Latest news with #artificial intelligence
Geek Wire
14 hours ago
- Business
- Geek Wire
Coding is dead: UW computer science program rethinks curriculum for the AI era
The rapid adoption of artificial intelligence in the workplace has academic institutions wrestling with the question of how best to prepare the next generation of graduates for tech jobs, helping them land entry-level roles and bolstering them against the bots. The issue is growing increasingly urgent as Microsoft's recent layoffs carry the worrying subtext that AI is starting to replace employees, and Amazon CEO Andy Jassy bluntly warns that corporate headcount will shrink as generative AI takes hold. The strategy at the University of Washington's Paul G. Allen School of Computer Science & Engineering — the Pacific Northwest's premier tech program — is to graduate nimble problem-solvers who understand computing fundamentals, said director Magdalena Balazinska. 'Coding, or the translation of a precise design into software instructions, is dead,' Balazinska said told GeekWire via email. 'AI can do that. We have never graduated coders. We have always graduated software engineers.' Generative AI tools like ChatGPT have fundamentally changed how people interact with technology, allowing users to accomplish complex tasks through conversational prompts rather than hand-crafted code. The technology has the potential to replace workers by automating routine tasks while existing employees become more efficient. But Balazinska argues that the most demanding work remains distinctly human. 'The hard problem is to precisely figure out what we want computers to do in order to accomplish some task,' she said. 'That creative and conceptually challenging work is the true work of a software engineer.' Learning alongside AI Harshitha Rebala, who earned her computer science bachelor's degree from the Allen School in June, experienced this new paradigm firsthand. Her coursework included classes in AI ethics and natural language processing, which is the foundation for the large language models (LLMs) that underpin generative AI technologies. She was also allowed to use GPT tools in her assignments, a permission not granted at every university. Students were required to cite AI as a collaborator, just as they would credit input from a fellow student. It helped her tackle tricky software while learning how to use the AI assistants. 'After a really long day, if you're stuck on the same bug over and over again, it's really easy to just jump on and [say] 'this is the bug I'm running into, do you have any advice?'' Rebala said. 'And then you can just keep on going.' Given the rapid pace of AI evolution, Allen School professors have been encouraged to experiment with AI integration in their curriculum and its use by students, Balazinska said, rather than mandating program-wide initiatives. The school now is reflecting on lessons learned and will consider 'coordinated changes to our curriculum,' she said. Other top-tier institutions are taking similar steps. Carnegie Mellon University, for example, is convening faculty this summer to reflect on its approach to the technology, the New York Times reports. Rebala appreciated her instructors' honesty about the uncertainty ahead. 'Having that transparency from your professor saying, 'this is what I'm teaching you right now, but this field is moving so fast, and one day you could be the one making these big changes' is pretty cool,' she said. The job market reality But worries persist about job prospects for computer science graduates, as well as their ability to retain positions in an uncertain market. Rebala acknowledged that 'it is pretty hard out there right now,' though she didn't want to speak for her entire cohort. She was pleased to land a role as a technical staff member at Vercept, a Seattle startup founded by former Allen Institute for AI (Ai2) researchers that uses AI to automate repetitive tasks such as entering data, producing video content and organizing invoices. Other Allen School grads took jobs at tech giants Amazon, Microsoft, Meta and Google, while some found spots at companies including Atlassian, Databricks, Jane Street, Oracle, Palantir, Uber, Visa and elsewhere. Entry-level jobs in particular may be more at risk amid the AI boom and recent hiring pullback at tech companies. Balazinska said those jobs aren't disappearing but rather changing. 'That's because by definition, there is always some position that is the entry-level position,' she said. The Allen School aims to graduate students with skills that exceed what's required in 'a basic entry-level programming position,' she added. Kiana Ehsani, CEO and co-founder of Vercept, said her company's hiring criteria varies by role. For engineering positions, they're looking for candidates familiar with AI frameworks, who understand how to implement models rather than solely relying on AI coding tools, and have deep technical knowledge. But AI prowess isn't the only box to check, Ehsani said. 'The most important quality, above all else, is curiosity and a genuine drive to learn,' she said. 'That mindset often beats any specific technical skill.' :
Bloomberg
a day ago
- Business
- Bloomberg
How SAP Became Europe's Most Valuable Company
A tactical pivot into artificial intelligence and cloud computing helped German software company SAP SE rise to become Europe's most valuable company. Bloomberg's Tom Mackenzie sits down for an exclusive, extended interview with Chief Executive Officer Christian Klein at SAP's headquarters in Walldorf, Germany. Bloomberg Tech: Europe spotlights the biggest names and trends shaping the region's technology ecosystem as the global competition heats up. This monthly, 30-minute 'magazine-style' show features in-depth interviews with top technology leaders, as well as major investors and policymakers - giving you a compelling A to Z of the most consequential innovations, opportunities and challenges. (Source: Bloomberg)
Arab News
2 days ago
- Business
- Arab News
Saudi communications minister meets with international leaders to advance Saudi role in AI
GENEVA: Saudi Minister of Communications and Information Technology Abdullah Alswaha held a series of high-level meetings during his official visit to Switzerland, aimed at strengthening the Kingdom's global role in promoting inclusivity in the era of artificial intelligence, innovation, and digital economy development. The minister met with UN International Telecommunication Union Secretary-General Doreen Bogdan-Martin, the Saudi Press Agency reported. The two discussed the Kingdom's longstanding partnership with the union spanning more than 76 years. The minister also met with Algerian Minister of Post and Telecommunications Sid Ali Zerrouki, to expand partnership opportunities in the areas of digital governance, AI, and digital infrastructure.
Argaam
2 days ago
- General
- Argaam
OPEC+ may pause output hikes after next monthly increase: Report
Loading data... Please note that this news summary has been generated using artificial intelligence. It is recommended to review the original sources for complete details and to verify the accuracy of the information.
South China Morning Post
2 days ago
- Business
- South China Morning Post
China's AI acumen, vision to be showcased at WAIC in Shanghai amid fierce race with US
China is set to showcase its artificial intelligence (AI) prowess, as well as its vision of how to manage the disruptive technology, at a conference in Shanghai as the country is stepping up its competition against the US for AI supremacy. The annual three-day World Artificial Intelligence Conference (WAIC), which starts on July 26, would showcase more than 3,000 hi-tech products, 40 large language models, 50 AI-powered devices and 60 intelligent robots, according to the organisers. Most of the displayed AI solutions and products were developed by Chinese institutions and businesses, they added. A high-level meeting on global AI governance will be held in tandem with the conference to promote Beijing's view on how to regulate AI. In particular, the event would push 'Chinese wisdom' to the world by promoting China's open-source approach to AI, which has gained momentum thanks to models from DeepSeek and Alibaba Group Holding , said Du Guangda, an official from the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, at a briefing in Shanghai on Thursday. The WAIC, hosted by Chinese government ministries and the Shanghai municipal government, has become a key venue for China to ramp up its relevance and influence in the international AI industry. In his speech at the G20 leadership summit in Brazil in November, President Xi Jinping invited the G20 members to attend the conference. The gathering this year would attract 800 enterprises, including Siemens and Schneider, according to the briefing, though organisers have not yet released a detailed list of participants and speakers. In past years, the speaker list included Alibaba founder Jack Ma, Tencent Holdings' chairman Pony Ma Huateng and Tesla founder and CEO Elon Musk, who attended in person in 2019 and delivered video speeches in 2020 and 2023. Premier Li Qiang attended the opening ceremony and delivered a keynote speech in 2024.
