Why Nvidia CEO says coding is no longer a vital skill

Coding, or the ability to write computer programs using specific languages, has long been considered a fundamental skill for anyone who wants to pursue a career in the tech industry.

However, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang has recently challenged this notion, suggesting that coding is becoming obsolete in the face of artificial intelligence (AI).

Jensen Huang, CEO of Nvidia, argues that we should stop saying kids should learn to code.

He argues the rise of AI means we can replace programming languages with human language prompts thus enabling everyone to be a programmer.

AI will kill coding.pic.twitter.com/SxK9twhEby

— Dare Obasanjo🐀 (@Carnage4Life) February 24, 2024

In this article, we will explore the reasons behind Huang’s controversial statement, the implications of AI for the future of coding and the job market, and the reactions of other experts and stakeholders in the field.

What did Huang say?

Huang made his remarks at the World Government Summit in Dubai in February 2024, where he was invited as a speaker on the topic of “The Future of Computing”.

He argued that the rapid advancements in AI, especially in the area of generative AI, will enable people without traditional programming knowledge to easily develop complex programs using natural language.

Generative AI is a branch of AI that can create new content or data based on existing examples or inputs, such as text, images, audio, or video.

For instance, generative AI can produce realistic images of faces, landscapes, or objects that do not exist in reality, or write coherent texts on any given topic or style.

Huang claimed that generative AI will make coding languages obsolete, as people will be able to use their native language to communicate with computers and instruct them to perform various tasks. He said:

“It is our job to create computing technology such that nobody has to program. And that the programming language is human, everybody in the world is now a programmer. This is the miracle of artificial intelligence.”

Huang also advised the young generation not to focus on learning coding, but rather on other domains of knowledge and expertise, such as biology, education, manufacturing, or farming.

He said that these fields will benefit from the applications of AI, and that people will need to have the skills to use AI effectively and ethically.

What are the implications of AI for coding and the job market?

Huang’s statement implies that AI will dramatically change the nature and demand of coding as a skill and a profession.

If AI can automate the process of coding and make it accessible to anyone, then coding will no longer be a specialized or valuable skill that requires years of training and practice.

Instead, coding will become a universal or basic skill that anyone can acquire and use.

This could have significant consequences for the job market, as coding is currently one of the most sought-after and well-paid skills in the tech industry.

According to a report by Indeed, the average salary of a software engineer in India was $6842.90 per year in 2023, while the average salary of a data scientist was $8689.40 per year.

These figures are much higher than the average salary of $2606.82 per year for all occupations in India in 2023, according to PayScale.

If AI can replace coders, then many of these jobs could be lost or reduced, affecting the livelihoods and careers of millions of people who rely on coding as their main source of income.

Moreover, AI could also create new challenges and risks for the quality, security, and ethics of coding, as AI-generated programs could be prone to errors, biases, or malicious attacks.

However, not everyone agrees with Huang’s pessimistic view of the future of coding. Some experts and stakeholders argue that AI will not eliminate coding, but rather transform it and create new opportunities and demands for coders.

They point out that AI is not a magic solution that can solve any problem or create any program without human input or supervision. They say that coders will still be needed to design, develop, test, debug, and maintain AI systems, as well as to ensure their reliability, safety, and fairness.

For example, Satish H C, an executive vice-president at Infosys, a leading IT company in India, said that AI will not lead to fewer jobs, but rather to different jobs that require different skills.

He said that coders will need to upskill themselves and learn how to use AI tools and platforms, as well as how to solve problems and create value with AI. He said:

“AI is not going to take away jobs, it is going to change the nature of jobs. What is going to be important is how you apply AI to create new possibilities, new solutions, new value propositions.”

Similarly, John Carmack, the former chief technology officer of Oculus VR, a subsidiary of Meta, the company formerly known as Facebook, echoed Huang’s views on the importance of problem-solving over programming.

e said that coders should focus on learning how to define and formulate problems, rather than on mastering specific coding languages or frameworks. He said:

“The most important thing is not the programming language, but the problem you are trying to solve. The programming language is just a tool to express your solution. The real skill is in figuring out what the problem is, and how to break it down into smaller and simpler parts that can be solved with code.”

Conclusion

In conclusion, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang’s statement that coding is no longer a vital skill has sparked a debate on the impact of AI on the future of coding and the job market.

While Huang believes that AI will make coding redundant and obsolete, others argue that AI will transform and enhance coding, creating new challenges and opportunities for coders.

The truth may lie somewhere in between, as AI will likely affect different aspects and levels of coding in different ways, depending on the context and the domain.

Therefore, coders should be prepared to adapt and learn new skills and tools, as well as to collaborate and communicate with AI systems, in order to thrive in the AI era.