Unbinding Prometheus: How Generative AI is Liberating Computational Thinking from Coding
CS Distinguished Letcure Series
October 2, 2025
11:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Unbinding Prometheus: How Generative AI is Liberating Computational Thinking from Coding
Presenter: Douglas C. Schmidt, College of William & Mary
Abstract: This talk will cover how generative AI is fundamentally transforming computational thinking by decoupling it from traditional coding. Drawing parallels to Prometheus giving fire to humanity, Schmidt will show how generative AI tools are enabling non-programmers to engage in powerful, logic-driven problem solving through natural language prompts. He will also describe how prompt engineering-in-the-small and in-the-large is emerging as a new computational literacy, emphasizing its importance for both technical and creative disciplines. Schmidt will evaluate the outdated focus on low-level programming in CS curricula and call for a pedagogical shift toward teaching students how to collaborate with AI systems across the software development lifecycle, using examples of AI's ability to detect inconsistencies in complex documents, streamline software prototyping, and accelerate research and design. His goal is to challenge researchers and educators to reconsider what it means to be computationally fluent in an era when natural language has increasingly become the interface between humans and intelligent computing systems.
Speaker bio: Douglas C. Schmidt is the inaugural dean of the School of Computing, Data Sciences & Physics at William & Mary. He previously served as director of Operational Test and Evaluation at the Pentagon, advising Congress and the Secretary of Defense on the testing and evaluation of critical national security systems. Prior to that, he held multiple leadership roles at Vanderbilt University, including Cornelius Vanderbilt Professor of Engineering, associate provost for research, and co-director of the Data Science Institute. Schmidt was also the Chief Technology Officer at Carnegie Mellon University’s Software Engineering Institute and served on the Air Force Scientific Advisory Board and was a program manager for the DARPA Information Technology and Exploitation Offices. His research spans four decades and focuses on software frameworks, model-driven engineering, and middleware for cyber-physical systems. His recent work explores prompt engineering and generative AI. Schmidt holds degrees in Sociology from William & Mary and in Computer Science from the University of California, Irvine.
Faculty host: Associate Professor Ugo A. Buy
Date posted
Sep 2, 2025
Date updated
Sep 2, 2025