Is Computer Science Dead?

A black tile with the Brain Trust 2026 Logo and the text "Is Computer Science Dead?"

As Large Language Models and automated reasoning engines move beyond syntax to handle complex software engineering tasks, the discipline of Computer Science faces a fundamental identity crisis. For decades, the “low-level” mastery of algorithms, data structures, and manual implementation was the gatekeeper to the field. Today, as AI begins to abstract away the implementation layer, we must ask: Is the traditional core of Computer Science becoming obsolete, or is it simply being liberated from the mechanics of coding? This session moves beyond the superficial “AI can code” debate to examine the structural shifts in computation and their impacts on education and the workplace.

Speakers:

Stefanie Tompkins (Moderator), Ken Anderson, Kathryn McKinley, Maria Cuevas

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