Coding is the new reading: why the rise of artificial intelligence makes coding a fundamental skill
I remember when my family switched from paper navigation to a global positioning system (GPS). The convenience was incredible. No more unfolding giant maps, trying to figure out the best route or worrying about getting lost. But over time, I realized I could no longer get around even familiar routes without a GPS. The technology that I grew up with, that felt like magic, gradually replaced my understanding of how to get from point A to point B.
That same change is happening again, only now it is with artificial intelligence (AI). AI is the creation of machines that perform tasks that usually require human intelligence, such as learning, problem-solving and decision-making.
In school, asking AI for help on our computers is not cheating. It is normal. It is like using a calculator in math or opening a dictionary in Spanish. We have learned to ask the “right kind” of questions – short, clear prompts with enough context to get a usable answer. The use of AI is becoming widespread, but that is not inherently negative. What is scary is how little we question it.
A 2023 study from Stanford University found that programmers using AI tools often wrote less secure code than those who did not. In contrast, students who used AI and applied their knowledge, questioned the chatbot’s output and made deliberate choices and ultimately wrote stronger, more reliable programs.
“When AI gives an answer, I usually compare its ‘thought’ process with mine to see if it aligns. If it does, I compare the computations with mine to see where the problem arose, and it is usually here where I find out either AI or I made a mistake,” said Muntasir Nahiyan, a junior at Skyline High School.
Knowing the process behind solving a problem allows us to successfully use AI. Using generative tools is commonplace because of the convenience and productivity they allow, but they are a supplement, not replacement. In the same way, without knowing how to code, we cannot expect to create new technology.
Dr. Abi Nubla-Kung, director of sponsored research and grants at the Research Institute at City University of Seattle, is part of an AI committee that uses software like ChatGPT and notebook LM to aid with finding research sources like literature reviews.
“If you can use AI and its capabilities of scraping the information from the Internet…, it saves a lot of time. But you can’t just trust everything that AI gives you. It is really important that you, yourself, know what you’re talking about and that you are very knowledgeable in whatever it is you’re asking AI to do, because without it, you can’t do the verification step,” Nubla-Kung said.
Dr. Nubla-Kung compared AI today to the birth of the modern computer. “[My husband] could build his own computer in college. He knew how a computer worked, so he could fix it. The computer was a tool, and I think AI is the same thing. And if you can figure out how it works, you can improve upon it.”
These conversations made me reconsider what coding is. Media loves to say it is just writing lines of Python or Java (high level programming languages), but it is actually about learning how to solve problems, break down complex systems, and think logically. Suditi Basak, a junior at Purdue University studying Accounting and Finance, took IB Computer Science at Skyline High School. She said she uses skills from that class all the time as a business major.
“Learning how to break down big problems into smaller parts to then be able to get to the solution is critical. I have used it when competing in business case competitions, studying for exams or any other problems that I have been met with.”
Coding is no longer a niche technical skill. Just as literacy is not limited to authors, coding is not just for software engineers. In industries ranging from journalism to finance to education, professionals are increasingly expected to work with AI-driven tools. But those tools only empower people who understand the logic behind them.
It is time for schools to treat computer science with the same urgency as traditional literacy and math. As we grow up in this AI age, one thing is increasingly clear: only those who understand how technology works will shape its future. Those who do not may find themselves left behind. Understanding how these tools work is as necessary as using them.
