I’m a senior in high school right now and definitely need to consider what I’m going to do in college and for work.

For a very long time I’ve been into computers, and am a developer with a few big projects under my belt (this is a burner account for privacy). So, my logical choice for a while was to become a software developer professionally.

Nowadays that plan doesn’t look too promising. AI has basically replaced junior developers (with dubious results) and the competition has gotten much fiercer. I’m not even in college yet so I have a good amount of time to potentially pivot to something else before choosing a major.

I’ve got quite a bit of experience with Linux and I manage a home server, but that probably doesn’t differentiate me much. I’m honestly interested in most things computer related, but don’t know of any specific fields to seek out. If it’s so hard for fresh CS graduates to get jobs, why would any other option be different?

  • AlteredEgo@lemmy.ml
    1·
    9 hours ago

    I suspect AI will still take decades to catch up with the deep intelligence that you need for more complex programming. So good programmers will be far more valuable than code monkey.

    If I were starting out I’d pick some combination, most likely biochemistry + AI programming / models. Like learning both biochemistry and how to program and train and research AI models that can e.g. fold proteins or synthesize some new medical molecule that could cure some illness. Medicine is still stuck in the dark ages.

    Or robotics and manufacturing. All those jobs that went to China, China itself is planning to replace with robotics.

    So instead of becoming a programmer, become someone that can develop and train and use AI models to solve problems in emerging fields.

    Above all, focus on chances to become some kind of entrepreneur. If you’re not a shareholder you’re just a tool like an LLM to them. EDIT: Well no, not always, if you find a good team or small private company to join it can be really fun.