4 answers
Jacob
Student
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
1
Question
Updated
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How will the rising use of AI effect industries such as computer engineering and computer science?
I am currently a first year computer engineering student with very little prior coding experience. AI is definitely having an impact on the industries I am interested in such as computer engineering, but should the changes that AI brings change how I should prepare to enter a career in this field.
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4 answers
Sumitra Biswal
Independent researcher in the intersection of AI and Cybersecurity
40
Answers
India
Updated
Sumitra’s Answer
Dear Jacob,
AI is definitely changing computer engineering and computer science, but it’s not replacing them, it’s shifting what skills matter most. Instead of doing all the repetitive coding or debugging yourself, AI will help speed up those tasks. What will still matter is your ability to understand systems, think logically, design solutions, and make decisions that AI can’t. As a first-year student, focus on strong fundamentals: programming basics, data structures, math, and how computers actually work. These skills stay relevant no matter how AI evolves. The future of this field will be humans + AI working together, not AI taking over. If you're curious and willing to learn, you're preparing the right way already. 😊
AI is definitely changing computer engineering and computer science, but it’s not replacing them, it’s shifting what skills matter most. Instead of doing all the repetitive coding or debugging yourself, AI will help speed up those tasks. What will still matter is your ability to understand systems, think logically, design solutions, and make decisions that AI can’t. As a first-year student, focus on strong fundamentals: programming basics, data structures, math, and how computers actually work. These skills stay relevant no matter how AI evolves. The future of this field will be humans + AI working together, not AI taking over. If you're curious and willing to learn, you're preparing the right way already. 😊
Thank you for taking the time to help.
Jacob
Joseph Neilson
Radiation Detection Physicist
244
Answers
Oxford, England, United Kingdom
Updated
Joseph’s Answer
I largely agree with Sumitra - for the most part, the way AI is changing the industry is not replacing people, it's being a tool to allow people to do more and automate away the dull work.
However, it's a bit more nuanced than that - and what's happening at a bunch of places is that the jobs are shifting towards more senior roles where people are using AI as a tool - but shifting away from some of the entry-level junior roles - the senior developers are now giving the basic tasks to AI agents rather than junior devs.
Long term, I think that Comp Sci is a safe bet for not being replaced by AI - we'll always need people developing and validating future systems. It's just right now there's a slight bottleneck in recruiting pathways as what used to be junior programming roles disappear, and we work out new ways of bringing new people into the field and figuring out what entry-level roles now look like.
However, it's a bit more nuanced than that - and what's happening at a bunch of places is that the jobs are shifting towards more senior roles where people are using AI as a tool - but shifting away from some of the entry-level junior roles - the senior developers are now giving the basic tasks to AI agents rather than junior devs.
Long term, I think that Comp Sci is a safe bet for not being replaced by AI - we'll always need people developing and validating future systems. It's just right now there's a slight bottleneck in recruiting pathways as what used to be junior programming roles disappear, and we work out new ways of bringing new people into the field and figuring out what entry-level roles now look like.
Jeff Sloan
Software engineer - firmware Retired
115
Answers
Updated
Jeff’s Answer
Hi Jacob,
Great question! And, I know entering into a tech career is a bit scary at the moment!
Keep in mind that AI is just software that needs to be developed! That's a huge opportunity! It will never replace human knowledge and expertise! There will always be a need for computer scientists, developers and programmers. Computers are completely embedded in our lives. Pretty much everything you touch has a processor that needs to be programmed.
Learn the basics, be willing to learn, adapt and change and always keep learning and updating your skills and you will have a long, amazing, challenging career!
Good luck!
Great question! And, I know entering into a tech career is a bit scary at the moment!
Keep in mind that AI is just software that needs to be developed! That's a huge opportunity! It will never replace human knowledge and expertise! There will always be a need for computer scientists, developers and programmers. Computers are completely embedded in our lives. Pretty much everything you touch has a processor that needs to be programmed.
Learn the basics, be willing to learn, adapt and change and always keep learning and updating your skills and you will have a long, amazing, challenging career!
Good luck!
Sandeep Khandelwal
Software Engineer
50
Answers
San Ramon, California
Updated
Sandeep’s Answer
You're right to be aware of the shift AI is causing, but the main takeaway is that AI is transforming the field, not replacing it. For a Computer Engineering student, this is actually an opportunity: AI is automating the low-level, repetitive coding and debugging tasks, which means the value of an engineer is shifting away from simple code generation and toward high-level systems architecture, integration, and problem definition.
The changes AI brings absolutely should influence your preparation, especially since you have little prior coding experience. Rather than fearing that AI will write the code for you, embrace it as an incredibly powerful tool. Your education should focus less on memorizing syntax and more on the foundational principles that AI can't replicate: algorithms, data structures, discrete math, and digital logic/hardware design. As a Computer Engineer, your advantage is the ability to bridge the gap between software and the physical world—designing efficient, secure, and trustworthy systems (like specialized chips, robotics, and autonomous vehicles) where AI must be carefully integrated into the hardware constraints .
To future-proof your career, you need to cultivate AI fluency and human-centric skills. AI fluency means knowing how to use generative AI tools effectively, how to interpret their output critically, and, most importantly, understanding the ethical implications of the systems you design. Focus on projects that require creativity, cross-disciplinary collaboration, and high-level critical thinking, which AI struggles to perform. By mastering the hardware (your core Computer Engineering strength) and becoming proficient in AI integration, you position yourself in emerging, in-demand roles like AI Ethics Engineer or Machine Learning Operations Engineer, making you an invaluable asset in the evolving industry.
The changes AI brings absolutely should influence your preparation, especially since you have little prior coding experience. Rather than fearing that AI will write the code for you, embrace it as an incredibly powerful tool. Your education should focus less on memorizing syntax and more on the foundational principles that AI can't replicate: algorithms, data structures, discrete math, and digital logic/hardware design. As a Computer Engineer, your advantage is the ability to bridge the gap between software and the physical world—designing efficient, secure, and trustworthy systems (like specialized chips, robotics, and autonomous vehicles) where AI must be carefully integrated into the hardware constraints .
To future-proof your career, you need to cultivate AI fluency and human-centric skills. AI fluency means knowing how to use generative AI tools effectively, how to interpret their output critically, and, most importantly, understanding the ethical implications of the systems you design. Focus on projects that require creativity, cross-disciplinary collaboration, and high-level critical thinking, which AI struggles to perform. By mastering the hardware (your core Computer Engineering strength) and becoming proficient in AI integration, you position yourself in emerging, in-demand roles like AI Ethics Engineer or Machine Learning Operations Engineer, making you an invaluable asset in the evolving industry.