OpenAI engineer's advice to high school students? 'Absolutely learn to code'

In a world increasingly dominated by artificial intelligence, the importance of learning to code remains undeniable, according to a prominent engineer from OpenAI. Szymon Sidor emphasized the necessity for high school students to acquire basic coding skills despite the rise of AI tools like ChatGPT and Cursor. During a recent episode of OpenAI's podcast, Sidor stated, "You should absolutely learn to code." He highlighted that coding fosters a structured mindset, enabling individuals to dissect complex problems into manageable parts—a skill that will continue to be in high demand. Andrew Mayne, the podcast host and former chief science communicator at OpenAI, supported Sidor's stance, questioning the rationale behind discouraging coding education. He likened it to wanting pilots without an understanding of aerodynamics. Mayne’s analogy underscores a crucial point: understanding the fundamentals is vital, even as AI technology evolves. This sentiment resonates with other leaders in the tech industry, such as GitHub CEO Thomas Dohmke, who advocated for coding to be a fundamental part of education. The capabilities of AI in writing code are advancing rapidly; for instance, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg recently mentioned that their AI could soon generate code comparable to that of a mid-level engineer. Furthermore, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has advised high schoolers to not only focus on coding but also to excel in utilizing AI tools effectively. He remarked that mastering AI has become the new essential skill, much like coding was during his own high school years. As technology continues to evolve, the call for a solid foundation in coding remains stronger than ever, equipping the next generation of innovators with the skills they need to thrive in a digital landscape.