AI won’t kill your computer science degree, professors say

With the proliferation of AI tools such as GitHub Copilottechnology companies may not need to hire as many software engineers as before since fewer teams can complete the same amount of code.

“As an industry, it will collapse, and only the people who understand what they are doing will survive,” Aditya Swami, who leads product development efforts at Singaporean venture capital firm Hatcher+, told Business Insider in July.

Students considering changing majors due to the AI ​​revolution may want to hold their horses. Computer science professors BI spoke with said that getting a computer science degree is just as important in the age of AI.

AI has made computer science more important, not less

“The AI ​​wave is actually driving the demand for computer scientists in general, because growing AI is changing and needs to be integrated into many areas of life,” said Kan Min Yen, professor of science at National University of Singapore computer.

This, Kan said, is because computer science is not so much about coding as it is about solving problems. He added that AI is actually another tool that software engineers can use in their work.

“Proper development and application of AI still requires basic knowledge of software engineering, data management, and security, all aspects of general computing,” Kan said.

David Malan, a professor of computer science at Harvard, told BI that AI will not replace software engineers in the near future and instead will increase their productivity.

“Think of how many parts they can use, how many more mistakes they can make, if they have a helper around them,” Malan said.

And worries about the impact of AI on tech jobs may also be overblown since most companies don’t want code monkeys just to churn out software.

“While AI improves efficiency and allows people to do more with less, writing code is only part of the role of a software engineer,” said Adrian Goh, co-founder of NodeFlair, a professional job board. technology in Asia.

“Engineers also need to understand the requirements from designers, project managers and business teams, to translate those requirements into working code – tasks that require more context and less understanding,” he added. .

The rules of the game haven’t changed with the AI

When asked if computer science graduates should start looking for jobs by studying other subjects such as finance and law, Malan said no.

He said: “No, the world continues to increase in technology and it will still need skilled and educated people to run it. “The chances are that AI will affect finance and law as well.”

Instead, Malan suggested that students embrace lifelong learning but not neglect the tried and tested method of working on their projects.

“Having a portfolio of projects under one’s belt can really help, so you can use those experiences in applications and interviews to paint a picture of how you think and solve problems,” he added. .

Apart from focusing on the technical aspects of the job, Kan said students should also not forget about their soft skills.

He added that software engineering as a craft is a team sport that rewards communication, collaboration and cooperation.

“Computer science is an evergreen profession, as it’s not about the hardware but more about the concept and the product,” Kan said.

“We don’t define the value of a carpenter by his tools or a chef by his knives, but by the furniture or dishes they create. It’s the same with a professional trained in computer science who uses tools such as AI.”