Coding 501: Staying ahead of AI

IN FOCUS

In today’s newsletter, we look at:

• The edtech startup helping coders fend off the threat of AI
• OpenAI’s free online course on ChatGPT for K-12 teachers

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Hi there,

I learned to drive later than most people. While my first time driving was back in high school, it wasn’t until my late twenties that I finally got the hang of it.

At first, I made the classic rookie mistake of thinking I could master driving by watching several tutorial videos. But once I got behind the wheel, I realized that no amount of watching could prepare me for the real thing.

The key to learning? Actually driving. I’m pretty sure the current F1 champion Max Verstappen didn’t get to where he is by spending all his time watching videos of Michael Schumacher.

Coding, it turns out, isn’t much different. Watching others write code or following browser-based tutorials can only take you so far. That’s the philosophy behind CodeCrafters, a startup teaching developers how to build popular tools from scratch, mirroring the real-world conditions they’ll face on the job.

This week, our Big Story explores how CodeCrafters, which is backed by Instagram and Dropbox co-founders, is leveraging this “build your own X” method to help programmers stay ahead of the curve in a world where AI is writing more and more code. 

Speaking of AI, this week’s Hot Take discusses OpenAI’s continued push to bring ChatGPT to the education sector. The company recently released a free online course that serves as a primer for K-12 teachers interested in integrating its AI model to their work routines.

— Glenn

THE BIG STORY

Instagram co-founder backs startup helping devs fend off AI

Image credit: Timmy Loen

CodeCrafters’ platform helps experienced programmers stay ahead of AI through its “build your own X” curriculum.

THE HOT TAKE

DEEP READS