Recently, the rapid development of AI coding tools has emerged as a major issue in the IT industry. Specifically, generative AI coding assistants are bringing significant changes to the daily lives of developers. These changes are not just affecting the way code is written but also reshaping team structures. As a result, junior developers are likely to be the most affected. In this article, we will take a detailed look at the rise of AI coding tools and the potential changes they may bring to the developer market.
The Crisis for Junior Developers
Job Reductions Due to AI
Many IT leaders emphasize that AI coding assistants can perform coding faster and more accurately. This leads to predictions that CIOs and development leaders will reorganize teams around AI specialists and senior developers. Particularly, roles such as junior developers or interns are likely to be replaced by AI.
Anna Demeo, an expert in energy application development, also forecasted that more roles may disappear as companies increasingly rely on AI. This means that not only underperforming C-players but even B-players may see their roles diminished by AI.
Changing Roles of Developers
The Senior Developer as ‘Editor’
Anna Demeo mentioned another important shift. Developers will now take on the role of ‘editors,’ rather than ‘writers.’ Senior developers will focus on overseeing and modifying AI-generated code, translating business requirements into software. This indicates that software development is no longer just about writing code.
New Team Structures Due to AI
David Brooks, from Copado, a DevOps platform provider for Salesforce, offered another perspective on future development teams. He predicted that teams will increasingly rely on AI tools to create prototypes, which senior developers will then review and refine. In this process, roles like security and compliance may also be taken over by AI.
Challenges and Opportunities with AI
The Challenge of Cultivating New Software Architects
AI’s impact goes beyond just job reductions. David Brooks emphasized that with fewer junior developers, training the next generation of software architects will become a major challenge. As AI takes over many tasks, there may be fewer opportunities for learning and advancing to higher positions.
The Spread of AI Coding Assistants
AI coding tools are already spreading rapidly. According to GitHub, over 97% of developers in four countries have used AI coding assistants, showing how quickly generative AI is gaining ground among developers. Additionally, GitHub announced that there are now 1.3 million users of the Copilot coding assistant, and the number continues to grow.
Pros and Cons of AI Coding Tools
Are AI’s Benefits Overestimated?
Marcus Merrell from Sauce Labs, a code testing solution company, warned that the advantages of AI coding tools should not be overestimated. While AI can improve coding productivity by about 30%, it does not cause fundamental changes, he pointed out. Merrell cautioned that excessive expectations for AI tools may lead to a focus only on their advantages while hastily changing structures and processes.
Long-term Outlook
Additionally, Ed Wattal noted that as AI prompt engineering becomes more important, development teams might actually expand in size. However, in the long run, it’s more likely that teams will shrink as AI tools become more capable of replacing human tasks.
Conclusion
While the development of AI coding tools may pose a major threat to junior developers, it also offers new opportunities. In the future, developers will no longer simply write code but will oversee and adjust AI-generated code. Adapting to these changes is essential, and it is critical that more developers build their ability to work alongside AI.
References: CIO Korea, “The Rise of AI Coding Tools: Impact on the Developer Market”