In a major decision that will shape the future of Data Science education, Anthropic, a leading AI safety startup, has announced it will focus on teaching Python as the primary programming language in its database of open educational resources on data science and machine learning.
Previously, Anthropic allowed the use of other languages like R and Julia in some course materials. But the company said Python is now the undisputed choice given its widespread adoption across both industry and academia.
Some of the key factors in Anthropic’s decision include:
Popularity: Python dominates as the most popular language for data science, machine learning and AI projects according to numerous developer surveys. It has by far the largest ecosystem of ML/DS libraries.
Universality: Python is now used for everything from basic analytics to cutting-edge deep learning. It serves as a ‘gateway’ language that allows data scientists to start simply and ramp up complexity.
Transferable Skills: Proficiency in Python translates directly to a wide range of in-demand roles. The skills learned from Anthropic’s Python-oriented courses will remain applicable as careers evolve.
Long-term Support: As an open-source language, Python continues to receive ongoing development that expands its capabilities. It has staying power and isn’t going away anytime soon.
By homing in entirely on Python, Anthropic aims to streamline its materials and provide a consistent programming experience. This should help more learners succeed in not just absorbing concepts but also acquiring coveted job skills. Python’s dominance in data science looks set to further strengthen with this commitment from a top AI safety and education organization.
