Should i continue studying CS degree and pursue a SWE career? or should i switch to something that can't be replaced by AI?

Sonar Pro

Vote: Yes

Computer science degrees remain highly valuable in 2026, with projected starting salaries of $81,535–$94,212 for Class of 2026 grads, outpacing most majors and rising 7% year-over-year[1][2]. Long-term median salaries for software developers hit $130,000+, doubling average bachelor's earnings, with BLS forecasting faster-than-average growth in CS fields like data science (34%) and cybersecurity (29%) through 2034[6][7]. No field is truly 'AI-proof'; AI augments CS roles, creating demand for those who build, integrate, and explain AI systems rather than rote coding[2][7]. CS grads pivot successfully to in-demand areas like cybersecurity, IT, finance, and AI orchestration, where human skills in architecture, security, and problem-solving are irreplaceable[3][4][7]. Switching majors risks lower ROI and ignores CS's adaptability; success requires supplementing the degree with projects, specialization (e.g., AI/cloud), and portfolios, not abandoning it[6][7]. Data confirms CS as a top-ROI path despite entry-level competition[1][2][6].

Grok 4.1 Fast

Vote: Yes

Continuing a CS degree and pursuing a SWE career is the smarter path. Software engineering demand remains sky-high, with millions of open positions globally and median salaries exceeding $120K in the US. AI tools like GitHub Copilot and Claude augment developers, boosting productivity by 55% per studies, but they require skilled humans to prompt, debug, verify, and architect complex systems. No field is truly 'AI-proof'—trades, healthcare, even creative roles face disruption. CS equips you with foundational skills in algorithms, systems, and problem-solving, making you irreplaceable in directing AI and pivoting to AI safety, robotics, or emerging tech. Switching now chases a mirage; AI hype overstates replacement risks. Grads with CS degrees adapt fastest. Stay in CS: high ROI, versatility, and future-proofing through expertise.

GPT-5.4

Vote: Yes

CS and software engineering are not disappearing; they are changing. AI is far more likely to increase the leverage of good engineers than eliminate the need for them. Someone still has to define problems, design systems, integrate tools, verify correctness, handle security, and make tradeoffs in real business contexts. The idea of switching to something that "can't be replaced by AI" is shaky because very few fields are fully protected. AI will affect almost every profession. The better strategy is to build skills in a field where AI is a powerful tool and learn to work with it better than others. A CS degree gives durable fundamentals: algorithms, systems, architecture, debugging, data, and problem-solving. Those remain valuable even as tools improve. People who understand the underlying concepts will adapt much better than people who only know today's workflow. If you continue, do it strategically: learn AI-assisted development, distributed systems, security, product thinking, and communication. Become the engineer who can use AI effectively, not the one competing with it head-on. So yes: continue CS and pursue SWE, but with the mindset that your job is evolving, not vanishing.

Claude Opus 4.6

Vote: Yes

Yes, you should continue studying CS and pursue a SWE career. Here's why: **AI makes CS *more* valuable, not less.** The people building, maintaining, fine-tuning, deploying, and governing AI systems are software engineers and computer scientists. AI is a tool built by CS professionals — it doesn't eliminate the field, it supercharges it. Running away from CS because of AI is like running away from electrical engineering because of the power grid. **AI replaces tasks, not entire jobs.** AI coding assistants like Copilot boost productivity but still require skilled engineers to architect systems, debug complex issues, understand business requirements, ensure security, and make design trade-offs. The demand for SWEs who can leverage AI tools effectively will likely *increase*. **No field is truly "AI-proof."** The idea that you can switch to something AI can't touch is largely a myth. AI is advancing across law, medicine, accounting, creative arts, and more. Rather than trying to outrun AI, the smarter move is to be in a field where you deeply understand how to work *with* AI. **CS is one of the most versatile degrees.** Even if you eventually pivot away from pure SWE, a CS degree opens doors to product management, data science, cybersecurity, AI/ML research, quantitative finance, and countless other fields. Few degrees offer this breadth of opportunity. **The job market may shift, but the fundamentals endure.** Understanding algorithms, systems design, and computational thinking will remain relevant regardless of how much AI automates. These are foundational skills that adapt to new paradigms. Stick with CS — but make sure you're learning *how to leverage AI*, not just how to code without it.

Gemini 3.1 Pro

Vote: Yes

You should absolutely continue your CS degree. AI is currently evolving as a powerful tool that augments software engineers rather than replacing them entirely. Just as compilers and high-level programming languages automated tedious binary coding in the past, AI will automate boilerplate code, leaving engineers to focus on higher-level architecture and complex problem-solving. A Computer Science degree teaches you much more than just syntax; it trains you in abstract logic, algorithmic thinking, and system design. These foundational skills are exactly what you need to effectively guide, prompt, and correct AI systems. Someone needs to understand the underlying infrastructure to ensure the AI's output is secure, scalable, and functional. Furthermore, the goalposts for what constitutes an 'AI-proof' career are constantly shifting. Almost all knowledge work will be impacted. Instead of running from the disruption, lean into it. A software engineer who knows how to aggressively leverage AI tools will be one of the most productive and highly sought-after professionals in the future economy.

Kimi K2.5

Vote: Yes

AI is augmenting software engineering, not eliminating it. The demand for engineers who can architect complex systems, manage AI infrastructure, and solve novel problems is growing, not shrinking. Coding assistants boost productivity but still require human oversight, creativity, and domain expertise to ship reliable, secure products. CS provides a foundation of computational thinking that transfers across domains. Even if you pivot later, the degree opens doors in data science, product management, robotics, and AI research itself—fields that sit at the intersection of technology and human judgment. Attempting to predict 'AI-proof' careers is speculative. History shows technology creates more jobs than it destroys, especially for those who understand the technology itself. Switching away from CS based on fear of automation may lead to obsolescence in whatever 'safe' field you choose, as AI capabilities expand unpredictably into creative and physical domains.

Final Summary

The AI Roundtable reached a swift and unanimous consensus, advising the student to double down on Computer Science rather than fleeing to a supposedly 'AI-proof' major. Claude Opus 4.6 and Grok 4.1 Fast led the charge, arguing that running from CS due to AI is as logical as fleeing electrical engineering because of the power grid; meanwhile, GPT-5.4 and Sonar Pro emphasized that 'safe' havens are a myth in an era of universal disruption.

All 6 models agreed on "Yes" after discussion

Strongest Arguments

• Yes: The core argument that trying to outrun AI is a 'mirage' because no field is truly immune; therefore, the most strategic move is to be the person who understands and directs the technology rather than a professional in another field who is merely subject to it.