Now's the Time: Computer Science Must Evolve to Emphasize Software and Systems Engineering with Artificial Intelligence (AI)

Fuente: arXiv
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Main Authors: Sekharan, Chandra N., Thiruvathukal, George K.
Format: Preprint
Published: 2026
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author Sekharan, Chandra N.
Thiruvathukal, George K.
author_facet Sekharan, Chandra N.
Thiruvathukal, George K.
contents Computer science (CS) education needs to evolve to support software and artificial intelligence (AI) systems engineering, and it needs to happen now -- precisely because the core intellectual contributions of CS have never been more important. We argue that traditional curricula, built around programming, data structures, and algorithms as ends in themselves, must be reframed so that these topics become foundational building blocks within a systems- and engineering-centered education. Graduates should be prepared not to compete with AI on routine coding tasks, but to design, orchestrate, verify, and own complex AI-enabled systems operating under real-world constraints. More importantly, computer science education should be geared toward preparing students for future disruptions. The broad history of computing is marked by one disruptive technology after another, requiring us to rise to the moment instead of merely acquiescing to it.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2604_27230
institution arXiv
publishDate 2026
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Now's the Time: Computer Science Must Evolve to Emphasize Software and Systems Engineering with Artificial Intelligence (AI)
Sekharan, Chandra N.
Thiruvathukal, George K.
Software Engineering
Computer science (CS) education needs to evolve to support software and artificial intelligence (AI) systems engineering, and it needs to happen now -- precisely because the core intellectual contributions of CS have never been more important. We argue that traditional curricula, built around programming, data structures, and algorithms as ends in themselves, must be reframed so that these topics become foundational building blocks within a systems- and engineering-centered education. Graduates should be prepared not to compete with AI on routine coding tasks, but to design, orchestrate, verify, and own complex AI-enabled systems operating under real-world constraints. More importantly, computer science education should be geared toward preparing students for future disruptions. The broad history of computing is marked by one disruptive technology after another, requiring us to rise to the moment instead of merely acquiescing to it.
title Now's the Time: Computer Science Must Evolve to Emphasize Software and Systems Engineering with Artificial Intelligence (AI)
topic Software Engineering
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2604.27230