Is it necessary to study programming when there is AI?

I studied Computer Engineering at KNURE from 2000 to 2005.

In the first year, we learned assembly language and wrote programs in it, even though advanced C/C++ compilers already existed at that time.

In the second year, we manually synthesized hardware circuits using logic gates, despite the fact that logical synthesis software was already available.

Later, when I was teaching “Software Performance Optimization”, my students and I tested different algorithmic approaches and analyzed their machine code, even though modern compilers already included hundreds of built-in optimization techniques.

I think you understand where this is going.

I cannot say that all of this was learned in vain or was useless. On the contrary, looking at the current state of software development, these skills and this knowledge are still relevant.
Linus Torvalds still optimizes the Linux kernel in assembly, taking into account CPU cycles and cache misses. And ffmpeg, the most widely used video transcoding tool, has its key algorithms written in assembly language.

Perhaps an average programmer does not need this depth of knowledge. But as these examples show, top-level engineers must understand and be able to work “under the hood.”

Being an average programmer or a top one is a personal choice.

If I were to enroll in Computer Engineering again, I would once more dive into studying what’s happening under the hood.

— Do you need to learn programming when AI exists?
— Yes, you do.

My name is Volodymyr Obrizan, a software engineer with 20 years of experience.
Director of Design and Test Lab.
You may reach me at @obrizan
It is a public channel: https://t.me/obrizan2