Should You Learn to Code in the Age of AI? Pros and ConsShould You Learn to Code in the Age of AI? Pros and Cons

In the space of just a few years, AI technology has radically changed the calculus surrounding learning to code. Now that large language models (LLMs) can churn out code in a fraction of the time it takes professional software developers to do the same, is there still reason to acquire programming skills?

The answer, I think, remains unclear — so unclear that the best way to analyze the relevance of coding as of 2025 is, I think, to look at arguments both in favor of and against learning to code.

To that end, here's a look at three reasons why coding mastery is still worth it, and three reasons why it may not be.

Why You Should Learn to Code in the AI Era

Let's start with the pro-code arguments.

1. AI can't write all software.

The most obvious reason why it's still worth learning to code is that, although AI-assisted development tools like Copilot are quite good at writing code, there will always be code they can't write.

AI coding software works best when writing code that performs common tasks using popular programming languages. But if you need to code in a more obscure language or implement a novel function, AI-powered development tools aren't likely to be able to do the job well, certainly not without lots of guidance from human programmers.

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This means that there will always be a role for at least some human coders to play, even in a world where AI does much of the coding.

2. AI-assisted development poses major quality and security risks.

Another obvious limitation of AI-assisted coding tools is that they can make mistakes. Some may lead simply to poor application performance. Others could create major security risks linked to AI-generated code, such as leaked credentials and package hallucination. 

The counter-argument, of course, is that human developers can and frequently do make coding mistakes of their own.

Still, given that AI coding tools don't always generate perfect code, there will always be jobs for humans who know how to read AI-generated code to fix its mistakes.

3. Coding teaches valuable skills.

A third argument in favor of learning to code in an age when AI will likely replace some human coders is that acquiring coding skills helps hone your brain and thinking patterns. In this sense, there's value in learning to code even if you never get a job writing to code, just as there's value in learning algebra even if you never solve quadratic functions in the real world.

I suppose you could counter-argue that plenty of non-coders enjoy sharp mental acumen, so you don't need to learn programming if you want to become smart. But it can't hurt.

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3 Reasons Why It's No Longer Worth Knowing How to Code

Now, let's look at the other side of the coin: why you may not want to bother learning to code, especially in the era of AI.

1. AI is surprisingly good at coding.

Let's start with the obvious: Despite doubts early on about whether generative AI tools could actually write code well, AI-assisted coding software is really very good. Solutions like Copilot (which was released in 2021) have been in widespread use long enough at this point to conclude that developers find real value in them. If AI-assisted coding tools weren't good enough to do much of the work required to create software, you wouldn't see Copilot running in more than 50,000 organizations.

To be sure, there are software quality and security challenges associated with using AI to write code. But again, a lot of human coders write less than stellar code, too.

2. AI is automating other aspects of software development.

If you're thinking, "AI may be able to write code, but we still need lots of human coders to manage other parts of the software development life cycle," think again.

AI tools have also become pretty good at testing software, deploying software, and in some cases even designing software. While there is still clearly a need for humans to manage the tools and fill in the gaps in the software development life cycle that AI can't handle, AI has reduced the importance of human coders in these roles.

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3. The software development job market has crashed.

A third reason why you may not want to bother learning to code is that coding skills are not the ticket to a high-paying job that they once were (at least for many people). On the contrary, job openings for software developers have plummeted in recent years in the United States. At the same time, software developer salaries have grown more slowly than salaries across all fields.

One can debate whether AI is a major factor behind these trends, or whether they instead stem from developments like the economic instability of recent years or the offshoring of white-collar jobs. Either way, it seems clear that the financial ROI of learning to code is on the decline.