Getting a degree in computer science used to be a stable path for any student looking to land a job in the tech industry right after graduation.
With the proliferation of AI tools like GitHub CopilotTech companies may not need to hire as many software engineers as before, because smaller teams can reasonably produce the same amount of code.
“As an industry, it’s going to shrink, and only the people who really understand what they’re 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 in the face of the AI revolution might want to hold off. Computer science professors BI spoke to said that earning a degree in the field is just as valuable, if not more so, in the age of AI.
AI has made computing more important, not less important
“The AI wave is actually driving demand for IT professionals in general, because the maturation of AI is transformative and needs to be integrated into many facets of life,” said Kan Min Yen, a professor of computer science at the National University of Singapore.
According to Kan, this is because computer science is not just about coding but rather a problem-solving approach. He added that AI is really just another tool that software engineers can use in their work.
“Proper development and use of AI still requires foundational knowledge in software engineering, data management and security, all tenets of a holistic computer science education,” Kan said.
David Malan, a Harvard computer science professor, told BI that AI will not replace software engineers in the short term and will instead amplify their productivity.
“Think about all the additional features they can implement, all the additional bugs they can fix, if they have a virtual assistant on their side,” Malan said.
Concerns about AI’s impact on tech jobs may also be overblown, as most companies aren’t just looking for coders to produce software.
“While AI improves efficiency and allows people to do more with less, writing code is only part of a software engineer’s role,” said Adrian Goh, co-founder of NodeFlair, a job site for tech professionals in Asia.
“Engineers also need to understand the requirements of designers, project managers and business teams, and translate those requirements into working code – tasks that require a lot of context and nuanced understanding,” he added.
The rules of the game have not changed with AI
When asked whether computer science graduates should start carving out a niche for themselves in their job search by studying other subjects like finance and law, Malan disagreed.
“No, the world is becoming more technological and it will always need to be led by competent and educated people,” he said. “It’s a safe bet that AI will also have an impact on finance and law.”
Instead, Malan suggested that students embrace lifelong learning without neglecting the tried-and-true approach of working on their own projects.
“Having a portfolio of projects under your belt can definitely help, as you can draw on those experiences in applications and interviews to paint a picture of how you think and solve problems,” he added.
Besides focusing on the technical aspects of the job, Kan said students should not forget their soft skills either.
Software engineering as a profession, he added, is really a team sport that values communication, coordination and collaboration.
“IT is an evergreen profession because it’s not about the tools but rather the mindset and the product,” Kan said.
“You don’t define the value of a carpenter by his tools or a cook by his knives, but by the furniture or dishes he creates. The same goes for a professional trained in computer science who uses tools like AI.”
