AI Destroys Software Engineering

To all of you wanting to start a software engineering career: Good luck.

As a developer-turned-director in the tech industry, I’ve seen firsthand how artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming the way we live and work. The rise of AI has already changed the software engineering craft in an unsustainable way — a way that might be destructive for the future of our profession.

No matter if you are just starting out or are already steadily working as a software engineer, you know about the ongoing discussion regarding entry-level roles: “You need a minimum of 3–5 years of experience.” This issue has been magnified even more with AI entering the realm of writing and reading code.

When I look back at my time as a junior software developer, I enjoyed the freedom of being allowed to make mistakes. I worked with more experienced colleagues on tasks to learn how to do things properly from their real-life experience. Nowadays, I would call this a luxury we have to fight for. With the technology and AI we have right now, tech projects that previously required teams can now be done by one experienced person alone. Additionally, the technology seldom makes mistakes and learns faster from them than we humans do.

So what business value do we developers have now that it is much cheaper to “pay” the AI?

My prediction for the years to come is that the development craft will become more about convenience, and to succeed as a developer, you will need all the soft and social skills. We already see this with the “3–5 years of experience” requirement. What I, as a manager, mean when I include this in a job offer is that I am looking for someone who has enough experience to not just have theoretical knowledge, but to have experienced the real-life pains and pleasures of working as a software developer in the market. Someone who can explain complex technical topics in a simple way — essentially, someone who knows that software development is more than just talking to a machine and following tutorials.
I am looking for someone who can make their own decisions and, most importantly, explain why they made them.

So this is my message to all the soon-to-be software engineers out there:

If I were you, I would not focus on learning another framework or building another Todo app to prove your worth. Instead, focus on building expertise so that you can consult businesses on technology rather than writing code yourself. You should be able to solve problems and communicate those solutions in an approachable way.

I already hear you saying, “Easier said than done.” That’s right. Software development is much, MUCH harder nowadays than it was 3–5 years ago. But if you have a passion for problem-solving and technology, and if you are not just in it for the “easy money,” then don’t be discouraged. Invest in your passion and develop those soft skills to be successful.

If you want guidance on where to start or how to successfully apply your skills, I am happy to have a conversation with you. You can reach me through LinkedIn and email.