In the midst of the AI advancement, the board of OpenAI asserts that the study of computer science remains valuable.
In a recent episode of Lenny's Podcast, Bret Taylor, the chairman of AI giant OpenAI, discussed the role of computer science in the ever-evolving world of AI. Taylor, who earned his bachelor's and master's degrees in computer science at Stanford University, emphasized the value of studying computer science, particularly for learning "system thinking."
Taylor believes that programming is more than just writing code. He envisions a future where engineers "operate a code-generating machine" instead of typing into a terminal, thanks to the growing use of vibe-coding tools like OpenAI's coding agent, Codex, and other competing solutions.
These tools aim to let engineers write fewer lines of code, with the ultimate goal of instructing an agent and reviewing its results. Taylor predicts that this trend will lead to a shift in the role of engineers, who will become more like conductors, guiding the code-generating machine to produce the desired outcomes.
Taylor's statements were made in the context of the growing use of AI tools for coding. Sundar Pichai, CEO of Google, recently stated that 30 percent of the company's new code is written by AI. Despite this, Taylor maintains that computer science education remains valuable.
Many AI leaders, including Sameer Samat, head of Android at Google, and Aparna Chennapragada, Chief Product Officer (CPO) of Microsoft, agree. Samat suggests renaming computer science as "the science of problem-solving," while Chennapragada states that AI elevates programming to a "much higher level of abstraction," but it doesn't make programming knowledge obsolete.
As AI changes job requirements, understanding computer science fundamentals combined with AI literacy equips future professionals to adapt, innovate, and collaborate effectively alongside AI systems. Education leaders advocate integrating AI topics into computer science curricula and cultivating complementary skills including critical thinking, creativity, and interdisciplinary learning that bridges technical and humanistic knowledge. This prepares students not just to use AI tools but to shape their future development and to pursue novel roles that combine technical and uniquely human capabilities.
The perspectives of AI leaders like Taylor, Chennapragada, and Samat emphasize that while AI-assisted programming tools are transforming how we work, studying computer science remains valuable because it builds foundational skills such as logical thinking, problem-solving, and a deep understanding of how AI and computing systems operate. They highlight that AI will automate routine coding tasks but human expertise is crucial for designing, managing, and creatively applying these technologies.
[1] Educational Perspectives on AI and Computer Science: https://www.ed.gov/blog/2020/12/educational-perspectives-on-ai-and-computer-science/ [2] The Science of Problem-Solving: https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-020-02418-z [3] The Future of Work: https://www.mckinsey.com/featured-insights/future-of-work/the-future-of-work-after-covid-19 [4] Interdisciplinary Learning: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5995620/
What role does technology, specifically artificial-intelligence, play in the future of computer science and programming? Bret Taylor, chairman of OpenAI, suggests that AI will automate routine coding tasks, but human expertise will still be crucial for designing, managing, and creatually applying these technologies.
