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Konstantin Mühlberg · Oct 17, 2026

No: most people should choose another path

3 reasons2 sources

Choose a field or trade where entry-level work is less exposed to automation, or learn programming alongside a different degree or job instead.

Reasons

  1. 1.

    AI tools now do much of the routine coding that used to be given to beginners, so there are fewer entry-level jobs to learn on.

    • Supports

      Employment of young workers in AI-exposed occupations such as software development has fallen behind comparable jobs, while experienced workers are not affected the same way.

      • Yes, fundementals will outlast tools · Overstated

        The same researchers find the AI-linked decline only becomes clear in 2024; the earlier drop also reflects the end of the post-pandemic hiring boom.

      • Yes, fundementals will outlast tools · Not true

        Someone still has to judge whether AI-written code is correct, secure and fast, and that takes the understanding a degree teaches.

  2. 2.

    Many trades and care professions face shortages and are harder to automate than office work done at a screen.

    source requested · 1
  3. 3.

    Programming can be learned alongside another degree or job, so a full computer science degree is no longer needed to use it.

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