Is Learning Programming Still Worthwhile in the Age of AI?

As a high school student, I am currently exploring which academic field I would like to pursue in the future. About half a year ago, I became interested in EECS because many influential entrepreneurs, such as Elon Musk and Jensen Huang, have built companies around software, hardware, and artificial intelligence. Their work has helped shape technological progress and transform modern society.

Recently, however, I have been exposed to a variety of AI-powered programming tools, including Claude Code and Codex. I have been surprised by how capable these systems have become. They can generate websites, build software applications, assist with hardware-related problems, and even enable people with little programming experience to create useful products.

On social media, I have already seen examples of individuals with no formal coding background using AI tools to build applications and generate income. This has led me to question whether learning programming is still as valuable as it once was.

If AI can perform many coding tasks, why should students continue studying computer science and software engineering? Will programming remain an important skill ten or twenty years from now, when today's students enter the workforce?

At the same time, I wonder which academic fields will remain valuable as AI continues to advance. Are there majors that are less likely to be disrupted by artificial intelligence? Which disciplines will drive the next generation of innovation and technological progress?

I do not yet have a definitive answer. However, I believe this is an important question for many STEM students today. As AI rapidly changes the way we learn, work, and create, it is also reshaping how we think about education, careers, and the skills that will matter most in the future.

I would be interested in hearing perspectives from researchers, engineers, educators, and industry professionals.