UC Berkeley professor Hany Farid noted on the Particles of Thought podcast that just four years ago, young people were advised to study computer science and pursue IT careers as a path to excellent and secure employment. But everything has changed remarkably quickly.
UC Berkeley professor Hany Farid noted on the Particles of Thought podcast that just four years ago, young people were advised to study computer science and pursue IT careers as a path to excellent and secure employment. But everything has changed remarkably quickly.
According to Farid, we can’t simply blame it all on AI. «Something is happening in the industry. I think it’s a combination of many factors. Yes, AI is part of it. There’s also some 'thinning of the ranks,' but clearly something bigger is brewing,» he said.
In comments to Business Insider, Farid clarified that today’s best jobs for computer science graduates aren’t with the usual Silicon Valley companies.
«I’ve always believed that the most exciting applications of computer science aren’t at Facebook, Google, or Amazon, but at its intersection with other fields: computational drug discovery, medical imaging, computational neuroscience, computational finance, digital humanities including art and music, computational sociology, politics, and so on. A computer science degree is more than just knowing how to code,» he asserts.
Farid and the podcast host, astrophysicist Hakeem Oluseyi, discussed how Oluseyi’s son, a senior computer science student, can’t find a job. Farid noted that he sees the same problem at Berkeley — one of the world’s best universities for computer science.
«Our students used to get five internship offers during their studies. After graduating, they were offered high salaries and numerous options, and could choose where to go. Now they’re happy if they get just one offer,» he said.
The discussion about the future of computer science is happening across the tech sector. The rising popularity of vibe coding and AI’s ability to write code independently have only intensified concerns. Farid shared that he’s often asked to advise students, and recently his recommendations have changed: «I used to say, «Get a broad education — learn physics, languages, history, philosophy, but then really dive into one area, become very good at one thing. Now I advise people to become good at many different things because we don’t know what lies ahead.»
Like many AI specialists, Farid believes that only those who learn to use new technologies will remain competitive. «I don’t think AI will make lawyers jobless. But lawyers who use AI will replace those who don’t. And the same applies to any profession,» he said.
