Why teach kids to code when AI can do it for them?

Here’s why — and it’s five solid reasons:

1. Critical Thinking Still Matters 🧠
2. Coding teaches logical reasoning, problem-solving, and ethical decision-making — things AI can’t do for us.
3. Skills That Translate 🛠️
4. Learning to code builds the foundation for understanding AI systems, not just using them.
5. Digital Agency 💡
6. If you want the next generation to shape the future — not be shaped by it — they need digital literacy. Coding gives them that power.
7. Diversity in Tech 🌍
8. Teaching everyone to code helps bring more voices into tech — not just those who already have access.
9. AI Creates New Roles 🚀
10. As AI grows, it’s not replacing developers — it’s reshaping what they do. Knowing how code works will unlock entirely new opportunities.

Their call to action? Educators must push back against the myth that AI makes coding irrelevant — and make sure young people are equipped to lead, not follow, in the AI era.

2025 ©️ Works4Me BV

Transcript

The debate around coding education has reached a pivotal moment. As AI systems increasingly generate functional code with minimal human input, many wonder: should we still teach young people to program? This question isn't just academic—it cuts to the heart of how we prepare the next generation for a rapidly evolving technological landscape.

Drawing from the Raspberry Pi Foundation's comprehensive position paper, we unpack five compelling arguments for why coding education remains essential. Far from making programming skills obsolete, AI may actually make them more valuable. The foundation argues that even as AI assists with code generation, we fundamentally need humans for critical thinking, complex problem-solving, and ethical decision-making. AI systems produce probabilistic outputs based on patterns—not necessarily correct, secure, or aligned with human intentions. As we note in our discussion, it's like having a lightning-fast GPS that occasionally routes you into a lake; speed without judgment is potentially disastrous.

Beyond technical proficiency, coding education develops computational thinking—the ability to break down complex problems into solvable components. This cognitive process can't be outsourced to AI without sacrificing deep understanding. We examine how learning to code empowers young people with digital agency in a world increasingly mediated by algorithms. Douglas Rushkoff's warning to "program or be programmed" takes on new urgency in the AI era. Perhaps most importantly, we discuss how coding education can democratize who shapes our technological future, bringing diverse perspectives to an industry that desperately needs them.

Whether you're a parent, educator, or technology professional, this episode offers crucial insights into why coding literacy matters now more than ever. Share your thoughts with us about how we should approach coding education in the age of AI—we'd love to hear from you!