With the rapid development of artificial intelligence, many professions are starting to be affected by the presence of AI Chatbots, such as ChatGPT, GitHub Copilot, and various others that are increasingly sophisticated in solving problems like the Google search engine. One of the professions that will be discussed is the programmer.
Really, is that possible? Isn't AI technology itself created by programmers? However, how can it replace them? Of course, this technology can do some of the programmer's work such as writing code, detecting bugs, and even suggesting development solutions.
So, does this mean that AI will replace programmers completely? The answer is not that simple. Although AI can perform many programming tasks, it does not yet have the same understanding as humans in terms of creativity, solving complex problems, and understanding business context and user needs. As programmers, we need to understand how AI is affecting the industry and how we can adapt to stay relevant.
Impact of AI Chatbots on the Programming World
AI has a major impact on the way programmers work, here are some positive changes that are happening now among developers, including:
- Automation of repetitive tasks. AI is capable of handling routine tasks such as writing boilerplate code, writing programs based on written commands, and even fixing errors or detecting bugs.
- Increased productivity. Programmers who use AI can complete tasks faster than before. For example, using GitHub Copilot can save time writing standard functions.
- Changing roles and demands for new skills. With AI capable of handling basic tasks, the role of programmers shifts to more strategic ones, such as system architecture, problem-solving, and technical decision-making.
However, AI also brings problems that several studies and articles mention some of the disadvantages of using it without a deep understanding of it. The following is a list of problems based on research from the Uplevel team (2024) entitled "AI Won't Solve Your Developer Productivity Problems for You":
1. Lack of contextual understanding
AI cannot understand business needs or project context as well as humans. Thus, programmers are still needed to ensure that the solutions produced are in accordance with business and user needs. Research from Uplevel (2024) found that although AI such as GitHub Copilot can help in writing code, the use of generative AI actually increases the number of bugs in the code by 41%. This shows that AI still has limitations in understanding the overall context of the project so that programmers must still validate and improve the code generated by AI
2. The risk of decreased productivity
As previously explained, is that the code generated by AI can have bugs or unconscious biases. Research from Uplevel found that AI does not provide significant productivity gains for software developers.
In fact, in some cases, AI can increase the risk of burnout for developers due to dependence on AI tools without a deep understanding of the code. This happens because when there is an error or bug in the project being handled, the developer cannot fix it because the code is entirely created by AI and is not understood by the developer.
What skills should I learn for AI?
To be able to get involved and continue to develop in this era of industry 5.0, programmers must develop the following skills based on an article written by Braindhub (2024) entitled "Is There a Future for Software Engineers? The Impact of AI".
1. Advanced Programming & System Architecture
AI may be able to write code, but it cannot yet design complex systems with various aspects such as scalability, security, and efficiency. Understanding system architecture design and best practices in software engineering will be a big plus.
AI is able to automate technical tasks such as debugging and code optimization, but the role of developers is still needed in aspects of system architecture, efficient API design, and a deep understanding of distribution and security systems.
2. Problem Solving & Critical Thinking
Programming is not just about writing code, but also solving problems. The ability to think critically to understand problems in depth and find effective solutions remains a human advantage over AI. AI cannot replace the critical thinking needed to design innovative software solutions. AI may be able to suggest solutions based on historical data, but it cannot understand the business context and technical trade-offs that are often key to decision making..
3. Prompt Engineering
Understanding how to interact with AI to get optimal results is becoming a highly valuable new skill. Writing clear and effective prompts allows AI to provide more accurate and relevant solutions. The ability to write good prompts will be an essential skill for developers in the future. As AI becomes more sophisticated, developers who can direct AI appropriately will have an advantage over those who simply rely on AI without understanding the logic behind it.
4. Understanding AI & Machine Learning
Rather than feeling threatened by AI, why not learn how it works? Understanding the concepts of AI and Machine Learning can open up new career opportunities, such as AI Engineer or Data Scientist. Developers who understand how AI and Machine Learning models work will be better prepared for industry changes. They also emphasize that AI is not just a tool, but can be an integral part of the software development lifecycle if understood properly.
