The rapid rise of artificial intelligence could significantly change the way computer science is taught, according to Perplexity CEO Aravind Srinivas. As AI tools increasingly automate coding tasks, industry leaders believe the focus of computer science education may shift toward deeper theoretical and analytical skills.
Srinivas recently agreed with a widely shared post on X suggesting that the AI era is pushing computer science back toward disciplines such as physics, mathematics, and electrical engineering. The post stated, “The field’s center of gravity is shifting away from manual code writing and toward deeper theoretical thinking, mathematical insight, and systems-level reasoning.”
Responding to the post, Srinivas wrote “Well said,” signaling his agreement with the idea that AI is fundamentally changing the nature of software engineering and how the discipline may evolve in the future.
Several technology leaders have also spoken about the growing impact of AI on software development roles. Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei previously warned that AI systems could soon handle a large portion of software engineering work.
“I think… I don’t know… we might be 6–12 months away from when the model is doing most, maybe all of what SWEs (software engineers) do end to end,” Amodei said during a podcast earlier this year.
Similarly, Replit CEO Amjad Masad has suggested that the traditional role of software engineers may eventually change. Speaking at the AI Impact Summit, Masad said “software engineering, as a role, sort of disappears. What [you’ll] have is generalist product people, problem solvers, or systems people.”
However, not all industry leaders believe AI will replace existing jobs. Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang has repeatedly described AI as a technology that will reshape work rather than eliminate it.
“Every job will be affected, and immediately. It is unquestionable… You’re not going to lose your job to an AI, but you’re going to lose your job to someone who uses AI,” Huang said last year.
Huang has also suggested that several manual and trade-based professions may remain more resilient to AI disruption. He noted that roles such as plumbers, electricians, construction workers, and steelworkers are likely to remain in strong demand.
“It’s wonderful that the jobs are related to tradecraft and we’re going to have plumbers and electricians and construction and steelworkers,” Huang said. “So we’re talking about 6-figure salaries for people who are building chip factories or computer factories or AI factories, and we have a great shortage in that.”
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