At a time when artificial intelligence (AI) is making waves across industries, Google’s research head Yossi Matias has suggested that coding remains an essential skill and AI is far from replacing human developers. Despite the increasing use of AI tools to assist with coding tasks, Mattias believes that the fundamentals of programming remain of vital value, even as new technologies change the way we work.

Speaking in an interview with Business Insider at Google’s New York office, Mattias, who also serves as a vice president at Google, emphasized that learning how to code is more relevant than ever.

“The core concept of learning the fundamentals remains as important as ever. Everyone should learn how to code,” said Matias.

His comments come as there is growing concern among software engineers and students about the impact of AI on traditional coding roles.

AI technologies like GitHub Copilot, which assists developers by generating code, have predicted that coding jobs may soon become obsolete. Some experts claim that these AI tools can reduce coding time by up to 70 percent. However, Mattias is confident that AI is not a replacement for human coders.

“AI can assist with some tasks, especially at the junior level, but it is still not taking over the entire coding process,” he said. He said that although AI-generated code is now being widely used, it still requires human review and verification.

Mattias acknowledged that recent trends in the tech industry have brought challenges, especially for junior developers, who may find it difficult to gain the necessary practical experience. He said AI tools, while helpful, cannot completely replace the practical learning that comes with real-world coding. To support the development of junior talent, Google is sponsoring initiatives to help new developers bridge the gap between theory and practice.

According to Mattias, the importance of coding extends beyond the software industry. “Coding is like basic mathematics,” he said, drawing a parallel between the essential role of coding in today’s digital world and the fundamental importance of mathematics in everyday life. He emphasized that it is important to understand the basics of coding, even for those who do not aspire to become professional programmers.