5. Soft Skills: Communication & Collaboration
The ability to communicate with a team, understand business needs, and work together with AI and other humans is becoming increasingly important. AI may be able to write code, but it cannot negotiate with clients or understand user emotions. This underscores that in the AI era, soft skills are more important than ever. Developers need to be able to communicate with cross-disciplinary teams, explain technical decisions, and adapt to rapid technological changes.
Building a Growth Mindset in the AI Chatbot Era
Technology continues to advance rapidly and AI is changing many aspects of the industry, including the world of programming. Therefore, programmers who want to stay relevant must develop an adaptive mindset, not just rely on the technical skills they currently have. Here are some principles that need to be applied in order to survive and thrive in the AI era.
1. Keep Learning and Adapting
The rapid development of technology requires programmers to always be open to change. Whether it's learning a new programming language, a more efficient framework, or even an emerging AI concept. The ability to adapt to industry trends will determine who survives and who is left behind.
- Increase learning capacity in a more active way, for example through direct experimentation, building new projects, and continuing to follow industry developments.
- Be able to accept uncertainty and stay positive about change, not see it as a threat.
- Programmers who do not have a learning and adaptation mentality will have difficulty facing the major changes brought by AI.
2. Dare to Get Out of Your Comfort Zone
Don't just be a "coder" who relies on syntax without a deeper understanding of emerging systems and technologies. Programmers must be able to analyze problems in depth, understand business challenges, and create innovative solutions. Here are some suggestions that programmers can do if they want to stay relevant.
- Develop creativity and critical thinking as the main advantages of humans over AI. AI can produce code, but humans determine whether the solution is relevant and efficient in a particular context.
- Take on new challenges by experimenting outside of their core skills. For example, a backend developer can start learning Machine Learning, Blockchain, or Cloud Computing.
- Those who continue to work with old patterns without innovation risk being replaced by AI or other more flexible programmers.
3. Seeing AI as a Tool, Not a Threat
Like the previous industrial revolution that new technology does not immediately eliminate jobs, but changes the way we work. AI will not replace programmers, but programmers who can collaborate with AI will be superior to those who reject it. Programmers must adopt a more strategic approach to AI, namely in the following ways.
- Using AI to improve work efficiency: For example, AI can help in detecting bugs, improving documentation, and automating repetitive tasks.
- Understand the limitations of AI and continue to rely on human thinking in problem-solving, system design, and technical decision-making.
- Enhance skills in Prompt Engineering to get the best results from AI in assisting programming.
Conclusion: AI as a Friend, Not a Foe
Although AI Chatbots are getting more sophisticated in writing code and automating various programming tasks, they still cannot replace programmers completely. AI can indeed increase productivity and efficiency, but it still has limitations in contextual understanding, complex problem solving, and creativity in creating new solutions.
In some cases, studies have shown that excessive use of AI without deep understanding can actually increase the number of bugs in the code, create risky dependencies, and make debugging difficult for programmers who do not understand the code generated by AI. Therefore, rather than replacing the role of humans, AI should be seen as a tool that speeds up work, not as a total replacement for software developers.
To stay relevant in the AI era, programmers must do the following.
- Develop skills beyond coding such as problem-solving, system architecture, AI & Machine Learning, and security and ethics in software development.
- Utilize AI as a work assistant, not as a total substitute. AI can help detect bugs, generate boilerplate code, and simplify repetitive tasks, but still requires human supervision.
- Build a growth and adaptive mindset by continuing to learn and adapt to technological changes. Programmers who have critical thinking skills, creativity, and communication and collaboration skills will be superior to those who only rely on AI.
- Master Prompt Engineering skills so that they can utilize AI optimally and not just be passive users without a deep understanding of the code produced.
"AI does not replace programmers, but programmers who do not adapt will be left behind."
As happened in the previous industrial revolution, rapidly developing technology does not necessarily eliminate jobs, but changes them. AI will create new opportunities for programmers who are willing to learn, innovate, and develop skills that cannot be replaced by machines.
