In light of rapid developments in artificial intelligence (AI), Yossi Matias, Head of Research and Vice President at Google, has highlighted the enduring significance of coding as a foundational skill. Speaking with Business Insider, Matias emphasized that despite the rise of AI-assisted coding tools, human developers remain essential, especially for understanding programming fundamentals.
Matias noted that while AI has undoubtedly transformed coding by accelerating certain tasks, it cannot fully replace human coders, whose expertise is crucial for managing complexities and ensuring code quality. “The basic notion of learning the basic disciplines remains as important as ever. Everybody should learn how to code,” he remarked, underscoring that coding skills retain their relevance in today’s tech landscape.
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As AI tools, like GitHub Copilot, continue to improve, many in the industry speculate that AI may eventually reshape traditional coding roles. Some estimates suggest these tools can reduce coding time by up to 70 percent. However, Matias argued that AI is not ready to handle the entire coding process, particularly where human intuition, decision-making, and critical oversight are necessary to refine AI-generated code.
Matias acknowledged that the influx of AI in the tech industry presents challenges, particularly for junior developers seeking practical experience in a field increasingly enhanced by AI automation. To support emerging talent, Google has been investing in initiatives aimed at bridging the gap between theoretical coding knowledge and hands-on application.
Drawing an analogy between coding and mathematics, Matias suggested that coding is a critical skill in the digital age: “Coding is like basic math.” He believes that a fundamental understanding of programming is beneficial even for those outside of tech, given the rising importance of digital literacy across diverse fields.
