Google’s Android Chief Says Computer Science Degree Needs a ‘Rebrand’ as AI Reshapes Industry Expectations

Sameer Samat, president of the Android ecosystem at Google, requires a fundamental change in the way IT is taught and perceived in the era of artificial intelligence.

Speaking during a Google Education summit on July 18, Samat argued that the traditional IT framing as a discipline centered on coding was exceeded and no longer meets the needs of today’s students – or companies that will eventually use them.

While many universities and potential students always deal with the diploma as a bridge to learn to code, Samat thinks that this point of view is lacking the point.

“If what you want to do is write Java code, you don’t need a computer diploma,” he said. “This is not what IT is.”

Instead, he underlined discipline as the art of abstraction – to break the complex problems in resoluable components, to design systems to remedy it and to collaborate between disciplines to build lasting solutions.

His comments arise as the influence of the generative tools of AI, such as GitHub Copilot and the own Gemini of Google, continues to develop. These systems can already automatically generate code extracts, optimize scripts and suggest a complete logic, which has raised fears that human coders will soon become obsolete. But Samat does not agree with the idea that AI will replace the value of computer education. Instead, he thinks that AI will force the field to evolve – and in the process, will underline the deeper value of thought in the system and architectural design that machines cannot easily reproduce.

Samat, who studied IT at the University of California in San Diego, thought about how fundamental courses in assembly language helped him understand what is happening under the hood of modern software. He said that this deeper understanding of IT systems is what distinguishes a real computer scientist from someone who simply writes code. This also explains why companies like Google are increasingly looking for engineers who can integrate technical knowledge into specific expertise in the field.

He also warned against the choice of adult only for employment safety. “Too many students select IT because they are considered a safe and well-paid area, not because they are passionate about difficult problems solving,” he said. “It doesn’t work anymore.”

Employers are now looking for individuals who not only have technical skills but also bring unique perspectives of other disciplines, whether conception, psychology, economics or education.

Inspired by his own experience, Samat described how the foundation of two startups in the twenties taught him more about technology and product development than formal class parameters. One of these companies led to a meeting with the co-founder of Google, Sergey Brin, finally paving the way for his career in the company.

“When you are passionate about problem solving, you find ways to go further,” he said, urging budding students to strive to be in 5% of the tops in their chosen field.

The call of samat to rename computer science intervenes in the midst of continuous industry debates on how schools can keep the pace of technological changes. While AI continues to automate low -level programming tasks, he thinks that universities must focus on teaching students how to build systems, think critically and design complexity.

He put an end to his speech with a clear message for students who envisage the adult: do not only study computer because it is in demand – do it because you are really interested in the way technology can solve real problems. And if you do it, “go ahead”.