Ask HN: Is there a point in me getting a CS degree anymore?

Answering this directly to you based on what you've said: I would say no. Not even because of the AI consideration (which btw, we're going to be fine), but because you literally said you don't like it anymore.

I would say as far as degrees go that are worth it still even if you hate it, CS is at the very bottom of that list. It is not something you should go into and do just for the money, and it's especially something you shouldn't do if you hate it.

It can be one of the most lucrative fields to get into if you enjoy roughly 60% of it. Any less than that, and it can be one of the most useless things for you to get into.

Going to school for some kind of focused finance or business degree (notice I said focused) could be much better for you (along with getting into agriculture as you're thinking of doing).

If you were getting a CS degree in order to get a job, you were already on the wrong path. Get a degree if you want the education for its own sake. The existence of AI does not change that, and if you want to be involved in creating future AI, that education will be valuable.

But it sounds like you already know your answer. You don't love programming, and you are interested in agriculture, including a vision for where that path can take you.

The current leap in research and its byproduct like ChatGPT are impressive (in the sense that it can pick up human text/speech and return back answers). But its not in any way a replacement for good Software Engineers, your job is safe (what is being posted on social media and news is extreme hype).

Here's the funny thing, if you ask people who interact with chat bots in any given service industry (banks, online orders...etc) they'll tell you how bad these things are, there is just no replacement for actual human beings with real life intuition (this kind of AI break through hasn't happened yet).

For the time being if you take time to specialize in a domain knowledge skill (physics, math, economy, or even agriculture) you'll be able to use the skills you learn from your CS degree in that domain and prosper as a result.

Here is the thing about pursuing a degree, it is a tedious awful long task. It doesnt actually look like the actual job you'll be doing when you finish this degree.

I'll go against the common advice and say, stick to it, finish the degree because it will give you good social mobility (when trying to travel for work to any country in the world, you'll either need to be a specialist in your field with few years experience or have at minimum a bachelor degree).

I don’t think the fundamental issue here is actually about AI. It’s about whether you want to finish getting your degree now, because you have realized that you might not like the field.

I think this because I had very similar thought patterns a decade ago when I was in college and considered dropping out. This was obviously long before AI, and I don’t have a degree in CS regardless.

So my advice is: just finish it. I also spent tons of time ruminating over the perfect degree situation, and ultimately you’ll realize that it’s kind of a waste of time. Just finish the degree and get a job you want to get. You’ll barely think about college at all 5-10 years after graduating.

Don't believe the goofballs. AI isn't close to replacing software engineers. And if it is, then it's just going to build the robots that replace agriculture jobs too, so nothing's really safe.

If you don't like studying CS, then switch to something else. But if it does feel rewarding, then get your grades back up. Better to graduate and be good at something, even if you wind up doing something else with your life.

I believe that knowing the fundamentals of computer science will always be important in technology, no matter how the field changes. Remember, computer science != programming.

You seem super excited about going into agriculture. Ag-Tech is a growing industry that will require engineers, especially as our climate changes. Having practical experience will make you competitive!

Look at what crowd is saying. Crowd is usually wrong or at least off the point.

Im tired of repeating this over and over but there is no real “i” in current AI.

It’s nothing but a fancy advanced auto complete in the hands of a good software engineer (and even that is half the time bad and requires skills and experience).

If your goal is to become an engineer - you’re safe in any predictable future.

Because there is not yet developed even a theory of anything that is capable of actually solving any meaningful engineering challenges

A bachelors degree is often required by employers, with no attention given to what the degree is for. The education itself is not needed, just what economists call costly signaling. It's useful to show to potential employers that you were able to dedicate years of your life to a full-time task, without unplanned interruption, that generated no income, proving that you will be more of a contribution than a burden to potential employers.

If you want to go a route that requires a bachelors degree, get it in whatever you find interesting. If you want to be self employed, or to work for an employer that doesn't care about the degree, then don't get one.

I don't know if by "getting into agriculture" you mean running a farm itself, or if the farmers would be your customers, and I don't know if the situation is different in Europe, but in the US, running a farm is almost never profitable, even with government subsidies, but selling equipment and services to farmer can be very profitable.

The LLM-craze will pass. It's not remotely interesting to me either. I am more interested in human centric automation. Techne is the Greek word for hand. Technology is literally an extension of our hands. Dystopian Silicone Valley schlock appears to me as a symbol of decadence and the waning power of an empire in the throes of giving Caesar absolute power. Look at these clownish CEOS, like Musk, Altman...

Is there software to build? Yes. Do LLMs replace software engineers? No. Will they ever? No. They are pattern extraction machines, nothing more.

Jobs that involve sitting in front of a computer in an office, are all at risk of being replaced by AI. Can't predict what will happen to all the middle managers and how they will justify their jobs - AI could have replaced most of them years ago.

Based on what little I know, in Europe you need a degree in order to get good jobs. But employment opportunities for CS graduates might change in the future. You really need to do research into this in your country/city - unless you are planning to relocate.

Since you prefer self-employment, why not simply research more deeply into the areas of agriculture that you are attracted to? Once you better understand the constraints, you will be in a better position to assess whether a CS degree, or any other degree for that matter, will be of benefit.

Consider pivoting to the physical engineering disciplines. For one, there is much less competition. For two, AI will not replace physical engineering anytime soon.

You can be in the field and get your hands dirty with engineering.

Over 1 year ago you really liked it and now you do not? That is a worrisome sign! I would recommend investigating that a bit, before making any rash decisions. If you are letting the news get to you personally, then dropping out of school certainly is not going to help! There will always be narratives pushed in the media, designed to manipulate people. Don't let that run your life!

While AI won’t replace all software engineers, it will exasperate the problem of companies not wanting to hire junior engineers and make it even harder to break the can’t get a job <-> don’t have experience cycle.

The market for software developers is already saturated and it’s going to take years for it to balance out.

So, why not get CS with AI concentration and then demo that CS knowledge via applied applications in agriculture? (or agriculture with minor in CS related 'computer' technology)

Apply the 'CS' to reduce the demanding agriculture factors (which sounds more agriculture/mechanical related degree)

Robots will get into agriculture very soon, most likely within 2-4 years. But owning an automated farm or a food processing factory isn’t a bad idea - I’d work towards that if I were you.

A degree is like good looking face. You might not gain much by just having a good looking face, but not having one, is a debuff for life.

The point of a degree is to reap a return on investment for getting the degree. An important part of that is enjoying the work.

While AI cannot replace some aspects of a CS degree, AI can and does replace the entry level position tasks quite easily in most white collar work. There will be no industry unimpacted long term.

Agriculture seems like a good bet until you actually spend some time on a farm with people who work in the business. Many farms operations are financed, and having setbacks amounts to owing debt if the circumstances like climate change impact you.

With agriculture you also have additional cost mainly related to government regulation for safety, and costs from monopolies on repairs for specific equipment you need to do your job. Like what's happening with John Deere.

Its not nearly as free to market as you seem to think it is. Soil conservation efforts where the government subsidizes you to not grow anything have been a thing in the past, to raise the price on certain goods, and there is always the risk that in an unforeseen emergency that your production is seized.

They haven't done it to date (afaik), but the laws are in place, in many localities, so they can do this.

Being a code monkey is definitely a dead end job.

You might look into vocational training, maybe retrain in a trade like plumbing, hvac, pool maintenance, welding, etc. Its doubtful that AI will take over these jobs.

Something where you develop useful skills.