Eight tech professionals were asked to comment on whether the recommendation to “learn to code” is still relevant in the age of artificial intelligence.
According to Okta’s CEO, the notion that everyone should learn to code is “laughable.”
Some, such as the chief of research at Google, stated that it is still beneficial to master the fundamentals.
Over the past ten or more years, the phrase “learn to code” has become more popular. Has the expiry date of this advice finally arrived?
Some coding tasks are being automated as AI coding tools like Codex and GitHub Copilot gain popularity.
As AI coding tools like as Codex and GitHub Copilot gain popularity, some coding tasks are becoming automated.
At Alphabet’s first quarter earnings conference this year, for example, Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai stated that more than 30% of Google’s code is created by artificial intelligence. Satya Nadella, the CEO of Microsoft, stated in April that AI produces 20% to 30% of the code for some corporate projects and that the corporation is increasingly utilizing agents to evaluate code.
Some are beginning to doubt the once-stable career path of software engineering as a result of the trend toward AI. It has also caused some people to question the purpose of learning to code in the first place.
Eight tech leaders were questioned on whether coding is still a useful skill. They said the following:
Cloudflare CEO Matthew Prince
Despite not writing much code himself, Matthew Prince, the CEO of a multibillion-dollar cybersecurity business, claims to be a “better CEO” because he is aware of how Cloudflare’s technical staff develops software.
Although some of the laborious tasks may now be automated by AI technologies, Prince stated that “it’s incredibly handy” to know the fundamentals. Despite the breakthroughs in AI, the CEO stated, the function of a software engineer remains essential.
Prince stated that no code will ever be released without extensive human inspection, particularly in a field as security-conscious as theirs.
Autodesk CEO Andrew Anagnost
According to Andrew Anagnost, learning to code was formerly a must for STEM careers. “Systems-level thinking” is the true difference nowadays, he added. The ability to comprehend how people, processes, and technology interact to solve issues in the actual world is what Anagnost defines as the skill.
The most effective workers aren’t just producing code; they’re also directing and modifying AI-powered tools to address challenging problems, according to Anagnost.
In a future when AI agents are capable of doing certain tasks, humans would need to act as “creative orchestrators” and oversee AI systems, according to Anagnost. He claimed that knowledge of many fields as well as the “what and how” of creating items will become more and more important.
Salesforce executive Jayesh Govindarajan
According to Jayesh Govindarajan, executive vice president of AI at Salesforce, “having agency” is now more valuable than coding.
According to the executive vice president, “I may be in the minority here, but I think something that’s far more essential than learning how to code is having agency.”
Govindarajan stated that Salesforce is developing “a system that can pretty much solve anything for you” but “just doesn’t know what to solve.” That means having the initiative and passion to construct something will be more crucial, he explained.
Okta CEO Todd McKinnon
According to Todd McKinnon, CEO of Okta, learning to code is only necessary if you have an aptitude at it.
According to McKinnon, the idea that everyone should learn to code is laughable. “Totally laughable.”
Although it’s not for everyone, McKinnon stated that he’s “very glad” he learned to code since it suited the way his brain functions.
“It’s simply not appreciating different people’s strengths and perspectives to say that everyone should learn to code,” McKinnon added.
Cisco executive Liz Centoni
According to Liz Centoni, executive vice president and chief customer experience officer at Cisco, coding is still a fundamental tech talent.
As Centoni, a former software developer told, “there are some foundational elements that help train the way you think about how to solve for problems.”
The Cisco executive stated that employees must be aware of when to use various technologies, such as generative AI or machine learning, to address common issues. Centoni claimed that in certain circumstances, “hands-on knowledge” is “super valuable.”
“You need to understand some basic concepts,” Centoni said, adding that she is seeking individuals who has the understanding of available tools to handle these problems.
Bluesky CEO Jay Graber
Bluesky CEO Jay Graber feels it is critical to avoid outsourcing thinking to AI.
That implies individuals should continue to master skills like as coding, she said. While AI may help with organization, issue detection, and code generation, Graber believes a solid foundation is still required.
Graber explained that if you don’t know what excellent code looks like or how to create a system, you won’t be able to assess its output.
Dropbox executive Morgan Brown
Morgan Brown, Dropbox’s VP of product and growth for AI products, emphasized the need of understanding the many components of the technology stack in which you are operating.
Understanding the many components of your tech stack is only part of the equation for determining where new value might be produced, according to Brown.
While extensive coding may not be required for his work, he stated that he learned SQL to better comprehend database queries and structured data.
Being able to speak the language and understand the system will always be vital, according to Brown, who added that if you lack broader knowledge, you may lose out on what is available if you have a better understanding of how things function.
Google Head of Research Yossi Matias
Everyone should learn to code, according to Yossi Matias, head of research at Google, who told that in the era of artificial intelligence, knowing the fundamentals may be more crucial than ever.
“There are going to be a lot more opportunities to actually build on that,” Matias added.
According to him, fundamental coding is similar to basic math in that “you need to understand what’s going on there.”
