Given AI, should I still consider becoming a computer programmer? – Yes, and

I like the point about juniors needing to actually write code rather than relying entirely on AI tools.

One thing I’ve noticed while experimenting with AI coding tools is that they’re great at getting you unstuck or generating small pieces of code, but they often introduce unnecessary complexity when solving larger problems. If you don't already understand what "good" code should look like, it's really easy to accept something that technically works but is poorly structured.

In that sense, AI feels less like a replacement for programming and more like a productivity layer on top of it. The people who benefit most seem to be those who already understand how systems should be designed.

For beginners especially, I think the idea of using AI as a "TA" rather than a code generator is a really good mental model.

I have 53 years of experience in programming. I taught CS at 4 Universities. I have led an open source project for 25 years. I know 60 languages.

My professional advice is "Don't learn to program".

Your question is like asking... should I learn to shoe horses?