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AI & The University - Carson Gross | SSW 2026

Software Should Work

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Abstract: The last year has seen the dramatic emergence of widespread AI-based coding practices. This has shaken many developers' faith in computer programming both as a career and as a vocation. It has also shaken University departments, especially in computer science: students are using AI to complete assignments, take tests, and, as one would expect with students, to avoid as much work as possible.

In this talk, Carson, who teaches computer science at Montana State University, will consider the position of the University in the age of AI tools: the good, the bad, and the ugly. Perhaps surprisingly, he will present an optimistic take on how the University can, with some changes, provide an excellent platform for preparing students for a fruitful career in technology.

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Carson Gross: https://bigsky.software
HTMX: https://htmx.org/
Software Should Work: https://softwareshould.work

Thank you to our Software Should Work 2026 sponsors:
Antithesis: https://antithesis.com
RWX: https://www.rwx.com
Paytient: https://www.paytient.com
Redbud VC: https://redbud.vc
ParadeDB: https://www.paradedb.com

20 Comments

@darkking4748 1 month ago

Damn I wish I coulda had this guy as my prof

@10e999 1 month ago

28:50 "You guys have to deal with a level of temptation that no generation has ever faced before you."
My favourite quote of the talk. Simply fantastic.

@syylvia 1 month ago

5:12

woohoo student 22! we love you!!!!!!!!!

@JobvanderZwan 1 month ago (edited)

For the record, from what I understand the "mashmallow test", originally framed as showing a correlation between the self-control of a child and later life success, has mostly been shown to instead be a sign of how much the child trusts the adult. If they don't, of course they won't bother resisting temptation. But trust issues are not the same as self-control issues, and may very well be justified based on that child's personal history. The level of trust children have is a proxy for whether or not they have a good support network. Which is a much more likely explanation for the alleged correlation between not immediately eating the marshmallow and later life success (EDIT: which later research has disputed, btw), compared to concluding that the child lacks self-control. How that applies to these students is left as an exercise for the professors and other adults in their lives.

@youtubewatcher1351 1 month ago

Very grounded takes, would have loved this guy as my prof fo sho

@theoryofmine7473 1 month ago

One of the best guys I ever worked with was a pianist in a hotel lobby before getting his first job in development.

@dv_thai 1 month ago

damm, this conference is soooo good

@jl6723 1 month ago (edited)

They got THE Grug-Brained Developer? Holy shit. The lineup here. This is the moment of all time.

@hyperborean42 1 month ago

Very good talk, thank you!

@psychodriveskip 1 month ago

The BDP-1 is fucking rad. We worked with similar emulators in my 2nd year back in the early 2000s but nothing so visually satisfying. This brings back very positive memories and is probably the single best use of AI I've seen to date

@AK-vx4dy 1 month ago (edited)

@22:12 About 35 years ago in my country on CS this kind of imaginary machine was a standard, first it was tool to learn simplified computer inne work an binary, later to learn assembly, finally writing own version of such emulator in higher level language was one of the final tasks... i wasn't able to attend CS as as student (to many candidates for one place) but i wrote one such emulator for one who have more luck.

@limalimon1738 1 month ago

Awesome talk. I'm glad he also mentioned the positives of AI in university (even when some of the benefits were found as side effects!)

Keep it up

@mattymattffs 1 month ago

My thesis supervisor was a real developer instead of an academic. "Only" a masters instead of a PhD. It was much much better for me.

@bricebrosig2912 1 month ago

sorry, the marshmallow thing?
Great talk!

@nWestie 1 month ago

I recently graduated from a (robotics) engineering program, imo they're struggling heavily with the same issues. AI is forcing them to realise their testing isnt up to snuff, and students are struggling to see a reason to understand fundamental skills.
There's another argument for good assesments, they help hold the shorter-term motivated students in until they realize the benefit. Ex: i loved circuits, learned a bunch, but the tests were meaningless, and many people took advantage and learned nearly nothing. came into my sevond year electronics and felt comfortable, while most people were struggling with concepts from the last class that they never picked up

@Cosmic_Koala 8 days ago

"Free of the pressures of the workforce"

Compared to university and the cost of failure? In the workforce you at least have the possibility to fail upwards.

@JhoferGamer 1 month ago

I think Computer Science should be about the theoretical and the practical aspects of programming should be moved to a sort of trade school.

@nara_visuals 6 days ago

ahaa, the HTMX guy

@InfiniteQuest86 1 month ago

Honestly, you did this to yourselves. When I graduated in 2008, we did tons of projects and coding. Everything was graded automated, had to pass tests we didn't know about. Then every quiz and test was in person. Why did it move away from that? That's just CS. Take home tests are insane. You are testing nothing. Everyone should get a 100% on a take home.

@10e999 1 month ago (edited)

I'm surprised that the "you don't need to teach how to program in CS" debate is not resolved by the existence of the software engineering program.
Physicists are not expected to be competent at circuit design like electrical engineers.
Biologists are not expected to be competent at healing people like medical doctors.
Chemists are not expected to be competent at building factories like chemical engineers.