deliver, not just dream. Societies built institutions to train doers, not dreamers.
But that era is ending.
In the age of “Agentic AI” and autonomous machines, execution is no longer the scarce resource. Machines can now write code, draft business plans, design user interfaces, produce content and even negotiate contracts. Tasks that once required teams of specialists can now be performed by a single person with a laptop and a prompt.
The startup founder no longer needs a co-founder who codes. The consultant doesn’t need a deck designer. The architect doesn’t need a draughtsman. What they need – what everyone needs – is an idea that makes them stand out.
In this new landscape, the bottleneck has shifted. Execution is abundant, commoditised and near-instant. The real scarcity now is ideation: the ability to imagine the new, the meaningful, the differentiated. And this kind of thinking comes less from the Stem subjects and more from the arts, the humanities and the social sciences.
Ideas are not found in nature. They are not discovered through logic or experimentation. They are created – shaped by metaphor, story, analogy, irony, critique and context. They are cultivated in literature, philosophy, history, anthropology, design and music. They draw on cultural archetypes and human experience before they are converted into logic and formulas.
Stem disciplines are essential, but they serve a different function – they test the feasibility and validity of our ideas. Science and technology build on our ideas. Engineering applies them. Mathematics calibrates them. These are disciplines of precision, proof and performance. But the eureka moment that reframes a problem, that imagines a new use, or sees a system from an unexpected angle – that spark lives elsewhere.
The arts, humanities and social sciences train people not just to analyse, but to interpret, reimagine and contextualise. In a world where machines are rapidly absorbing the burden of execution, it is these capabilities that will make all the difference.
Despite their rising importance, universities around the world have been reallocating resources away from the idea disciplines. In the UK, for example, student enrolment in humanities has been falling: it dropped from 28 per cent in 1961-62 to just 8 per cent in 2019-20. Departments are being closed.
In the US, the American Academy of Arts and Sciences reported a 24 per cent drop in undergraduate degrees awarded in the humanities between 2012 and 2022, falling below 200,000 for the first time in more than two decades. This decline is particularly acute in traditional disciplines like English and history. The number of English majors, for example, has plummeted by about half since the late 1990s, while history majors saw a 45 per cent decrease from their 2007 peak.
To meet the demands of this new era, we must stop treating the humanities as luxuries. They are not ornamental. They are foundational. They are the disciplines that train people to imagine, narrate and reinterpret a world in flux
The decline in humanities enrolment goes beyond the Anglo-American world. In Germany, the Federal Statistical Office – better known as Destatis – reports a 22 per cent drop in humanities students over the past two decades, with their proportion of all university students shrinking from 17 per cent to just 10 per cent by 2023, largely due to a societal push towards Stem and health sciences.
Similarly, France, traditionally a bastion for the humanities with about 21 per cent of its undergraduates enrolled in arts and humanities, faces significant challenges keeping up the interest in these fields as they became increasingly as less “useful” for career paths outside of elite academia.
This is a strategic error, a misreading of where value is migrating in the 21st century. It stems from a crude utilitarian logic that assumes that only what is directly applicable is economically valuable. But in the AI era, application is increasingly easier and ideation – that is, coming up with original ideas – is becoming harder.
Societies risk losing their comparative advantage as a consequence of underinvesting in the idea disciplines. To be more exact, as they become increasingly capable of doing things quickly, the only differentiator will be the quality, relevance and originality of ideas.
It is not all doom and gloom for arts and humanities.
According to OECD data, Japan, Italy and Sweden continue to have above 20 per cent of their graduates enrolled in the arts and humanities. Italy stands out in Europe, with 22 per cent of all graduates specialising in literature, philosophy, history, or the arts.
This is a significantly higher percentage than many other European nations (Switzerland is 6 per cent and the Netherlands 7 per cent) and suggests that the humanities retain a stronger foothold in Italy’s higher education system. This could be attributed to Italy’s rich cultural heritage and a traditionally strong emphasis on classical and humanistic studies within its education system.
“Imagination is more important than knowledge. For knowledge is limited, while imagination embraces the entire world,” Albert Einstein once said.
To meet the demands of this new era, we must stop treating the humanities as luxuries. They are not ornamental. They are foundational. They are the disciplines that train people to imagine, narrate and reinterpret a world in flux.
Policymakers, universities and employers must invest accordingly. This means funding the very departments being closed. It means integrating arts and social theory into AI and tech curriculums. And it means cultivating talent who can pose better questions – not just deliver faster answers. The future belongs to those who can generate meaning, not merely output.
The age of AI is not an age without humans – it is an age where the most human faculties become the most essential.
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Afghanistan fixtures
- v Australia, today
- v Sri Lanka, Tuesday
- v New Zealand, Saturday,
- v South Africa, June 15
- v England, June 18
- v India, June 22
- v Bangladesh, June 24
- v Pakistan, June 29
- v West Indies, July 4
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Specs
Engine: 51.5kW electric motor
Range: 400km
Power: 134bhp
Torque: 175Nm
Price: From Dh98,800
Available: Now
Cultural fiesta
What: The Al Burda Festival
When: November 14 (from 10am)
Where: Warehouse421, Abu Dhabi
The Al Burda Festival is a celebration of Islamic art and culture, featuring talks, performances and exhibitions. Organised by the Ministry of Culture and Knowledge Development, this one-day event opens with a session on the future of Islamic art. With this in mind, it is followed by a number of workshops and “masterclass” sessions in everything from calligraphy and typography to geometry and the origins of Islamic design. There will also be discussions on subjects including ‘Who is the Audience for Islamic Art?’ and ‘New Markets for Islamic Design.’ A live performance from Kuwaiti guitarist Yousif Yaseen should be one of the highlights of the day.
