Is Trump's budget cut for STEM linked to growing AI influence in coding?
Will AI take jobs? Will it do everything that humans are capable of? These questions often cross our minds, whether we are employees or still students. The progress that AI has made in the past few years has changed the way we see the world.A recent report by The Atlantic noted that major tech companies, including Microsoft and Alphabet in US, are already using AI to write code-accounting for up to 25% of total output-because of the accuracy and efficiency it offers.advertisementThis may seem worrisome, but it is true. AI is no longer the future; it is the present, and companies are quickly adapting to this new reality.
The US President has recently proposed cuts in federal funding for STEM education. Now that companies are increasingly relying on AI, Trump's focus raises questions about whether STEM education will remain a mainstream priority in the future.Maybe this move by Trump is not making headlines now, but there is a strong chance that the global landscape will follow suit, and more companies will join this trend of using AI for other tasks as well.Manufacturing industries around the world have already integrated automation effectively. In sectors like automobile manufacturing, machines and AI systems play a dominant role.The medical field is also no longer untouched. Machines and AI are now assisting in surgeries. Recently, it has been observed that people are even using tools like ChatGPT to seek solutions for mental health issues.advertisementBut what has the US president proposed for STEM education cuts and what the companies actually want?AI WRITING CODE: THE SHIFT IN COMPANY OPERATIONSAI isn't just changing how code is written-it's starting to reshape who writes it. According to The Atlantic, the number of 22-27-year-olds working in computer science and math jobs has dropped by 8% in recent years.While some of this is due to layoffs, automation seems to be quietly taking over.Even big players like Microsoft and Alphabet have admitted that AI is now doing a good share of the coding. At newer firms like Anthropic, junior coders are being replaced altogether by AI tools.It raises a big question-if AI is already this good at writing code, what will it mean for the next generation of developers?A new Pew Research Center survey in 2025 says nearly half of Americans -- 48%-think software engineers will be hit hardest by AI in the coming years.That's more than those worried about teachers, journalists, or even accountants.Until now, it was jobs with routine physical tasks that seemed most at risk. But things are changing fast. Now, high-skilled tech roles are in the spotlight.This shift is forcing universities to rethink. Should computer science departments shrink? Or should they start blending tech with fields like ethics, biology, or design?Students, too, face tough questions. If AI can now write code, what will make a human coder stand out? Maybe the edge lies in combining logic with creativity-thinking not just about coding, but how systems work, and how people use them.Computer science isn't fading. It's just changing shape. AI and cybersecurity roles are still in demand. But the bar is rising-and fast.TRUMP'S NEW BOMB ON STEM EDUCATIONadvertisementThe US education system is going through a bumpy ride, and this time, it's not just about rising tuition fees. Former President Donald Trump's recent proposal to slash federal funding for STEM education has raised alarm among educators, scientists, and tech leaders.Trump's administration has called for a 75% cut to STEM programs through the National Science Foundation (NSF). That's not a small number-especially when you consider what's at stake: research, technical training, and the future of jobs in areas like AI, biotech, and cybersecurity.What's puzzling is the timing. Just days after praising technical education in Michigan, Trump's budget now threatens the very system that supports it. Community colleges, which train millions in essential industries like healthcare and manufacturing, could be hit the hardest.advertisementThese colleges don't just offer degrees-they offer pathways into jobs that don't need a four-year diploma but still demand high-level skills.International students, who often come to the US for STEM degrees, may also feel the pinch. For over 75 years, the NSF has quietly supported this entire ecosystem. Schools like Forsyth Tech say their biotech programs wouldn't even exist without it. Now, that support may disappear.Industry experts are already speaking out. Microsoft President Brad Smith and other leaders have warned that these cuts won't just hurt students-they could weaken national security and tech innovation in the long run.So, what happens if this proposal becomes reality? Will American colleges start cutting back STEM courses? Will fewer students pursue careers in science and engineering?It's a question with no clear answer yet-but it's one that could shape the future of US education and its place in the world.- Ends
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The Hindu
34 minutes ago
- The Hindu
