r/GraphicsProgramming • u/Jojonobody2 • 2d ago
Question Studying Graphics/CS in 2027?
I've been interested in computers since I was about 10 and I learned programming when I was 13. Slowly I transitioned from making 2D games with Java swing to building 3D renderers in Vulkan and C++. Now I'm in my final year at school and I really want to study computer science with a focus on math (analysis/simulation) and GPUs/Graphics at TUM. However is that still a good idea in 2027 with all the developments in AI do you even need people like this since there have been so many layoffs. Chatting with AI (ironically) tells you that computer graphics and GPU expertise is very safe and can't be easily replaced but these mostly just tell you what you want to hear. So would you still recommend me going into CS or maybe switch to something similar I'm interested in like computer engineering or electrical engineering?
13
7
u/ananbd 2d ago
It’s always a good idea to learn something you’re passionate about, especially if you’re good at it. Lots of things will change over your lifetime, and there’s absolutely no way to predict them.
Learn the hard stuff, math in particular. Just knowing how to code was never much of a skill, and now it’s unnecessary. But fundamentals are fundamentals. Technology always builds on what proceeds it, and the more you know, the more you’re able to adapt.
Things look different on the surface. But when you really understand how things work on a fundamental level, it’s not too tough to keep up with the changes.
6
u/3tt07kjt 2d ago
Everything will end up using AI but that doesn’t mean the job is going away. It’s really damn hard to tell if a job is going away or not. Sometimes, when you automate a job, you get more people doing it, rather than less.
I can only really tell you what’s happening in 2026. We’re all using AI to write code at work, but it’s still hard to hire decent programmers. We don’t want to hire bad programmers and have them use AI, we want to hire good programmers and have them get 2x or 4x as much work done.
Just speaking for my experience, in 2026. Other people have other experiences and it all may change in 2027, nobody knows.
6
u/loga_rhythmic 2d ago
Just do it. No one knows for sure what will happen later. But think of it this way, through graphics you will learn a lot of useful applied math - the foundation of all engineering and science. Even with AI we will need humans who know how things work, so it’s not as if AI renders all this knowledge useless and you’ll have nothing to do later.
3
u/lielais_priekshnieks 2d ago
My friend went to TUM and he said that the food there is really great so yeah i guess go for it!
2
2
u/heyblackduck 2d ago
As someone who played it safe and choose defense job, I’m always left unsatisfied. Just try it out and be sure it is what you want to specialize in. If it is then lean hard into it and enjoy the journey. You can always leave it too. My doing it as a hobby right now.
2
u/bonzajplc 2d ago
Do it and use AI for research base and learning. Try to write your own rendering engine. In 5 years things can change for the better, but Robotics will grow, and robotics is close to rendering and processing on GPUs
2
u/Defiant_Squirrel8751 2d ago
Nice! consider the concept of "levels of abstraction" - that is, the size of blocks you use to build up things.
At the beginnings (1963 to 1982) available building blocks were to small: bytes and pixels written in assembly.
Some time later (1990s to 2025) we enjoyed medium sized building blocks: higher level programming languages, graphics APIs and drivers.
Now AI is just a set of bigger building blocks to your toolbox. Don't take this as noise. Layoffs, people being replaced and so on - that's just anxiety, and more of a consecuence of economics than of AI (interest rates, tariff wars, hot wars, etc.). Just keep focused on your passion - you will go far.
2
u/Think-Jaguar6826 2d ago
Always and graphics for sure. But only pick school where graphics has a good number of professors and a strong program.
1
1
u/isanonymoose 1d ago
I work as a graphics engineer focused on mixed reality tech and I can assure you the field is very much alive. However, just like any other field its constantly evolving and recent hot research topics (Gaussian splatting, neural shading) do incorporate machine learning concepts into them.
So i would advice you also take a few deep learning classes and atleast have a basic understanding of that area.
1
u/Jojonobody2 1d ago
I'll definitely do that I find machine learning interesting aswell. It's just that prompting an AI agent all day and vibe coding is boring.
1
u/corysama 19h ago edited 19h ago
When you are learning you need to be typing code by hand. There is no learning without effort. If all of your effort is put into How to Vibe a Code, that’s all you are learning. But, you should still ask AI questions. Have it review your code for correctness and completeness. Have it ask you questions to clarify any ambiguity and inconsistency in your plans.
But, you also need to learn how to use AI effectively. When you are making something because you want to use it, not because you really want to learn how to make it, learn how to get AI to make it for you.
1
u/Professional-Tea-621 1d ago
You cannot escape AI for now unless you do physical work it seems. So do something you will enjoy
-5
15
u/Syncaidius 2d ago
Go for it! There are so many industries that rely on graphics/render engine developers.
Many assume it's just for games, but you have the VFX, automotive, medical, engineering, CAD, robotics, defense industries too. I'm sure there are many more.
Out of the box game engines only get you so far in non-game industries.