Raspberry Pi pushes back on “vibe coding” hype. The company warns AI code generation can’t replace real coding skills.
In a new position paper titled “Why kids still need to learn to code in the age of AI,” Raspberry Pi argues that feeding prompts into AI tools like GitHub Copilot and using the output blindly isn’t enough.
The company stresses the need for human critical thinking, problem-solving, and ethical judgment in programming. 
Raspberry Pi stated:
“Even in a world where AI can generate code, we will need skilled human programmers who can think critically, solve problems, and make ethical decisions.
Young people need to learn to code because it is the most effective way for them to develop the mental models and fluency to become skilled human programmers.”
“Vibe coding” — the practice of generating code through natural language prompts — is booming right now. But Raspberry Pi highlights big risks: AI can hallucinate, producing code that looks good but doesn’t actually work.
They added:
“While AI-powered coding tools lower the barrier to anyone being able to generate code, it still takes a skilled programmer to know what good quality, safe, and ethical code looks like.
The reality is that coding is still the most effective way we know for young people to develop the computational thinking skills that enable them to become an effective programmer.”
The friction of turning human logic into code is where learning happens, Raspberry Pi insists.
“The fact that code (either graphical or text-based) does not use natural language as an input is arguably a feature and not a bug.
The friction introduced in the conversion of human reasoning into a rigid expression of logic is where the learning and development of computational thinking occurs.”
Raspberry Pi calls for real coding education alongside AI tools — not a replacement. The message is clear: knowing how to code beats just getting AI to do it for you.