The sorry state of South Asian economic integration
In the year so far there were two major incidents that shook India's economic and national security landscape: the reciprocal tariffs imposed by the Trump administration and the terror attack in Pahalgam. While these events may seem unrelated, their underlying causes and consequences are deeply interlinked, highlighting the urgent need for a comprehensive regional approach to security and economic stability. Economic and national security are often discussed separately, but they are deeply intertwined. Border disputes among South Asian nations significantly hamper trade and economic cooperation, preventing the region from achieving its full potential. Economic instability fuels unrest, while security threats disrupt trade and investment. No country can achieve lasting security without economic prosperity, and vice versa. One of the least integrated The South Asian region is one of the least economically integrated regions in the world. Intraregional trade of South Asia (South Asian Free Trade Area or SAFTA) accounts for barely 5% to 7% of its total international trade, which is the lowest when compared to other trading blocs. In contrast, intraregional trade accounts for approximately 45% of total international trade within the European Union (EU), 22% within the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), and around 25% within the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). Current trade among South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) countries is just around $23 billion, far below the estimated $67 billion. According to a United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP) study, South Asia's potential trade could have reached $172 billion by 2020, which means over 86% of its capacity remains unexploited. Even if we consider this assessment to be optimistic, the immense potential for significantly increasing intra-SAARC trade can never be denied. South Asia, the most populous region of the world (25% of the world's population), represents a combined market of only $5 trillion in GDP. On the other side, the EU, with 5.8% of the world's population, accounts for $18 trillion in GDP, and NAFTA has a GDP of $24.8 trillion. This clearly shows the underexploited capacity of the South Asian region. There is much potential As estimated by the UNESCAP South Asia Gravity Model of intraregional trade, in spite of trade liberalisation under SAFTA, intraregional trade in South Asia is less than a third of its potential. Bangladesh has the highest unexploited proportion, at 93%, followed by the Maldives (88%), Pakistan (86%), Afghanistan (83%), and Nepal (76%). Because of terror insurgencies and border disputes, trade between India and Pakistan has seen a significant decline over the years. Bilateral trade between India and Pakistan fell from $2.41 billion in 2018 to $1.2 billion in 2024. Further, Pakistani exports to India fell from $547.5 million in 2019 to just $480,000 in 2024. South Asia's trade-to-GDP ratio decreased from 47.30% in 2022 to 42.94% in 2024. Additionally, the World Bank reported a softened growth forecast of 5.8% for 2025, down from 6% in 2024. As imports have grown faster than exports for all South Asian countries, the trade deficit of the subregion has widened from $204.1 billion in 2015 to $339 billion in 2022. However, the value of overall trade, covering both exports and imports, increased significantly between 2015-22 to approximately $1,335 billion. Despite SAFTA, trading with neighbours is not 'free'. The inefficient trade governing mechanism and an unpromising political environment increase the cost of intraregional trade, which is one of the major reasons for significantly smaller intra-regional trade. Costs of trading within South Asia remain high at 114% of the value of the goods being exported, making trading with neighbouring nations more expensive or less competitive, compared to trading with distant partners. For instance, South Asia's bilateral trade cost with the U.S. is only 109% despite the vastly greater distance. It is about 20% more costly for a company in India to trade with Pakistan than with Brazil, which is 22 times farther away. This discourages the formation of regional value chains despite the geographic contiguity. In contrast, intraregional trade costs for ASEAN are some 40% lower than intra-SAARC trade costs, at 76%, creating high incentives for interdependence in that bloc. The main hurdles The low level of intraregional trade in South Asia demonstrates the absence of strategic policies. SAFTA and other regional agreements have the potential to create greater economic linkages. 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Time of India
37 minutes ago
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Oil falls more than 4% as Iran's retaliation focuses on regional US military bases
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Economic Times
39 minutes ago
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Customer service AI startup Decagon raises $131 million
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