New must-have skill? Sam Altman says it's AI, not coding
What's the story
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has challenged the long-standing belief that learning to code is essential for a successful tech career. Last year, on the Stratechery podcast with Ben Thompson, he suggested that mastering artificial intelligence (AI) tools should be the new focus for the next generation of workers. This shift in perspective comes as AI continues to revolutionize the tech industry, with many companies already using it to write up to half of their code.
Career guidance
Altman's AI tool mastery advice
Altman, who dropped out of Stanford University after two years, shared his career advice on the Stratechery podcast. He said if he were entering the workforce today, his main focus would be to "get really good at using AI tools." He compared this to his own graduation era when coding was the key skill to master.
Tech evolution
AI already writing code
Altman's advice isn't just a trend but reflects the rapid changes happening in tech companies. He said that AI already writes up to 50% of the code at many organizations. This prediction was echoed by Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei, who said that in three to six months, AI could be writing 90% of the code written by software teams.
Coding transformation
Move toward 'agentic coding'
Altman sees this shift as a move toward "agentic coding," where AI agents take care of repetitive and mundane coding tasks. This would let human developers focus on more complex problem-solving. The change democratizes software development, making it accessible to those who can effectively command the AI.
Skill acquisition
New skills for new times
Altman's advice also emphasizes that acquiring this new "superpower" of AI tool mastery doesn't need a costly or time-consuming college degree. As the Indian tech industry continues to grow, the skills needed for success are changing. Altman's message is clear: while traditional coding isn't going away, being able to use artificial intelligence is quickly becoming the new standard.