Google's Android VP Says It's Time to Rebrand Computer Science Degrees

In a thought-provoking commentary on the evolving tech landscape, Sameer Samat, Vice President of Android at Google, has called for a "rebranding" of the computer science degree. In an interview with Business Insider, Samat, who himself holds a computer science degree from the University of California, San Diego, expressed concerns that the field has become stereotyped and misunderstood in the AI era.

Computer Science Degree: Misunderstood and Oversimplified

“Just learning to do Java coding”

According to Sameer Samat, Vice President of Android at Google, many people now associate a computer science degree narrowly with learning to code, particularly in languages like Java.

“If that’s what you want to do, you don’t need a degree,”
he told Business Insider, emphasizing that this popular notion fails to capture the true essence of the discipline.
“It’s definitely not learning to code. It is the science, in my opinion, of solving problems.”

He argues that this misconception severely limits how young students and aspiring developers view the academic and professional pursuit of computer science.

The Real Value Lies in Analytical Thinking and Collaboration

Samat believes the true merit of a computer science education is in the core principles it instills—from analytical problem-solving to system design and collaborative thinking.

These competencies, he insists, are crucial—even as AI becomes increasingly dominant in the software engineering domain.

“It’s really important that it be something that you’re really excited about going deep in and really becoming a 5% top expert in the field,”
Samat advises, stressing that passion and expertise should drive the choice to pursue this field—not just the prospect of a high-paying job.

AI is Writing Code—But That’s Not the End of Computer Science

Is AI Making Coding Skills Obsolete?

As artificial intelligence tools like GitHub Copilot, ChatGPT, and others become more adept at generating code, questions around the future of traditional programming education are growing louder.

Even executives at Google and Salesforce have acknowledged that AI is already responsible for producing 30 to 50 percent of the code written at many companies today.

Still, Samat does not believe this renders computer science education irrelevant.

Foundational Knowledge Still Matters

Reflecting on his own education, Samat pointed out that while Assembly language was becoming outdated during his student years, studying it helped him gain deep insights into machine-level operations.

“Maybe someday it’ll be natural language, where we’re just talking about what we want, and something is building the underlying software for you,”
he said.
“But that future is still far off.”

This perspective underlines the importance of understanding computing fundamentals, even if the tools of the trade evolve.

A Call to Redefine Computer Science Education

In Samat’s view, it’s time to shift the narrative around what a computer science degree actually entails. Rather than being viewed as a narrow technical course, it should be seen as a multi-disciplinary program that prepares students to tackle complex challenges with logic, creativity, and strategic insight.

As the tech industry continues to be reshaped by AI, this kind of thinking may become even more valuable than basic coding proficiency.

Conclusion

Sameer Samat’s call for a rebranding of the computer science degree comes at a time when artificial intelligence is rapidly transforming how software is developed. With AI generating a significant portion of code in many companies, there's growing debate about whether a formal degree in computer science is still essential.

Samat, however, emphasizes that the true value of a CS degree lies not in coding itself, but in cultivating analytical thinking, system design skills, and the ability to solve real-world problems. While coding languages may come and go, the foundational principles taught in computer science remain deeply relevant.

As AI continues to automate routine programming tasks, the ability to think critically and understand systems at a deeper level will set professionals apart. Samat's message is clear: don’t pursue a computer science degree just for the job prospects—do it because you're genuinely passionate about the field and ready to become one of its top thinkers.