Should I Focus on Coding Fundamentals Despite Advancements in AI?

Just a heads up, you probably can’t use AI during exams... so definitely don’t rely too much on it!

The basics of coding are more crucial now than ever. Even if you plan to use AI tools in your career, employers still want to see that you can code effectively. There are many CS graduates who can't code well, which can be a deal-breaker in job applications. AI might write code that looks good, but it can have subtle errors, and if you lack strong coding skills, you won't catch those mistakes. That doesn’t mean shun AI; you can definitely use it to guide your learning, but don’t rely on it so heavily that your own coding skills become rusty.

If you can't assess AI-generated code critically, you'll struggle to find a job. It's like asking if you should skip learning grammar just because word processors have spellcheck. You still need to know how to differentiate between correct sentences. Plus, AI might become less reliable, and you can't assume it will always be available for your projects. Bottom line: enhancing your coding skills makes you more versatile, especially since coding is largely about problem-solving.

Yes, you absolutely need to put effort into learning coding fundamentals yourself. Knowing how to evaluate AI outputs is key since mistakes in generated code can lead to serious issues, like race conditions. Companies are now investing more in new hires, so they want people who can become effective contributors and leaders, not just code monkeys. You want to be someone who adds real value to a team.

Think of it this way: if faced with crossing two bridges, one designed by an AI and the other by a qualified engineer, which would you trust? It's important to have that human insight, especially in engineering.