AI will replace your jobs by 20XX…. Since the advent of AI, everyone has been hearing this news all over the internet.
You must have already heard about Devin AI, the world’s first AI software engineer. This innovation promises to speed development by using AI-powered coding and machine learning.
In fact, recently, Netflix posted an AI job that pays approximately $3500 per day compared to writers, who are paid $200 for the same. Though the job is taking the heat due to writers’ and actors’ strikes, that’s a story for another time.
The point is that advancements in AI and other technologies have been fast-tracked since the advent of generative AI.
Marketers, writers, software engineers, and even HRs are fearing to lose their jobs to AI.
Everybody is clueless about how artificial intelligence will reshape their roles. Are we on the verge of job losses, or could this be an opportunity for unprecedented growth?
The simple answer is that in the next five years, you will either be using AI to do your job smartly and productively or do nothing.
AI will not replace you. The person who uses AI will.
Do you remember this amazing IBM campaign at the start of the Internet era?
It creatively explains why advancements in technology are not a threat if you adapt to changes.
Image by David Milan
Now, to survive and win in the current technological advancement race, what we already know is that:
- People need to (re)adapt to high levels of automation to remain competitive
- Skills like problem-solving and critical thinking will become essential
- Talent with multiple skill sets that can effectively use AI to do their job productively will be in huge demand
While AI offers tremendous potential, it’s natural to feel apprehensive about its impact on jobs.
The truth is that some roles might be automated. However, the good news is that new opportunities will emerge.
By focusing on developing the skills that AI can’t replicate, like critical thinking and complex problem-solving, developers can position themselves for success in the evolving tech landscape.
In this article, we will talk about how AI is reshaping the role of software engineers, its limitations, and how, as a software developer, you can leverage AI to make your work easier and smarter.
How is AI Augmenting the Software Development Process?
Enhanced Productivity
Coding, code review, bug detection, and testing are all repetitive and time-consuming tasks in software development that can be automated.
A McKinsey study on software engineering teams found that AI tools decrease software development time and improve the work experience.
Reduced Software Development Costs
Artificial intelligence tools will reduce costs related to post-production bug fixes, security breaches, and customer complaints by automatically detecting and fixing defects and vulnerabilities early in the process.
Clean and Efficient Codebases
A study found that 42% of developers’ time is spent dealing with technical debt and maintenance issues.
Using AI, developers can identify, prioritize, and suggest changes to codebases that are most likely to incur technical debt. Automating the code refactoring process will reduce the manual work required to keep codebases clean and efficient.
Accelerating Time-to-market
Developers who use Microsoft’s GitHub Copilot complete projects 56% faster, potentially resulting in increased revenue and market share for businesses.
However, it’s not all smooth sailing. GPT4 and other generative AI tools have a few limitations. These limitations enable software engineers to play a crucial role in developing innovative products and technology.
Limitations of Generative AI: Can GPT4 replace developers?
Startups are leveraging GPT4 capabilities to accelerate the software development process so that businesses can use human coders in the development of more complex architecture designs.
Image source – workchronicles
While the new GPT4 has improved contextual understanding and a more diverse dataset to produce near-accurate results, it is not a substitute for human coders and their problem-solving and critical thinking abilities.
No Domain-Specific Knowledge
It lacks the practical understanding of the industry and domain that coders possess. While it may generate code snippets based on the prompt you use, it cannot comprehend the underlying concept and granular details of the frameworks, and that’s where human coders have a big advantage.
Ethical Concerns
Biased datasets can generate biased code and create ethical dilemmas. For instance, if an AI is trained on datasets that contain biased information, it could reproduce and perpetuate that bias in the code it generates.
Limited Ability to Work the Bug Out
Machines can debug general errors, but human expertise is required to identify and resolve complex errors.
No Context Awareness
GPT4’s language generation completely relies on the context you add. If the context is not clear, it may produce inaccurate results.
AI cannot collaborate or think
GPT-4 cannot brainstorm, share unique insights, or provide creative solutions beyond generating code snippets.
No Innovative Capability
AI doesn’t possess the ability to create and innovate groundbreaking solutions or create entirely new algorithms or approaches.
Therefore, it is safe to say that GPT4 or any other AI tool will not replace developers completely.
However, businesses are going to invest a lot in AI. They are shifting a bigger focus on data integrity, privacy, and security, resulting in new AI jobs.
In fact, the demand for a Chief Artificial Intelligence Officer (CAIO) to drive the AI strategy for tech businesses has been soaring at an all-time high, with the highest pay up to $1 million.
AI in 2024: Evolving Expertise and Shrinking Servers
Here’s what’s hot in AI for 2024:
Expert Solutions: AI tries to become more comprehensive and helpful while sharing experiences that focus on one area of specificity to improve accuracy and overall user experience.
Big Brains, Small Servers: AI is ditching the giant server farms! Processing power is shrinking, allowing AI to run on desktops, laptops, and even smartphones. This opens doors for new applications and wider accessibility.
The Need for AI Ninjas: With this rapid evolution, the demand for skilled AI specialists is skyrocketing. Deep knowledge in specific AI areas is more valuable than a general understanding. So, it’s time to sharpen your AI expertise!
Aspire to be an Expert-Generalist Software Developer
AI jobs are changing at a fast pace, just like technology. Organizations are now looking for expert yet Generalist Software Developers who can quickly learn and understand the latest technologies, frameworks, and platforms to develop reliable software solutions.
They also understand the big picture of the project to develop efficient solutions that work well with the existing system. In 2024, while specialists are more sought after than generalists, businesses today look for software engineers who have –
- a good command of programming languages and frameworks
- excellent critical thinking and problem-solving skills
- Deep knowledge of one aspect of AI is more valuable
- curiosity and a good learning agility
In other words, to stay competitive, you’ll need to move from having in-depth expertise in one area to having a broad breadth of knowledge and multiple expertise areas.
The Future Workplace Will Be Run By Collaborative Intelligence (AI + HI)
The future workforce will focus on collaborative intelligence, merging human creativity with artificial insights.
While software developers will do what humans do best, they should think critically, observe the nuances that machines can’t, learn to act more like humans, and apply their expertise to solve complex challenges.
AI will function as an ally that accelerates tasks, delivers data-backed insights, and fast-tracks development timelines.
Such collaborative relationships will equip developers with the ability to create excellent, user-centric products, giving them a competitive edge in an evolving tech market.
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