Geoffrey Hinton, often referred to as the Godfather of AI says computer science degrees will continue to stay relevant. He said this in context of Artificial Intelligence becoming more advanced with each passing day and several experts calling out the irrevelance of software engineers. Partly due to emergence of trends like ”Vibe Coding”. However he also says mid-level programming jobs are not safe and will very likely be taken over by AI’s.
The rapid advancement of AI is changing the tech industry like never before. Since big-tech companies are now automating several jobs using AI which has resulted in mass layoffs and hiring freezes. In this context individuals pursuing computer science degrees are in limbo over whether or not to continue. Here enters Geoffrey Hinton saying that these degrees are very much valuable and relevant. He said this in an interaction with Business Insider.
What did Geoffrey Hinton say?
He said “Many people think a CS degree is just programming or something,” he said. “Obviously, just being a competent mid-level programmer is not going to be a career for much longer, because AI can do that.”
He also argues that the deeper value of a CS education lies in fundamentals such as systems thinking, mathematics, and structured problem-solving. These skills he expects will remain crucial for years to come. “A CS degree will be valuable for quite a long time,” he added.
What do other industry experts have to say?
Bret Taylor, OpenAI chairman and longtime Silicon Valley executive, shared a similar idea that computer science is far bigger than code writing alone. “There’s a lot more to coding than writing the code,” he said. “Computer science is a wonderful major to learn systems thinking.” According to Taylor, studying CS gives students a framework for understanding how complex systems behave, something AI tools can’t replace.
What did Geoffrey say on Vibe Coding?
Addressing the trend of vibe coding Geoffrey said that “he compared this trend to learning to code today with learning Latin in the humanities. “You’re never going to speak Latin, but it’s still useful,” he said, arguing that coding helps students think logically even if future tools automate much of the actual work.
