‘A dramatic reversal from three years ago’
Graduates of Stanford’s computer science program are having trouble finding jobs as artificial intelligence tools take over tasks once done by young programmers. Los Angeles Times.
What’s going on?
Tech companies have changed the way they hire. Managers who once employed 10 junior coders on projects now get the same productivity as a pair of senior developers and an AI assistant.
A Stanford study It found that jobs employing coders ages 22 to 25 have declined by close to 20% after peaking at the end of 2022. The same study showed that positions exposed to AI competition generated 13% fewer new hires than positions less threatened by automation.
Speaking to LA Times reporters, students stated that they were not optimistic about looking for a job. Many stay in school an extra year to earn master’s degrees in hopes of delaying their job search and gaining stronger references.
“This is a dramatic reversal from three years ago, when all of my undergraduate students were finding great jobs at companies around us,” said Jan Liphardt, an associate professor of bioengineering at Stanford. “That’s changed.”
Why is it worrying that AI is changing jobs?
This change raises questions about workforce stability as AI capabilities increase.
At its debut in 2022, ChatGPT could only generate code in short bursts. Today’s AI can produce code with improved accuracy over long sessions.
The expansion of artificial intelligence also puts a strain on energy resources. Training and running these models requires huge computing power, which increases electricity demand and water use to cool data centers. AI can help optimize clean energy grids, but its own resource consumption adds strain to already stressed infrastructure.
For young workers, this message is discouraging. A degree from a prestigious school does not promise a job in fields where artificial intelligence can perform basic tasks faster and cheaper.
What can be done about artificial intelligence changing jobs?
If you’re about to enter the workforce or have college-aged children, consider how education might change.
some universities rethinking the curriculum preparing students to work with AI rather than compete with it.
to contact your elected officials Support policies that address workforce displacement. Retraining programs and safety nets for workers in AI-affected industries can both be effective solutions.
For those already working in technology, focus on developing the skills that AI currently struggles with: complex problem solving, system design, and inspection of automated tools.
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