Since the advent of computers, ‘learning to code’ is a valuable exercise. Yossi Matias, Head of Research, Google calls it a basic skill which is as relevant today as it was when the computers arrived. The catchphrase ‘learn to code’ became popular in the 2010s. In 2020s, ten years later, it still holds in this of age of AI.

These days corporates lean on AI for some coding duties. There are tools such as GitHub Copilot. There has been a reduction of 70 per cent in coding time. It could affect the career of software engineers, and they suffer from anxiety. Coding is an essential part of computer science course.

Some engineers face challenges in placement and are denied the experience they could have got. AI facilitates coding at junior levels, and still AI has not taken over the whole coding process. According to Sunder Pichai, a quarter of all code is now generated by AI. However, the code is still reviewed and approved by engineers.

Matias still believes that coding skill should be ubiquitous. Basics are more important now than ever before. There are opportunities to build now on your basic skills. Even those who are not software engineers must understand how technology works. Technology has now become mainstream especially after the arrival of ChatGPT in 2022.

AI will transform many areas — biology, chemistry, medicine. Google has integrated AI tools to flood forecasting models. Image classification tools help in radiology and healthcare.

AI alerts ordinary people to see a medical practioner. Education too will change on account of AI. AI can create quizzes to make education effective.

Since AI affects many aspects of life, it is important to master the basics such as fundamentals of coding.