When the Computer Science Ladder Cracks

The provided text, an article titled "When the Computer Science Ladder Cracks" by Greg Twemlow, explores the profound impact of advanced AI on the software development industry and computer science education. It highlights how AI, like GitHub Copilot and Apple Intelligence, is automating traditional coding tasks, leading to a decline in junior developer jobs and CS enrolments. The article introduces the concept of a "Problem Definition Architect" (PDA) as a crucial new role, focusing on human skills like strategic vision, ethical sentryship, and creative problem-framing that AI cannot replicate. Furthermore, it discusses the potential for a "hardware chasm" where access to on-device AI creates digital inequality and underscores the importance of CS + X curricula to equip individuals for this evolving landscape. The piece contrasts the success of adopting these new "PDA" skills with the negative consequences of resisting the shift, illustrating the importance of adaptability in the face of technological change. Read the article.About the Author - Greg Twemlow writes and teaches at the intersection of technology, education, and human judgment. He works with educators and businesses to make AI explainable and assessable in classrooms and boardrooms — to ensure AI users show their process and own their decisions. His cognition protocol, the Context & Critique Rule™, is built on a three-step process: Evidence → Cognition → Discernment — a bridge from what’s scattered to what’s chosen. Context & Critique → Accountable AI™. © 2025 Greg Twemlow. “Context & Critique → Accountable AI” and “Context & Critique Rule” are unregistered trademarks (™).