Aparna Chennapragada, Microsoft’s Chief Product Officer of Experiences and Devices, recently addressed concerns regarding the relevance of coding careers following the company’s announcement of layoffs affecting approximately 6,000 employees worldwide.
Speaking on Lenny’s Podcast, Chennapragada firmly rejected the idea that computer science and programming are becoming obsolete. Instead, she emphasized the growing value of learning to code, while acknowledging that the nature of coding is evolving due to advancements in technology.
“Many people believe computer science is no longer relevant or that coding careers are dying, but I fundamentally disagree,” she said. “Programming has always progressed through higher layers of abstraction. We no longer code in assembly languages or even C in most cases. AI introduces just another layer in this ongoing evolution.”
Microsoft, celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, has notably increased its investments in artificial intelligence (AI), especially following the launch of OpenAI’s ChatGPT in 2022. CEO Satya Nadella recently revealed that AI currently generates up to 30% of the code in some of Microsoft’s projects, fueling speculation about the future demand for human programmers.
Chennapragada suggested that this shift will redefine engineering roles rather than eliminate them. She predicted that many engineers will transition into "software operators," managing and overseeing AI-driven code production. “The future will see significantly more software operators,” she explained. “Though we may move from traditional coding languages to new roles, a solid foundation in computer science remains essential.”
Project managers, she added, might experience evolving duties focused more on creative decision-making and editorial oversight rather than hands-on coding.
The layoffs at Microsoft are part of broader cost-cutting measures while simultaneously channeling substantial resources into AI development—an approach also observed at other tech giants like Google. A Microsoft spokesperson stated, “We continue to implement organizational changes necessary to best position the company for success in a dynamic marketplace.”
