Adapt as an AI Developer of Be Left Behind

Technology innovation has always been changing the role of the software developers. Just as Visual Basic made rapid application development more accessible, and Web 2.0 transformed static websites into interactive experiences; Artificial Intelligence and Generative AI are now redefining the software development landscape. This includes tools like GitHub Copilot that greatly enhances your productivity, to other advances that are using AI to write code.

The fact is, AI will write code. AI will even build entire applications. But software developers are far from obsolete—so long as they adapt.

Every technological shift has sparked fears that developers would become obsolete. Yet, with each innovation, the industry has grown, diversified, and created entirely new roles and positions. Today, Junior developers start their careers with tools vastly different from those available a decade or two ago, and senior developers must continuously evolve their skills to remain relevant.

As a tool, AI is no different. It’s not replacing software engineers; it’s redefining their role. Developers who embrace AI as a tool will use it to amplify their productivity, eliminate mundane coding tasks, and focus more on system architecture, design, and problem-solving. The question isn’t whether AI will take over your job—it’s how quickly you can leverage AI to enhance your capabilities.

Remember, you can either control AI or be replaced by someone who does.

Over my near 25-year IT career, every two years, roughly 25-50% of my job duties have been automated or made obsolete. Yet, I’m still here! Why? Because I’ve continuously learned, adapted, and embraced new tools and innovations.

Generative AI is the latest wave of innovation. It’s essential that developers at every level, from junior to senior, must not view AI as a threat. Rather, you must view AI as an essential tool for future success. Just as the adoption of new technologies like Visual Basic or Web 2.0 required evolution, today’s engineers must master AI-driven development to thrive in tomorrow’s market.

Adapt and adopt AI, or risk obsolescence. The choice, as always, remains yours.

Also, remember, no software developer is immune from the effects of AI on the industry. In the past Cobol developers were left behind and some lost their jobs. Although, eventually there was a need for Cobol developers for mainframe systems, and they Cobol developers that stuck with it were in high demand and got paid a lot as a result. Over the last few years, there may be a similar result with Visual Basic 6 or other legacy code developers. However, it’s extremely important to keep in mind that this is a legacy opportunity of the past that we will not see in the future. AI will most certainly replace legacy coders as modern developers will be able to leverage AI to get more done without having all the legacy expertise needed to do it independently.

As a Developer, you must spend time with AI. Learn how it can help you and start becoming more productive today!

As a Software Developer, if you are looking for someone to help you adopt AI, then I encourage you to check out the Build5Nines Membership.

As a manager or employer, if you are looking for someone to help you adopt AI, then I encourage you to reach out to me on how you can securely and safely enable your teams with AI. And, remember, you have developers using shadow AI whether you know it or not. It’s important you be proactive in preventing the risks of AI responsibility and security within your organization.

Additionally, I have also recently started a new newsletter over at Powergentic.ai with an exclusive focus on embracing the power of next-generation AI to help you build intelligent generative AI solutions, multi-agent applications and workflow automation that drives enterprise innovation and efficiency.