ChatGpt Creator Openai's Codex Product Lead Alexander Embiricos has a message to students in this rapidly evolving technology environment. Embiricos feels that computer science majors need to learn to use AI tools. Speaking about a recent podcast episode, as reported by Business Insider, Embiricos said that students should be concerned about computer science programs that ban the use of AI. “If I was a student now, the main place I'd be worried about is if I was studying CS and my university didn't allow AI.
CS is still valuable when it evolves
The report, citing the growing demand for software engineers, has been reported despite complementing warnings in the value of computer science degrees. “I think there are times when more software engineers need it because there are more software being created,” he said. “But I think I'll also find a way to constantly use AI while you do that.”His comments come to Tyne as the university is working on how to teach computer science in the age of agent AI tools such as Openai's GPT-5 Codex. These tools can also write code and automate development tasks.
What Openai is looking for in new alumni
In addition to this, Embiricos also revealed that Openai does not employ many entry-level engineers. During his employment, he shared that the most important trait he is looking for in his new alumni is whether they made anything. “I don't know if this is advice, but what I can say is, when I look at the new grade profile, what signales me the most is whether they made something,” he said.
Rethinking CS education
Educators seem to be already working on rethinking how to teach CS. Carnegie Mellon's Thomas Cortina said
New York Times
AI can sometimes be “really rocking Computer Science Education,” and it has come to realize that students don't fully understand the code they generate using AI tools.Embiricos also feels that the CS department should help students become “mentally plastic” in how students approach problem solving. He advocated a combination of manual learning to build basic understandings along with a result-driven project that integrates AI tools.
