You Should Learn How to Vibe Code, Says Google Brain Founder

The New Way to Code Is Here

The way we think about coding is fundamentally changing. Andrew Ng, founder of Google Brain and Stanford computer science professor, recently delivered a bold message at Snowflake's Build conference:

> "The bar to coding is now lower than it ever has been."

But he's not talking about traditional programming. He's talking about vibe coding—using natural language prompts to generate code and accelerate development. And he believes everyone should learn it.

What Exactly Is Vibe Coding?

Vibe coding involves describing what you want in plain English, and AI tools like Cursor, Replit, or Bolt generate the code for you. Instead of manually typing syntax line by line, you work at a higher level of abstraction.

The term was coined by OpenAI co-founder Andrej Karpathy in February, and adoption has been explosive:

• Searches for "vibe coding" rose 6,700% from March to May.

• Collins Dictionary named it word of the year in October.

• Major companies like Visa, Reddit, and DoorDash now require vibe coding proficiency in job listings.

This isn't a trend—it's a fundamental shift in how software gets built.

Ng's Vision: Coding for Everyone

Ng's message extends far beyond professional software engineers. He emphasized:

> "People that code, be it CEOs and marketers, recruiters, not just software engineers, will really get more done than ones that don't."

His advice? "Don't code by hand. Don't do the old way." Instead, leverage AI assistance to become more productive and, importantly, have more fun in the process.

Ng sees this as a "wonderful time" for people to build something they're passionate about because projects can be completed in less time and at much lower costs than ever before.

Even Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang has weighed in, calling AI the "great equalizer" when it comes to bringing ideas to life with code.

The Industry Is Already Shifting

This isn't theoretical. The tech industry is adapting rapidly:

• Job requirements are changing: Companies are explicitly listing vibe coding or AI-assisted coding as required skills.

• Productivity is increasing: Developers report completing projects in a fraction of the traditional time.

• Non-technical roles are coding: Marketers, product managers, and executives are building prototypes and tools themselves.

The skill that was once a nice-to-have is rapidly becoming essential across industries.

But There's a Catch

Not everyone shares Ng's enthusiasm. While vibe coding dramatically lowers barriers to entry, concerns are emerging:

Security risks: Relying too heavily on AI tools can introduce vulnerabilities if developers don't understand what the code is actually doing.

Foundational knowledge gaps: Beginners who skip core concepts like data structures, debugging, and architecture may struggle when AI-generated code breaks or scales poorly.

Debugging overhead: Research shows more than two-thirds (67%) of developers spend more time debugging AI-generated code compared to before they started using these tools.

The message is clear: vibe coding is powerful, but it's not magic.

AI as a Tool, Not a Replacement

The emerging consensus? Vibe coding should complement, not replace, foundational programming knowledge.

As one developer advocate put it:

> "AI-assisted vibe coding can be incredibly helpful for beginners as it takes away a lot of the initial intimidation."

But humans remain essential for:

• Reviewing generated code for quality and security

• Debugging when things go wrong

• Optimizing for performance and scalability

• Understanding architecture and system design

Vibe coding shifts the role of developers rather than eliminating it. You become more of an architect and reviewer than a line-by-line coder.

How to Get Started with Vibe Coding

If you're ready to embrace this new way of working, here's a practical approach:

• Learn the fundamentals first: Understand basic programming concepts, data structures, and how code executes. This foundation makes you a better AI collaborator.

• Start with a project: Pick something you want to build—a personal website, a data analysis tool, a mobile app prototype.

• Use AI coding tools: Experiment with platforms like Cursor, GitHub Copilot, Replit, or Bolt. Learn how to write effective prompts.

• Review everything: Never blindly accept AI-generated code. Read it, understand it, test it.

• Iterate and learn: Use AI output as a starting point. Refine, optimize, and adapt based on your specific needs.

Even Ng acknowledges that working with AI code generators requires real judgment and can be mentally exhausting because critical thinking remains essential.

The Bottom Line

Vibe coding represents a genuine democratization of software development. It's opening doors for:

• Entrepreneurs who want to build MVPs without hiring a full development team

• Marketers who need to create landing pages and automation tools

• Executives who want to prototype ideas quickly

• Career switchers who've always been intimidated by traditional programming

The barrier to building is lower than ever. But success still requires understanding what you're building and why.

The future of coding isn't about choosing between human expertise and AI assistance—it's about combining both. Those who learn to work effectively with AI coding tools while understanding fundamental principles will have a significant advantage in tomorrow's workplace.

As Ng puts it, this is an extraordinary moment for creators across all industries. What will you create?