Microsoft and Carnegie Mellon Launch PRAISE for AI-Era Software Engineers

Summary

Microsoft and Carnegie Mellon University launched PRAISE, an internal preceptorship program for junior software engineers working in an AI-accelerated development environment. The program pairs early-career engineers with senior preceptors, drawing on nursing preceptorship to provide practical guidance, confidence, and accountability. Its premise is that AI can generate code quickly, but engineers still need to understand the underlying systems, evaluate assumptions, design architectures, and take responsibility for production outcomes. Preceptors coach participants on using AI tools thoughtfully while developing systems thinking, technical judgment, and the ability to decide what should be built. Carnegie Mellon is contributing formal courses and small-group discussions that connect computer science theory with Microsoft’s real-world engineering work, including experience deploying production-ready solutions. The initiative treats mentorship and academic instruction as complementary parts of maintaining a future software-engineering talent pipeline, rather than assuming AI removes the need for junior engineers.