Rethinking the Code Craze: Is Teaching Everyone to Code Still a Good Idea?

In a recent chat at Harvard, former Rhode Island governor Gina Raimondo had some surprising things to say about teaching everyone to code. She admitted that pushing coding as the ultimate skill might not be such a great idea anymore, especially with AI taking over. Raimondo, who was once a big fan of coding education, now seems to have doubts.

A Shift in Perspective

Back in 2016, Raimondo started a big push to teach computer science to every student in Rhode Island. It was a popular move at the time, and many people praised her for it. But now, with AI advancing so quickly, those high-paying tech jobs that everyone was promised might not be as plentiful as they once seemed.

Government's Role in Tech Investment

Raimondo also talked about how the government isn't always great at picking winners. She criticized President Trump's approach of investing in specific companies and admitted that the government often gets it wrong. However, she defended the Biden administration's subsidies through the CHIPS and Science Act.

Broader Economic Discussions

During her conversation with former Treasury secretary Larry Summers, Raimondo touched on a lot of topics, including economic policy and her experience dealing with the Rhode Island General Assembly. Her comments about coding were just a small part of the discussion, but they certainly stood out.

Rethinking the Strategy

So, is teaching everyone to code still a good idea? Raimondo's comments suggest that it's time to rethink this strategy, especially in the age of AI. It's a reminder that the job market is always changing, and what's hot today might not be tomorrow.