The New Programming Language Is English
When Thinking Matters More Than Coding
Stop. Wait. What? I didn’t expect to hear this.
Some of the most well-known investors in Silicon Valley are now questioning whether learning engineering is still necessary for success.
“I’m pretty unconvinced anymore that you should bother even learning many of the hard sciences and maths that we used to as underpinnings… Like, I used to believe that the right thing to do was for everybody to go into engineering. I'm not necessarily as convinced as I used to be,” said Chamath Palihapitiya.
Coming from a Silicon Valley investor—and an engineer by training—this was shocking to hear. First, I respect Chamath’s ability to rethink his own assumptions. But beyond that, his comment signals a deeper shift in the skills shaping the future.
Chamath’s perspective echoes a growing anxiety among students that technical skills may soon be obsolete. A recent article in The Guardian1 interviewed Robert, a 19-year-old math student, who voiced the same doubts:
“I feel like I’m wasting my time and money. By the time I graduate in four years, AI is going to be way better than humans at engineering—and everything! What’s even the point of getting this degree if the jobs will all be automated away?”
The Competitive Edge: Creativity, Judgment, and Taste
Robert's fear isn't isolated. A McKinsey report projects that by 2030, the demand for social and emotional skills will grow by 26% in the U.S. and 22% in Europe across all industries2. The reason? As AI takes over technical tasks, uniquely human skills—creativity, judgment, and emotional intelligence—are becoming more valuable than ever.
For decades, engineering was the golden ticket to success. So, does this mean engineering is obsolete?
Not at all.
This is not a post against engineering or technology—in fact, I believe we can create better, more human solutions if we combine engineering with the arts and humanities (who said Leonardo da Vinci?).
Chamath expands on this shift:
“You can use these AI agents and deep research, and all of a sudden they replace a lot of that skill. So what’s left over? It’s creativity, it’s judgment, it’s history, it’s psychology.”
In other words, the ability to write code is no longer the differentiator. AI can do that. The real advantage now? Non-linear thinking. Taste. Judgment. Empathy. Creativity.
This caught me off guard.
Palihapitiya is a member of the All In Podcast, one of my go-to listens for tech and startups. The show is deeply rooted in engineering and hard sciences—the podcast is basically the epitome of Silicon Valley thinking. It’s not exactly where you’d go for a conversation about the integration of humanities and technology. And yet, even here, we’re seeing a slight shift in perspective. In fact, this discussion followed another conversation on the podcast about taste.
Even the most hardcore engineers and investors are beginning to recognize a crucial truth: Technology alone isn’t enough. The real unlock comes from the people who understand human nature—those with emotional intelligence, strategic thinking, and creativity.
As always, if you’d like to discuss how to implement any of the ideas in the piece in your own organization, feel free to reach out
AI Levels the Playing Field—But Creativity Wins
For decades, technology determined how humans worked, not the other way around. This shift represents an opportunity to realign technology with human needs. Imagine a world where AI handles a nurse's paperwork, allowing more time for patient care—a beautiful goal to have: technology serving people rather than the reverse.
AI’s true power isn’t in replacing creativity but in amplifying it—by lowering barriers and making advanced tools accessible to more people than ever before. But while AI raises the baseline of what’s possible, it doesn’t eliminate the gap between good and great. The true edge still lies in originality, judgment, and human ingenuity. There is still room and need for human originality and taste; for human creation, and human selection.
While AI can automate tasks, synthesize information, and generate impressive content, true originality remains uniquely human. Most creative work involves rearranging existing concepts, but what separates average from extraordinary is the final 10%—that crucial edge of insight, creative judgment, and innovation that AI still cannot replicate.
At the same time, AI is rapidly automating skill-based work, making computation-driven expertise less of a competitive advantage. What’s emerging instead is the primacy of taste—defined as the ability to curate, discern, and apply aesthetic or conceptual judgment. In creative and strategic fields, selecting what works and resonates will matter more than raw technical ability.
This shift is giving rise to what we might call “AI alchemists”—those who don’t just use AI but elevate it, blending technical capability with human ingenuity to turn raw AI output into something truly valuable.
So what does this fundamental shift mean for business leaders, employees, and organizations?
Lessons for Business Leaders & Organizations
AI isn’t just changing how work gets done—it’s expanding the talent pool and reshaping the skills that matter most. The competitive edge is no longer about mastering code but mastering how to think, create, and direct AI effectively.
AI Lowers Barriers, Expanding the Talent Pool
Investor and thinker Naval Ravikant, speaking on the same episode of All In Podcast, captured this shift perfectly:
"Everyone who was intimidated by computers before should no longer be intimidated. You don’t need to program anymore in some esoteric language."
Just as digital tools allowed more people to enter filmmaking, writing, and content creation, AI is now democratizing access to traditionally high-IQ fields like engineering and data analysis. This means businesses can no longer assume that only technical specialists will drive innovation.
Expect competition from unconventional talent pools—creatives, generalists, and strategic thinkers who can leverage AI without traditional technical backgrounds. The best ideas may come from those who previously lacked access to complex tools.
Prompt Engineering Is the New Critical Thinking
This democratization doesn’t mean expertise is obsolete—it means that the way we interact with AI is now more important than the ability to build it.
AI is only as good as the questions we ask and the problems we frame. Knowing how to construct prompts, refine outputs, and apply AI-generated insights requires a new kind of thinking: nonlinear, abstract, and deeply creative.
Learning & Development (L&D) Managers should train employees not just to use AI, but to think in ways AI cannot—fostering strategic questioning, interdisciplinary problem-solving, and creative reasoning.
The Future Belongs to Human Thinkers
AI will reshape industries. It will empower those who think strategically and creatively, but the ability to innovate, to generate something truly original—that remains uniquely human.
And in a world where AI can write the code, maybe the most valuable skill isn’t programming—but knowing what to tell it.
The future doesn’t belong to those who can build AI—it belongs to those who know what to create with it.
Thanks for reading,
NIR
Listen to the episode. Discussion starts at 01:02
Final Thoughts
Want to bring fresh thinking into your business? Let’s talk. I help teams foster innovation, collaborate with creatives, and build cultures where curiosity thrives. Reach out, and let’s make it happen.
If you enjoy Business Artistry and think a friend or colleague would benefit from it, please share it with them. Just click on the button.
I’d love to hear from you—whether it’s your thoughts, suggestions, critiques, or even cool stories and ideas. Feel free to drop me a note at nir [at] theartian.com, leave a comment, or send me a message.
Thanks
Nir
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/article/2024/sep/02/whats-the-point-of-degrees-if-jobs-become-automated-how-to-stay-motivated-amid-ais-rapid-acceleration?utm_source=chatgpt.com
https://www.mckinsey.com/featured-insights/future-of-work/skill-shift-automation-and-the-future-of-the-workforce