Google's head of Android said the computer science major needs a 'rebrand'
"It is thought of as, 'go learn how to do Java coding,'" Samat said of the major, adding that if that's what you want to do, "you don't need a degree."
That's not how Samat, who studied computer science himself at UC San Diego, views a major in computer science.
"It's definitely not learning to code," Samat said. "It is the science, in my opinion, of solving problems."
While coding is a skill taught as part of the major, the discipline is more about breaking down problems, learning how to design a system, and collaborating on those tasks, Samat said.
As software engineering becomes more automated, more individuals are beginning to question the practicality of pursuing a computer science degree. AI is increasingly handling fundamental tasks like coding, making it harder for some computer science graduates to secure full-time positions and internships.
To be clear, Samat still thinks the degree is valuable and that "learning to code is really important," even as tools like Codex become more prominent and companies like Google and Meta and generate some code with AI.
The head of Android said that when he learned to code, people had just stopped learning Assembly, a low-level programming language, and started coding in other languages. Samat said he still learned how to write code with Assembly because it was instructive on how the machine underneath works.
There will always be a higher, more abstract language that computer programmers will learn to build new technology, Samat said.
"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," Samat said. But he doesn't think that time will come for "a while."
Students shouldn't become computer science majors just because they think others will find it valuable, Samat said. The Android executive said that mindset won't necessarily be shared by their prospective employer, and job seekers should have "passion" outside of computer science.
"I don't think that the degree enough is enough to make yourself relevant for some of the most important companies," Samat said, adding that you need to take it "to the next level."
Samat draws from personal experience, having launched two startups in his early twenties, one of which led to an introduction to Sergey Brin. He said that building a startup early in his career ultimately made him a more effective contributor when he later joined Google.
Whatever other interest you have, said Samat, "I think 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."

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
China Premier Warns of AI ‘Monopoly' as US Effort Quickens
(Bloomberg) — China will spearhead the creation of an international organization to jointly develop AI, the country's premier said, seeking to ensure that world-changing technology doesn't become the province of just a few nations or companies. Trump Awards $1.26 Billion Contract to Build Biggest Immigrant Detention Center in US The High Costs of Trump's 'Big Beautiful' New Car Loan Deduction Can This Bridge Ease the Troubled US-Canadian Relationship? Trump Administration Sues NYC Over Sanctuary City Policy Artificial intelligence harbors risks from widespread job losses to economic upheaval that require nations to work together to address, Premier Li Qiang told the World Artificial Intelligence Conference in Shanghai on Saturday. That means more international exchanges, Beijing's No. 2 official said during China's most important annual technology summit. Li didn't name any countries in his short address to kick off the event. But Chinese executives and officials have taken aim at Washington's efforts to curtail the Asian country's tech sector, including by slapping restrictions on the export of Nvidia Corp. chips crucial to AI development. On Saturday, Li acknowledged a shortage of semiconductors was a major bottleneck, but reaffirmed President Xi Jinping's call to establish policies to propel Beijing's ambitions. The government will now help create a body — loosely translated as the World AI Cooperation Organization — through which countries can share insights and talent. 'Currently, key resources and capabilities are concentrated in a few countries and a few enterprises. If we engage in technological monopoly, controls and restrictions, AI will become an exclusive game for a small number of countries and enterprises,' Li told hundreds of delegates huddled at the conference venue on the banks of Shanghai's iconic Huangpu river. China and the US are locked in a race to develop a technology with the potential to turbocharge economies and — over the long run — tip the balance of geopolitical power. This week, US President Donald Trump signed executive orders to loosen regulations and expand energy supplies for data centers — a call to arms to ensure companies like OpenAI and Google help safeguard America's lead in the post-ChatGPT era. At the same time, the breakout success of DeepSeek has inspired Chinese tech leaders and startups to accelerate research and roll out products such as open-sourced models, robots and AI agents. That parade of technology represents Chinese developers' efforts to set world standards and benchmarks, and grab a bigger slice of the global market. They also dovetail with Beijing's broader efforts to ensure self-reliance on critical technologies in the face of tensions between the world's economic superpowers. The weekend conference in Shanghai — gathering star founders, Beijing officials and deep-pocketed financiers by the thousands — is designed to catalyze that movement. The event, which has featured Elon Musk and Jack Ma in years past, was launched in 2018 to showcase China's cutting-edge technology. This year's attendance may hit a record because it's taking place at a critical juncture in the global race to lead the development of generative AI. It's already drawn some notable figures: Nobel Prize laureate Geoffrey Hinton and former Google chief Eric Schmidt were among industry heavyweights who met Shanghai party boss Chen Jining on Thursday, before they were due to speak at the conference. Going forward, China will seek to propel AI development in the Global South, Li said, referring to a loose gathering that includes Brazil and Africa. Schmidt later echoed Li's call for nations to work together — particularly China and the US. 