A CS Degree Is Becoming a Negative Signal
Mike Smith
Spicy Level
The Take
Spending 4 years learning to code in a classroom while AI makes 80% of that curriculum obsolete isn't just wasteful — it signals poor judgment about where the world is heading.
+Why I'm Right
AI coding assistants make rote programming skills less valuable
Self-taught developers with AI skills ship faster than new CS grads
The curriculum is 3-5 years behind industry reality
The opportunity cost of 4 years is enormous in a fast-moving field
?The Counter-Argument
“CS degrees teach fundamentals — algorithms, data structures, systems thinking — that AI tools can't replace. The best developers understand what's happening under the hood. The degree isn't the education; the education is the education.”
Agree? Disagree? Tell me.
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