NO, AlphaCode 2 Won't Make Competitive Programming Obsolete
Why AI Tools Like Google's Alpha Code 2 DO NOT Diminish The Value of Competitive Programming
This week, Google made some amazing announcements about the latest version of its AI powered code generator - AlphaCode 2.
This AI whiz kid, powered by Gemini, is turning heads faster than a dog at a squirrel convention. It's been blitzing through programming contests, outperforming a whopping 85% of human competitors.
Naturally, this has sparked a digital wildfire of memes and doomsday predictions about the future of competitive programming. “Is this the end of human coders?” the internet cries. Spoiler alert: It's not. At the risk of sounding like a broken record player, NO, for the 1000th time! AI has not and will not diminish the value of human competitive coding.
If you are convinced, no need to read further. Close this article get on with your next coding problem. If you have doubts, read on.
Understanding AlphaCode 2
Although we are yet to see it in action, if you are to go by Google’s technical paper on AlphaCode 2, it pretty much sounds like the Usain Bolt of programming contests, solving nearly twice as many problems as its predecessor and dazzling us by outperforming about 85% of human competitors in a range of programming languages like Python, Java, C++, and Go.
But how does it do its magic? AlphaCode 2 uses a cocktail of “policy models” to conjure up multiple code samples for each problem. These samples are then filtered, clustered to avoid redundancy, and scored to select the best solution. It's like having a brainstorming session with a thousand versions of yourself and picking the best idea.
What really makes AlphaCode 2 stand out is its ability to handle complex math and theoretical computer science problems. It employs dynamic programming, breaking down complex problems into manageable bites – a skill that it previously lacked.
However, before we start building AI shrines, it's important to note that AlphaCode 2 isn't without its quirks. It relies on a trial-and-error approach, filtering out the not-so-great code samples, and is currently a bit too costly to operate at a large scale. So, while AlphaCode 2 is a remarkable step in AI code generation, it's not quite ready to steal the crown just yet.
AlphaCode 2 vs. GitHub Copilot: A Competitive Edge
AlphaCode, a transformer-based model with a staggering 41.4 billion parameters, is a heavyweight when compared to GitHub Copilot's Codex model, which has 12 billion parameters.
AlphaCode 2
This AI beast is trained on a massive dataset including approximately 715GB of code and descriptions from a variety of programming languages, allowing it to tackle complex algorithmic challenges. Its performance in competitive coding on Codeforces, where it ranked within the top 54 percentile, demonstrates its prowess in generating code for complex problems.
GitHub Copilot
Running on Codex, a boosted version of GPT-3, Copilot is more of a code assistant, suggesting pieces of code rather than generating complete programs. It's like having a co-pilot (pun intended) who whispers suggestions for your code, but the heavy lifting is still on you. While both tools are in their developmental stages, GitHub Copilot leans towards assisting with simpler logic, whereas AlphaCode is designed for generating complex algorithms.
So with these details out of the way, let me get to the meat of the discussion. Why am I so sure that competitive programming isn’t going anywhere? Well, not only am I sure about that, I am also confident that competitive programming is probably going to be one of the most crucial skills in the age of AI. I am going to explain this in a two-fold format. First, I will try to illustrate the value of human programming in the age of AI. Then building upon that, I will explain why competitive programming is now even more crucial than it was before for budding developers.
The Importance of Human Programming in the Age of AI
Contrary to the popular narrative, the ability to write pristine solutions in code is going to be more in demand than ever before. In the ring where AI like AlphaCode 2 flexes its coding muscles, human programmers still hold the championship belt. Here's why:
AI as an Aid, Not a Replacement: AlphaCode 2 and similar AI tools bring incredible brute-force capabilities to coding, akin to a digital powerhouse. However, these tools are best viewed as sidekicks to the human mind. They supplement human intuition and ingenuity, offering computational muscle to human strategy, but never replacing the creative and analytical prowess that human programmers possess.
Deep Knowledge: The Core of Utilising AI: Employing AI tools effectively in programming is akin to mastering a language before conversing. Just as one cannot fully engage with ChatGPT without a strong grasp of language, utilising advanced AI tools in programming demands a deep, foundational understanding of programming languages and concepts. Only experienced programmers with this foundational knowledge can unlock the full potential of AI tools, steering them to innovate and revolutionise.
The Amplification of Talent: Raw talent and experience are prerequisites for excellence. With AI, talented engineers can push boundaries further, but without a strong base of skill and experience, AI tools alone cannot lead to groundbreaking work. The AI merely amplifies existing talent; it doesn't create it.
Beyond Coding: The Real World Skills from Competitive Programming: Competitive programming is more than a path to employment; it's a crucible for sharpening real-world skills like strategic thinking, problem-solving under pressure, and innovation. These are the skills that AI, for all its computational abilities, cannot emulate. The rise of AI tools makes these human skills even more crucial, transforming programmers into strategists and visionaries who can harness AI's capabilities to direct technology towards meaningful applications.
While AlphaCode 2 is lifting the coding weights, human programmers are the gym trainers, directing its efforts. The result? A brawnier, brainier future for software development.
The Irreplaceable Value of Competitive Programming
I contend that the true value of Competitive Programming is indispensable even if we have AI/AGI to support us with our work.
Strategic Skill Development: Competitive programming isn't merely a test of coding speed or proficiency. It's a rigorous training ground for developing strategic thinking and problem-solving skills. These skills become even more pivotal in an AI-augmented environment, where the ability to strategically guide and integrate AI solutions is invaluable.
Fostering Innovation and Adaptability: The dynamic and challenging nature of competitive programming contests instills a mindset of innovation and adaptability. These traits are key in today’s rapidly evolving tech world, where AI tools are continuously reshaping what's possible. Programmers trained in competitive environments are better equipped to harness these new tools creatively and effectively.
Collaboration with AI: The future of programming is not a solitary journey with AI but a collaborative one. Competitive programming lays a solid foundation for understanding complex problems, enabling programmers to effectively collaborate with AI, combining computational power with human insight to achieve groundbreaking results.
Beyond Technical Skills: Competitive programming goes beyond honing technical skills; it cultivates a holistic skill set encompassing logical reasoning, time management, and precision under pressure – attributes that stand tall in the face of AI advancements.
So yes, Competitive Programming is here to stay. If you are new to the field, please get started with it. If you are not new to the field, then please don’t quit competitive programming. Google ending the annual code jam does not indicate the end of competitive programming nor does Alpha Code 2 or any other AI tool. Alpha Go did not kill chess. AI is not going to kill Competitive Programming. If anything, it makes it an all the more necessary skill.