'The upsides are phenomenal,' he told delegates. 'As the largest and most significant economic entities in the world, the United States and China should collaborate on these issues,' he said. 'We have a vested interest to keep the world stable, keep the world not at war, to keep things peaceful, to make sure we have human control of these tools.' —With assistance from Jing Li and Charlie Zhu. (Updates with Schmidt's comments from the 11th paragraph.) Burning Man Is Burning Through Cash Confessions of a Laptop Farmer: How an American Helped North Korea's Wild Remote Worker Scheme It's Not Just Tokyo and Kyoto: Tourists Descend on Rural Japan Elon Musk's Empire Is Creaking Under the Strain of Elon Musk A Rebel Army Is Building a Rare-Earth Empire on China's Border ©2025 Bloomberg L.P. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Block AI Labs Empowers Startups with Affordable, AI-Driven Software Development from U.S. and Colombia
Leveraging Medellín's rising tech talent and bilingual support, Block AI Labs delivers smart solutions for global startups. AUSTIN, Texas, July 26, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Block AI Labs, founded by tech entrepreneurs Daniel and David Shnader, is transforming the way startups access high-quality software development by combining U.S. leadership with top-tier engineering talent in Medellín, Colombia. The company specializes in affordable, full-stack development and AI integration services, supporting emerging startups across the U.S., Canada, Australia, and other global tech leveraging Medellín's fast-growing digital nomad and IT community, Block AI Labs delivers powerful, scalable software solutions with bilingual (English and Spanish) support. This cross-border model ensures seamless collaboration, fast turnaround times, and access to global expertise — all at a startup-friendly price AI Labs is the driving force behind several innovative AI-based platforms, including: – AI voice assistant and chatbot automation tools – AI-powered local SEO and social media automation – Bookkeeping and tax return software for freelancers and solopreneurs – Fintech solution for automated credit card dispute resolution and identity verification With a focus on innovation, communication, and execution, Block AI Labs helps startups go from idea to launch faster, smarter, and more efficiently. The company's international footprint, bilingual team, and proven track record make it a trusted development partner for founders and innovators around the more information, visit Shnadersupport@ ID: View original content: SOURCE Block AI Labs Sign in to access your portfolio
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Here are 3 ways to think about Nvidia stock
Fortunes have been made by many, thanks to investing in chip giant Nvidia (NASDAQ: NVDA). Nvidia stock has soared 1,576% over the past five years. It is now the most valuable listed company in the world. I continue to weigh my options when it comes to investing. I would be happy to own Nvidia stock in my portfolio — but I am not willing to pay the current price. In making my decisions, I have been trying to think about the share from different perspectives. Here are three of them. Like Amazon before the dotcom crash Artificial intelligence (AI) has some signs of being a stock market bubble. If that bubble bursts, for example because computing power progress means future chip demand is much less than expected, it would likely have a big impact on Nvidia. That helps explain why I am nervous about buying at the current Nvidia stock price. If it falls down I would then be nursing a paper loss, perhaps a sizeable one. Then again, Amazon fell 94% between the dotcom boom of November 1999 and September 2001. Still, since then it has gone up 76,600%. As a long-term investor, I do not mind sitting on a paper loss (even a sizeable one) if I continue to believe in the long-term investment case for a share. But while Amazon in 1999 could be an interesting comparison for Nvidia stock today, there is no guarantee latter would bounce back the way the former did. Amazon's market grew significantly. The market for AI chips may keep growing fast – but it could also be that after initial installations are complete, demand falls. A bubble waiting to burst? That leads me onto another potential way to view Nvidia stock: as a massive bubble waiting to burst. After all, the price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio is 56. That is higher than I would be willing to pay, though large tech stocks often do command high P/E ratios. But earnings have exploded at Nvidia in recent years. Last year's basic earnings per share of $2.97 were far more than double the prior year's $1.21 – and around 25 times higher than just five years previously. If the surging demand for AI chips turns out to be a blip rather than a long-term trend, Nvidia's eanings could come crashing back to earth. In such a scenario, even if Nvidia remained solidly profitable, its stock price may move far below where it currently stands. This is the risk that most puts me off investing at the current share price. Success story set to grow A third scenario could be that Nvidia might be like Microsoft or Apple at multiple points in their history – massively successful yet set to grow further, boosting an already costly-looking share price. Apple stock is up 131% in the past five years. But five years ago, Apple was already massively successful and one of the biggest companies on the market. Nvidia's proprietary technology, large customer base and proven business model have brought it a long way in a few years. Maybe it can do the same again over the next few years. The post Here are 3 ways to think about Nvidia stock appeared first on The Motley Fool UK. More reading 5 Stocks For Trying To Build Wealth After 50 One Top Growth Stock from the Motley Fool C Ruane has no position in any of the shares mentioned. The Motley Fool UK has recommended Amazon, Apple, Microsoft, and Nvidia. Views expressed on the companies mentioned in this article are those of the writer and therefore may differ from the official recommendations we make in our subscription services such as Share Advisor, Hidden Winners and Pro. Here at The Motley Fool we believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. Motley Fool UK 2025