How AI Is Changing Programmer Roles

I spend a lot of my time now speaking to companies about AI strategy. It's exciting but I find it challenging sometimes because while discussing the amazing potential we can't ignore the societal risks. I'll start a dialog with you today with one example involving the state of software coding: A recent research paper (https://lnkd.in/emyyQsZw) examined how AI tools can enhance developer productivity, focusing on the use of GitHub Copilot at ANZ Bank, a large organization employing over 5000 engineers. The study found that GitHub Copilot led to a significant increase in developer productivity and job satisfaction, helping engineers code up to 55% faster on average. Additionally: - 46% of code is now being written with the help of GitHub Copilot across all programming languages, and up to 61% for Java code specifically. - 90% of developers reported completing tasks faster with GitHub Copilot. - 73% said it allowed them to better stay in flow and conserve mental energy. - Up to 75% of developers felt more fulfilled and able to focus on satisfying work. The authors conclude that AI will likely transform software engineering practices and the developer experience in the coming years. This raises the question, will AI continue to be primarily an effective assistant, or will more advanced tools begin to change the nature of what it means to be a software engineer? An example of a more ambitious AI coding tool is Devin from Cognition Labs (https://lnkd.in/ewAgg-We), described as an engineering "buddy" that can build alongside developers or independently complete tasks for review. While still early, this six-month-old company has generated significant interest and is valued at $2 billion dollars. We can also see open-source projects exploring similar ideas, such as the combination of Wasp and Aider (https://lnkd.in/ehz3UkdZ), which aims to provide an AI-driven development workflow. As AI continues to advance, it's interesting to consider how the role of these tools may evolve in software development. Could we see a progression from AI "buddies" to "mentors" or even "managers"? While the trajectory from narrow AI to more general or "Super AI" is still largely theoretical, it's a fascinating area of speculation. Personally, I find these developments both exciting and thought-provoking. The potential for AI to augment and enhance human capabilities in software development is significant. However, it's also important to consider the potential risks and disruptions these advancements could bring. What about you? Are you more apprehensive or excited about the future of AI in software development? What potential benefits or concerns come to mind? #AI #SoftwareEngineering #DeveloperProductivity #GitHubCopilot #Devin #CognitionLabs #WaspAider #NarrowAI #GeneralAI #SuperAI

We got a glimpse into the future last week with the demo of Devin from Cognition. Devin is an AI agent that is capable of planning, coding, using a browser, and reasoning to solve problems. Cognition positions Devin as “the first AI software engineer.” The demos are very impressive, and the hype from tech leaders was buzzing on Twitter, but what does that mean for programmers and businesses? In the near term, not much. But, as I explain on this week’s podcast, it helps us envision the impact AI agents will have on knowledge work and future org charts. To determine when a task or a job will be transformed by AI agents you have to consider a number of variables such as: reliability and the risk of it being wrong, how repetitive and predictable the task is, how much human oversight is needed, and how complex it is, such as the need for reasoning and mathematics and common sense and intuition. So it’s not like we’re going to be able to just turn these agents on and they’re just going to do everything. We’re going to need to be observers and trainers and mentors and managers of the agents. I think a lot of jobs in the coming five years will evolve to work with agents in this way. Your domain experience and expertise, plus intuition and common sense, will be needed to make these agents economically viable. I expect we will see lots more announcements and impressive AI agent demos this year from Google, Microsoft, Apple, OpenAI, Adept, Hyperwrite, MultiOn and others. AI agents will disrupt (and re-invent) work, but we still have time to prepare. Adoption and impact will be more of a gradual slope than a cliff. All that plus a major advancement in humanoid robots from Figure + OpenAI; more insights into OpenAI’s Sora text-to-video platform; and an unexpected potential generative AI partnership between Google and Apple. 00:03:27 —  Cognition releases Devin, the first “AI software engineer” 00:14:52 — The Significance Behind Figure’s Humanoid Robots 00:22:08 — OpenAI CTO Questioned on Sora AI Model's Data Sources in WSJ Interview 00:29:13 — European Union’s Artificial Intelligence Act approved by the European Parliament 00:33:46 —  Suno AI, music generation based on text prompts 00:39:04 — Elon Musk’s Grok is now open source 00:43:26 — The Top 100 Consumer GenAI Apps from venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz 00:46:58 — Apple in talks to build Google’s Gemini AI into the iPhone 00:50:06 — Midjourney introduces feature to maintain consistency in image creation https://lnkd.in/gWZ45b-d

The conversation around AI and jobs often feels hypothetical—but for programmers, it’s already reality. In my latest article, “GenAI Is Reducing Demand for Programmers. It Won’t Stop There,” I dive into the numbers: Programmer roles declined 26% in just two years—a trend that accelerated with the rise of GenAI. Related roles like web development, support, and system administrator are showing early signs of similar pressure. On the other hand, some roles have seen strong growth: InfoSec Analyst jobs grew by 36% in this same period. This isn’t just a tech story—it’s a talent strategy challenge. At Kelly SETT, we’re helping organizations and professionals prepare for a future where automation reshapes roles faster than ever before. Read the full analysis below. What do you think—are companies ready for this shift? #FutureOfWork #AI #KellySETT #TechTalent #Leadership