Paper highlights importance of coding in the age of AI

The Raspberry Pi Foundation is calling for urgent action to prepare young people for the age of AI in its newly published paper, Why kids still need to learn to code in the age of AI. 

With industry reporting that 30% of code is now being written by AI systems, some are arguing that it is no longer relevant for kids to learn to code, creating the risk that schools will deprioritise computer science education.  

The past couple of years have seen huge advances in artificial intelligence, machine learning, robotics, and automation. The report argues that no-one really knows how far-reaching these changes will be, but we are living through one of the most significant waves of technological innovation in history. 

Philip Colligan, CEO, Raspberry Pi Foundation said: “Rapid advances in generative AI technologies are already reshaping how we live, work, learn, and interact.  

"While AI systems are now able to generate code, we still need skilled human programmers to control these systems and make sure that what they produce is safe, ethical, and relevant to the problems we are trying to solve.  

"Learning to code builds the creative and critical thinking skills that young people need to thrive in a world where AI systems are ubiquitous. It will open up opportunities for meaningful work and ensure that young people can combine their uniquely human attributes with the power of AI to shape the world they live in.” 

The paper makes the case that while AI systems are making coding more efficient, we still need expert human programmers to control the AI systems and critically review the code they generate.  

It says that learning to code is still the most effective way to develop expertise in programming, and that advances in AI technologies across all sectors are going to increase the relevance of coding skills. We may not know what the jobs of the future will be, but we know that a foundational understanding of computer science and coding will open up opportunities for young people in all industries. 

The paper says that young people who learn to code now will shape the future, and urge for that power to sit with a diverse group who can design systems that serve everyone. 

The paper says that more opportunities for hands-on and creative learning need to be created, empowering young people to use digital technologies to bring their ideas into the world, building their confidence and agency.