In the Age of AI, Merit Should Be Measured by Questions, Not Answers

Arijit Bose
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By : Manoj Singh

Lucknow: For centuries, human intelligence and merit have been evaluated based on theability to recall facts and provide correct answers.

From standardized tests in schools to hiring assessments in workplaces, success has often been defined by who can produce the best response.

However, with the rise of Artificial Intelligence (AI)—which can generate answers faster and more accurately than any human—the traditional way of measuring intelligence is becoming obsolete. If AI can answer almost any factual question, then true merit in the modern world must be judged not by the ability to answer questions but by the ability to ask the right ones.

AI: The Answer Machine Without Curiosity

AI systems like ChatGPT, Google Bard, and IBM Watson are remarkable at processing information, analyzing vast amounts of data, and providing well- structured answers. AI can solve complex mathematical equations, draft legal contracts, diagnose diseases, and even write poetry.

But AI has fundamental limitations:

  • It does not ask original questions—itonlyrespondstowhatitis
  • It lacks curiosity—AI does not wonder about the unknown or challenge
  • It does not evaluate ethical dilemmas—AI provides responses but cannot judge what should or should not be asked.

If answers are becoming more accessible than ever before, the ability to frame meaningful, complex, and innovative questions is what will differentiate human intelligence from artificial intelligence.

ThePowerof the Right Questions

Throughout history, groundbreaking discoveries were not the result of people simply knowing answers but of them asking transformative questions:

  • Isaac Newton:Why does an apple fall downward?→Led to the discovery of gravity.
  • Einstein: What would happen if I traveled at the speed of light? → Led to the theory of relativity.
  • Alan Turing: Can machines think?→Gave birth to modern artificial intelligence

These breakthroughs were not about finding a single correct answer but about framing problems in entirely new ways.

Similarly, in the AI era, the most valuable skill will not be the ability to recall existing knowledge but to ask questions that AI cannot answer on its own.

Education Must Shift from Answers to Inquiry

Traditional education rewards students for memorizing facts and giving correct answers on tests. But if AI can now generate essays, solve math problems, and write code, should students still be judged based on their ability to answer questions?

Instead,educationalsystemsshouldfocuson assessing:

How well  students frame a question How they challenge existing knowledge How they explore multiple perspectives

For example,rather than simply asking“What are the effects of climate change?”,a better approach would be evaluating students on the irability to ask:

  • “How can AI predict climate change patterns more accurately?”
  • “What biases exist in AI-driven climate models?”
  • “How can local communities adapt to climate change using traditional knowledge?”

Encouraging   students   to   ask   better   questions   fosters   critical    thinking, creativity, and problem-solving skills—abilities thatAI cannot replace.

The Future of Work:Asking, Not Answering

In the AI-driven economy,jobs that rely on memorization and repetitive problem-solving will be automated. The most valuable skills will be:

Question Design–Identifying the right problems to solve.

Ethical Reasoning–Asking should we do this? rather than can we do this?

Creative Problem-Solving–Reframing challenges in new ways. Consider the medical field:

  • AI can analyze millions of medical records and recommend treatment plans.
  • However, only a human doctor can ask: What are the ethical risks of AIdiagnosing patients without human oversight?

This ability to question beyond what AI is programmed to do is what will define human expertise in the future.

The Age of Inquiry, Not Just Answers

We are entering an era where answers are abundant, but meaningful questions are rare. True merit will no longer be determined by what you know, but by how well you question the world around you.

While AI will continue to refine answers, human intelligence will be defined by the ability to ask the next great question. And in that, lies the future of progress

Manoj Singh is Retired IAS , Former Additional Chief Secretary to Government of Uttar Pradesh

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