'Godfather of AI' Geoffrey Hinton says Computer Science degree will remain valuable

By Phong Ngo December 12, 2025 | 06:00 pm PT

Geoffrey Hinton, the British scientist often called the “Godfather of AI,” says computer science degrees will remain valuable even as AI transforms the tech sector.

In a recent interview with Business Insider, Hinton addressed a common misconception that CS degrees are limited to programming, stressing that they encompass much more than just coding.

He believes a "CS degree will be valuable for quite a long time," but cautioned that being a typical mid-level programmer won’t be enough in the future as AI systems take over more tasks traditionally done by humans.

Hinton, who previously worked at Google Brain and left in 2023 to speak more freely about the risks associated with AI, has emerged as one of the most prominent skeptics in the field, according to Fortune.

He told U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders in a recent discussion at Georgetown University that while AI advancements may cause massive unemployment, they will also create new job opportunities.

However, he expected that while new jobs will arise, their numbers will likely fall short of the jobs lost to AI.

The "Godfather of AI" Geoffrey Hinton. Photo from X

With the future of tech job opportunities uncertain due to AI’s increasing capabilities, Hinton emphasized that coding will remain an essential skill for young students, even as coding tools become more widespread.

"Some time ago, it was both sort of a good intellectual activity and useful for getting a job. It's still a good intellectual activity," he said.