Generative AI in Computer Science Education: Challenges and Opportunities
Abstract
Generative AI is a disruptive technology that has the potential to transform many aspects of how computer science is taught. Like previous innovations such as high-level programming languages and block-based programming languages, generative AI lowers the technical expertise necessary to create working programs, bringing the power of computation to more people. The programming process is already changing as a result of its presence, even for expert programmers. It also poses significant challenges to educators around re-thinking assessment as some well-established approaches may no longer be viable. Many traditional programming assignments can be completed using generative AI tools with minimal effort, thus potentially undermining learning. In this Element, the authors explore both the opportunities and the challenges for computer science education resulting from the widespread availability of generative AI.
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Neither industry nor higher education institutions yet know how to proceed with knowledge management in the AI-assisted era.
“Neither industry nor higher education institutions yet know how to proceed with knowledge management in the AI-assisted era (Franklin et al. 2025).”
From Echoes of AI: Investigating the downstream effects of AI assistants on software maintainability (2026) · cites this paper as Franklin et al. 2025
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Echoes of AI: Investigating the downstream effects of AI assistants on software maintainability
Borg, M., Hewett, D., Hagatulah, N., Couderc, N., Söderberg, E., Graham, D., Kini, U., & Farley, D. (2026) · Empirical Software Engineering · doi:10.1007/s10664-026-10889-1 · Cited by 4 · see citing works
- Authors
- Franklin, D., Denny, P., Gonzalez-Maldonado, D. A., & Tran, M.
- Affiliations
- University of Chicago (US)
- University of Auckland (NZ)
- Venue
- Cambridge University Press eBooks
- Publisher
- Cambridge University Press
- Published
- 2025-04-05
- OpenAlex
- W4410141430
- Cited by
- 20
- References
- 16
- Citations by year
- 2026: 18 · 2025: 2
- FWCI
- 69.42
- Type
- book
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Cambridge University Press eBooks (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Computer Science › Computer Science Applications › Teaching and Learning Programming
- Physical Sciences › Computer Science › Information Systems › Artificial Intelligence in Education
- Physical Sciences › Computer Science › Information Systems › Software Engineering Research
- Keywords
- generative AI, computer science education, programming education, programming exercises, assessment, programming process, AI-generated code
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