Barings Bank
Barings, one of Britain’s oldest investment banks, was
founded in 1762 and operated for 233 years before it went bust after a trading
scandal.
Barings Bank collapsed in February 1995 following colossal
losses caused by rogue trader Nick Lesson.
Leeson gambled more than $1 billion in speculative trades,
wiping out the venerable merchant bank’s cash reserves.
Ferrari 12Cilindri specs
Engine: naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12
Power: 819hp
Torque: 678Nm at 7,250rpm
Price: From Dh1,700,000
Available: Now
Global state-owned investor ranking by size
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The specs: 2018 Nissan Patrol Nismo
Price: base / as tested: Dh382,000
Engine: 5.6-litre V8
Gearbox: Seven-speed automatic
Power: 428hp @ 5,800rpm
Torque: 560Nm @ 3,600rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 12.7L / 100km
More from Rashmee Roshan Lall
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The specs: 2018 Chevrolet Equinox
Price, base / as tested: Dh76,900 / Dh110,900
Engine: 2.0L, turbocharged in-line four-cylinder
Gearbox: Nine-speed automatic
Power: 252hp @ 5,500rpm
Torque: Torque: 352Nm @ 2,500rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 8.5L / 100km
Tips to stay safe during hot weather
- Stay hydrated: Drink plenty of fluids, especially water. Avoid alcohol and caffeine, which can increase dehydration.
- Seek cool environments: Use air conditioning, fans, or visit community spaces with climate control.
- Limit outdoor activities: Avoid strenuous activity during peak heat. If outside, seek shade and wear a wide-brimmed hat.
- Dress appropriately: Wear lightweight, loose and light-coloured clothing to facilitate heat loss.
- Check on vulnerable people: Regularly check in on elderly neighbours, young children and those with health conditions.
- Home adaptations: Use blinds or curtains to block sunlight, avoid using ovens or stoves, and ventilate living spaces during cooler hours.
- Recognise heat illness: Learn the signs of heat exhaustion and heat stroke (dizziness, confusion, rapid pulse, nausea), and seek medical attention if symptoms occur.
Company profile
Date started: 2015
Founder: John Tsioris and Ioanna Angelidaki
Based: Dubai
Sector: Online grocery delivery
Staff: 200
Funding: Undisclosed, but investors include the Jabbar Internet Group and Venture Friends
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
UAE v IRELAND
All matches start at 10am, and will be played in Abu Dhabi
1st ODI, Friday, January 8
2nd ODI, Sunday, January 10
3rd ODI, Tuesday, January 12
4th ODI, Thursday, January 14
More coverage from the Future Forum
Despacito's dominance in numbers
Released: 2017
Peak chart position: No.1 in more than 47 countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia and Lebanon
Views: 5.3 billion on YouTube
Sales: With 10 million downloads in the US, Despacito became the first Latin single to receive Diamond sales certification
Streams: 1.3 billion combined audio and video by the end of 2017, making it the biggest digital hit of the year.
Awards: 17, including Record of the Year at last year’s prestigious Latin Grammy Awards, as well as five Billboard Music Awards
Electric scooters: some rules to remember
- Riders must be 14-years-old or over
- Wear a protective helmet
- Park the electric scooter in designated parking lots (if any)
- Do not leave electric scooter in locations that obstruct traffic or pedestrians
- Solo riders only, no passengers allowed
- Do not drive outside designated lanes
Have you been targeted?
Tuan Phan of SimplyFI.org lists five signs you have been mis-sold to:
1. Your pension fund has been placed inside an offshore insurance wrapper with a hefty upfront commission.
2. The money has been transferred into a structured note. These products have high upfront, recurring commission and should never be in a pension account.
3. You have also been sold investment funds with an upfront initial charge of around 5 per cent. ETFs, for example, have no upfront charges.
4. The adviser charges a 1 per cent charge for managing your assets. They are being paid for doing nothing. They have already claimed massive amounts in hidden upfront commission.
5. Total annual management cost for your pension account is 2 per cent or more, including platform, underlying fund and advice charges.
Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
Where to apply
Applicants should send their completed applications - CV, covering letter, sample(s) of your work, letter of recommendation - to Nick March, Assistant Editor in Chief at The National and UAE programme administrator for the Rosalynn Carter Fellowships for Mental Health Journalism, by 5pm on April 30, 2020.
Please send applications to nmarch@thenational.ae and please mark the subject line as “Rosalynn Carter Fellowship for Mental Health Journalism (UAE programme application)”.
The local advisory board will consider all applications and will interview a short list of candidates in Abu Dhabi in June 2020. Successful candidates will be informed before July 30, 2020.
MOUNTAINHEAD REVIEW
Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman
Director: Jesse Armstrong
Rating: 3.5/5
START-UPS%20IN%20BATCH%204%20OF%20SANABIL%20500'S%20ACCELERATOR%20PROGRAMME
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Mountain%20Boy
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The Sand Castle
Director: Matty Brown
Stars: Nadine Labaki, Ziad Bakri, Zain Al Rafeea, Riman Al Rafeea
Rating: 2.5/5
THE BIO
Born: Mukalla, Yemen, 1979
Education: UAE University, Al Ain
Family: Married with two daughters: Asayel, 7, and Sara, 6
Favourite piece of music: Horse Dance by Naseer Shamma
Favourite book: Science and geology
Favourite place to travel to: Washington DC
Best advice you’ve ever been given: If you have a dream, you have to believe it, then you will see it.
KINGDOM%20OF%20THE%20PLANET%20OF%20THE%20APES
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