Daijiworld Media Network – Mumbai
Mumbai, Jun 13: Despite the rapid rise of AI-generated software tools, a top Microsoft executive has underlined the continued—and growing—importance of coding in the age of artificial intelligence.
Aparna Chennapragada, Chief Product Officer for Experiences & Devices at Microsoft, in a recent conversation with Bloomberg, strongly defended the relevance of computer science, declaring: “Betting against computer science is like betting against reading in the 14th century.”
When asked whether children should still be taught to code and whether companies still require engineers, her answer was an unequivocal: “Yes, yes, and yes.”
Chennapragada explained that the value of coding goes far beyond syntax. “It’s that logical thinking, critical thinking—skills that become more essential when developers collaborate with AI systems,” she said. Working alongside AI-generated code, in fact, demands “more of it”, she added, emphasizing the need for engineers who can review, secure, and refine code produced by machines.
Her views echo a broader industry consensus. As per recent reports, tech giants and startups alike are continuing to hire experienced software developers—especially to supervise AI-assisted outputs. Executives from companies such as Cognizant and Okta have acknowledged that while AI can accelerate the learning curve for junior engineers, seasoned coders remain indispensable.
Adding to the conversation, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella has also weighed in on the evolving role of coders in the AI era. Speaking recently on the subject, Nadella noted, “The path to being that software architect gets speeded up… All of us are going to be more software architects.”
Highlighting the importance of computational thinking, Nadella said, “Even with AI, success depends on giving clear, structured instructions—a skill that blends technical knowledge with systems thinking.”
As AI continues to reshape the tech landscape, the message from Microsoft’s leadership remains clear: mastering the fundamentals of software and honing problem-solving abilities will be more important than ever.