February 2025: AI revolutionizes tech hiring: Sharan highlights essential computer science skills in "Globes" interview

An article published in Globes – a daily evening financial newspaper in Israel – discusses the impact of AI on the job market for junior software developers in Israel, underscoring the challenges faced by recent graduates and the increasing reliance on AI tools by tech companies. The article describes the evolving role of AI in software development and education, highlighting insights from various industry and academic leaders.

Tech companies in Israel are cutting back on hiring junior developers as AI tools prove to be faster, cheaper, and more accurate in fulfilling certain software development tasks. Recent graduates are thus struggling to find entry-level positions, owing also to the high demand for experienced candidates and the saturation of the job market. Industry leaders, including those from Meta and Salesforce, have noted significant productivity gains from AI, leading to reduced hiring.

Prof. Roded Sharan, Edmond J. Safra member, and head of the School of Computer Science & AI at TAU, who was interviewed for this article, admits that AI is revolutionizing the curriculum. He notes that more than half of the faculty and students are engaged in AI-focused research, leading to the school's renaming to the "Blavatnik School of Computer Science and AI." Despite the advancements in AI, Prof. Sharan emphasizes the irreplaceable value of fundamental computer science concepts such as abstraction, problem decomposition, proof, criticism, and independent thinking. He illustrates this with an Isaac Asimov story, emphasizing the need for human oversight and critical thinking in the face of complex problems.