Much has been said about how AI will change coding, but Perplexity CEO Aravind Srinivas has come up with one of the most evocative analogies yet.
Speaking on a podcast, Perplexity CEO Aravind Srinivas offered a compelling comparison between the future of coding and the iconic Steve Jobs-Steve Wozniak dynamic. He argued that AI coding tools are fundamentally shifting the role of the programmer from a builder of every line of code to more of a director or conductor. His take, invoking the famous scene from the Steve Jobs movie, adds a new layer of understanding to this evolving narrative.
“You are kind of a producer of the code now,” Srinivas said. “You no longer have to type everything yourself. That’s what’s changed.” He believes that in this environment, certain skills will become even more valuable. “So, I think the people with taste and clarity of thought and good problem-solving skills will really shine in this new era.”
He then drew a parallel to the relationship between Jobs and Wozniak: “There’s a scene between Jobs and Wozniak in this movie of Steve Jobs where Wozniak is super angry. He comes and asks, ‘I’m the guy who built the Apple I and II, and you know, you don’t even know how to write code. You’re not even a designer. But everybody knows who Steve Jobs is. Nobody gives me credit. Why is that? Jobs says, ‘Listen. Because I play the orchestra.'”
Jobs had famously been the ideas and creative person at Apple, while his co-founder, Steve Wozniak, was the engineer who wrote the code and figured out the technical details. “I think that’s going to be one way to think about the future. I think that’s going to be the thing. The fluent in thinking, the problem solvers, will be the ones who are creative people who are going to really outshine the rest.”
Srinivas’s analogy suggests that while technical proficiency will remain important, the ability to conceptualize, orchestrate, and refine code generated by AI will be paramount. The “coding” itself may become, to a certain extent, commoditized by AI tools, shifting the focus to higher-level design and decision-making. This is similar to how an orchestra conductor doesn’t necessarily play every instrument but shapes the overall performance.
This perspective carries significant implications for aspiring programmers. While mastering the syntax and nuances of specific programming languages will still be relevant, greater emphasis may need to be placed on cultivating skills like critical thinking, problem-solving, design thinking, and even communication, to effectively manage and direct the power of AI coding tools. The future, as Srinivas envisions, belongs not just to those who can write the code, but those who can compose the symphony.