Artificial-intelligence chatbots such as OpenAI’s ChatGPT have made a lot of noise this year. These impressive AIs can hold conversations, draft essays, and even write and debug code, all in a matter of seconds. This technology is already impacting a wide range of industries, and Software Engineering is no exception. But if AI is so efficient, could it replace Software Engineers entirely, especially those at a more junior level?

In fact, AI isn’t a substitute for programmers themselves, but rather a useful tool to help them work. For example, it’s great for automating repetitive tasks or improving software testing. This can allow Software Engineers to save time on mundane tasks and instead focus on more complex ones that are still out of AI’s reach.

After all, AI is no substitute for human creativity and problem solving. Software Engineers still need to drive innovation in tech themselves. AI can help realise their ideas, but  can’t come up with new software features on its own. In addition, it also struggles with contextual understanding and large-scale applications. While it can code independent simple solutions, it can’t keep track of the big projects with complex architecture on which Software Engineers often work. 

It’s also important to remember that AI makes mistakes. It can draw on incomplete or flawed data and come up with wrong or biased answers. We need knowledgeable Software Engineers who can check its work and correct any errors. These Software Engineers will also be able to work on optimising AI, making it a more reliable and ethical tool for everyone.

This means that despite AI’s impressive abilities, we still need to train new Software Engineers. After all, being a beginner is the first step towards becoming an expert, and the rise of AI will bring new needs and roles that will require skilled humans to tackle. By consistently learning and growing their skillset, Software Engineers can ensure they’ll be ready to navigate the fascinating and constantly evolving landscape of tech.

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