It’s January 2, 2023 and the tech industry is abuzz with excitement! In a recent interview with Fortune, Matthew Candy, the global managing partner for generative AI at IBM, made a bold statement: a computer science degree might soon not be essential for working in the technology sector! This is due to the advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) that will enable even those without coding knowledge to create and innovate in tech.
Candy emphasized that the future of technology is leaning more toward creativity and innovation than just technical know-how, proclaiming, “The speed at which people will be able to come up with an idea, test it, and create something is going to be significantly faster. You don’t need a degree in computer science to do that.” This shift in skill requirements is not only limited to the tech industry, but could also bring transformative changes to the arts, especially in image generation. Aspiring designers or artists won’t necessarily need formal graphic design or art degrees to pursue their passions.
Of course, this transition to an AI-driven workforce isn’t without its concerns. An ed-tech startup Hero Vired report showed that 82% of professionals are worried about job redundancy due to the rise of AI. IBM itself had contemplated a hiring freeze for roles that AI could replace. In a Bloomberg interview last year, IBM CEO Arvind Krishna anticipated that around 30% of IBM’s back-office roles could be replaced by AI within five years, affecting over 7,800 positions.
This remarkable revelation by Matthew Candy points to a significant shift in how we perceive education and skills in the rapidly evolving tech landscape. While it opens up opportunities for many, it also raises questions about the future of current professionals and the nature of jobs in the era of AI. This is an exciting time to be in tech and we can’t wait to see what the future holds!
