Skip to Content
Uncategorized

Bill Gates Is Puzzled

Bill Gates is reportedly puzzled about why more students aren’t going into computer science. Gates said Monday that even if young people don’t know that salaries and job openings in computer science are on the rise, they’re hooked on so…
July 21, 2005

Bill Gates is reportedly puzzled about why more students aren’t going into computer science.

Gates said Monday that even if young people don’t know that salaries and job openings in computer science are on the rise, they’re hooked on so much technology – cell phones, digital music players, instant messaging, Internet browsing – that it’s puzzling why more don’t want to grow up to be programmers.

One person at Gates’ research faculty summit, a dean of engineering and applied science at Princeton University, said most students she talks to “fear that computer science would doom them to isolating workdays fraught with boredom — nothing but writing reams of code.” I guess you have to take them at their word. I wonder, too, if stories about 40-year-old programmers being obsolete now, and subsequently laid off, might not be part of it. Software technology changes pretty fast, and it doesn’t seem to be slowing down any. It’s one thing for someone in their 20s or 30s to deal with; but it’s a tough pace to keep up one’s whole life. Just wondering.

Keep Reading

Most Popular

This new data poisoning tool lets artists fight back against generative AI

The tool, called Nightshade, messes up training data in ways that could cause serious damage to image-generating AI models. 

Rogue superintelligence and merging with machines: Inside the mind of OpenAI’s chief scientist

An exclusive conversation with Ilya Sutskever on his fears for the future of AI and why they’ve made him change the focus of his life’s work.

Data analytics reveal real business value

Sophisticated analytics tools mine insights from data, optimizing operational processes across the enterprise.

Driving companywide efficiencies with AI

Advanced AI and ML capabilities revolutionize how administrative and operations tasks are done.

Stay connected

Illustration by Rose Wong

Get the latest updates from
MIT Technology Review

Discover special offers, top stories, upcoming events, and more.

Thank you for submitting your email!

Explore more newsletters

It looks like something went wrong.

We’re having trouble saving your preferences. Try refreshing this page and updating them one more time. If you continue to get this message, reach out to us at customer-service@technologyreview.com with a list of newsletters you’d like to receive.