Amid rapid advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) Yossi Matias -  Head of Research and Vice President at Google-  has underscored the continued importance of coding as a core skill.

Despite the proliferation of AI tools in coding and development, Matias believes human coders remain invaluable, particularly in understanding the fundamentals of programming.

In a recent interview with Business Insider, Matias shared insights into AI's role in the tech industry, emphasizing that the technology, while transformative, is not poised to replace human developers.

"The basic notion of learning the basic disciplines remains as important as ever. Everybody should learn how to code," he stated, affirming the relevance of coding in today’s tech landscape.

Matias’s remarks come as many in the tech field express concerns over AI’s potential to automate coding tasks. Tools like GitHub Copilot have raised speculation about AI’s impact on traditional programming roles, with some suggesting that such tools can cut coding time by as much as 70 percent. However, Matias argued that AI is not yet capable of handling the complexities of the coding process in full, especially given the human intuition and oversight required to refine AI-generated code.

"AI may assist with certain tasks, especially at the junior level, but it is still not taking over the entire coding process," Matias explained. He noted that while AI can facilitate repetitive tasks, it lacks the capacity for the nuanced decision-making that experienced programmers bring to software development.

Matias acknowledged that recent trends in the tech industry pose challenges for junior developers, who may struggle to acquire the practical experience needed in a field increasingly supplemented by AI tools. In response, Google has been backing initiatives to support emerging talent, helping to bridge the gap between coding theory and practical application.

Drawing a parallel between coding and mathematics, Matias suggested that the skill is foundational in the digital age. "Coding is like basic math," he said, explaining that even those outside the software industry benefit from a foundational understanding of programming. The sentiment underscores his view that coding is integral not only within tech sectors but across various fields where digital literacy is now essential.