A Case for Computer Science
Marcus Fontoura is a vice president at Microsoft. He’s also the author of a book about how people can use AI and other technology to their advantage. Fontoura shared his thoughts with TIME about the future of jobs in computer science. Here’s an adaptation of that article.
Over the past several decades, the technology industry has offered American workers high wages and high levels of job security. But recent uncertainty in this industry has made people question the value of tech jobs and skills.
Artificial intelligence (AI) is already eliminating entry-level tech jobs. Major tech companies, such as Intel, Meta, and Microsoft, have laid off thousands of workers this year. And the federal government has cut certain research grants, putting other parts of the tech industry at risk.
These are big challenges. But I still believe that pursuing a degree in computer science and related disciplines (such as computer engineering, applied math, and data science) is one of the best choices students can make. Here’s why.
Many people don’t understand what computer science really is. The most important concept computer-science students learn is to think creatively to solve complex problems. Computer programming is just a tool to help with this problem-solving.
When I got my degree in computer engineering in 1995, the world was very different. The world wide web was just starting. We didn’t have big search engines, cloud computing, or widespread cell phones. But I learned the basics of computer science, and I was trained in problem-solving. That training allowed me to work in many fields over the past 20 years. I worked on Google Search and Microsoft Azure, Microsoft’s cloud computing service.
Many people also think AI will affect software development more than other fields. In fact, AI will impact every worker, not only software developers. We’ll see AI tools for other jobs, from graphic designers to lawyers, accountants, and healthcare workers. We’ll see new tools in every profession in which knowledge can be organized by AI systems.
Yes, software development will be affected by AI. But this won’t reduce the need for human software developers. There’s still a lot to do. The field needs qualified people who can think critically and solve hard problems. It’s just that what’s expected from these workers will change.
What AI can do really well is automate the mechanical aspects of a job. In software development, if a person provides a precise description, AI can write the code. In marketing, if a person provides a good description of a product and the goal of a campaign, AI can produce marketing materials. But we’re a long way from the day when AI will decide what software systems need to be built and which products should be developed. And AI can’t tap into the emotions that drive consumer behaviors. We need people for these jobs. We’ll continue to do so for the foreseeable future. And we’ll always need qualified people who know how to solve complex problems.
Don’t base what you decide to study on the fact that AI will disrupt your job options. You should pursue the area you’re passionate about, the one that lets you feel your most creative. You should pursue the field that you believe will allow you to most positively impact the world. Computer science ticks all of these boxes.
I’m biased, but I feel computer science and its related disciplines are an even better choice now than when I graduated in the ’90s. We have better technology, more resources, and a very long list of problems that need to be solved. These include climate change, healthcare, and hunger. These problems need people.
I know many recent computer science and STEM grads are discouraged by the current job market. We may have fewer openings for recent grads now than in the recent past. But this will change. The job market changes every year. We can’t continue building systems without a new generation of computer scientists, and we have more problems to solve than people to solve them. We need the next generation of computer scientists to help program a better society.
