Sameer Samat, President of Android Ecosystem at Google, is calling for a fundamental shift in how computer science is taught and perceived in the age of artificial intelligence.
Speaking at a Google education summit on July 18, Samat argued that the traditional framing of computer science as a coding-centric discipline is outdated and no longer meets the needs of today’s students—or the companies that will eventually employ them.
While many universities and prospective students still treat the degree as a gateway to learning how to code, Samat believes this view misses the point.
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“If what you want to do is write Java code, you don’t need a computer science degree,” he said. “That’s not what computer science is.”
Instead, he emphasized the discipline as the art of abstraction—of breaking complex problems into solvable components, designing systems to address them, and collaborating across disciplines to build long-lasting solutions.
His comments come as the influence of generative AI tools, such as GitHub Copilot and Google’s own Gemini, continues to expand. These systems can already auto-generate code snippets, optimize scripts, and suggest full-function logic, prompting fears that human coders might soon become obsolete. But Samat disagrees with the idea that AI will replace the value of a computer science education. Instead, he believes AI will force the field to evolve—and in the process, highlight the deeper value of system-level thinking and architectural design that machines can’t easily replicate.
Samat, who studied computer science at the University of California, San Diego, reflected on how foundational courses in assembly language helped him grasp what’s happening under the hood of modern software. He said this deeper understanding of computing systems is what distinguishes a true computer scientist from someone who merely writes code. It also explains why companies like Google increasingly look for engineers who can integrate technical knowledge with domain-specific expertise.
He also warned against choosing the major purely for job security. “Too many students are selecting computer science because it’s seen as a safe, high-paying field, not because they’re passionate about solving hard problems,” he said. “That doesn’t work anymore.”
Employers now seek individuals who not only possess technical skills but also bring unique perspectives from other disciplines—whether it’s design, psychology, economics, or education.
Drawing from his own experience, Samat described how founding two startups in his twenties taught him more about technology and product development than formal classroom settings. One of those ventures led to a meeting with Google co-founder Sergey Brin, ultimately paving the way for his career at the company.
“When you’re passionate about solving problems, you find ways to go deeper,” he said, urging aspiring students to strive to be in the top 5% of their chosen domain.
Samat’s call to rebrand computer science education comes amid ongoing industry debates about how schools can keep up with the pace of technological change. As AI continues to automate low-level programming tasks, he believes universities must shift their focus toward teaching students how to build systems, think critically, and design for complexity.
He ended his talk with a clear message for students considering the major: Don’t just study computer science because it’s in demand—do it because you’re genuinely interested in how technology can solve real-world problems. And if you do, “go deep.”