What if AI didn’t kill coding but made learning it more meaningful?
We sat down with Pat Yongpradit (former Chief Academic Officer at Code.org) to unpack why computer science still matters, how AI is reshaping classroom practices, and what real AI literacy looks like for students and teachers.
We also zoomed out to note that coding is only one piece of computer science, which also spans data science, cybersecurity, and the social and ethical impacts of technology.
We also talk about jobs, nuance, and the future of post-secondary education. BLS projections still show growth in software engineering even as “programming” tasks automate, which shifts demand toward systems-based thinking, UX, and human-centered design. Pat makes the case for a blended future where a renewed liberal arts education integrates technical fluency with ethics, communication, and problem-solving in order to prepare students for AI-infused roles across every sector.
If you care about teaching, learning, or the future of work, our conversation with Pat delivers a clear message — keep the human at the center, use AI as a partner, and give students the agency to build, critique, and create.
aiEDU: The AI Education Project
