Transcript
Speaker 1:?This podcast is brought to you by Genetech Solutions and Genetech Solutions is a software development company. So, have you heard this whole thing about AI taking over software development?
Speaker 2: It's definitely a hot topic. Yeah.
Speaker 1: We're diving deep today into a Genetech Solutions article. They're exploring AI in software development, trying to figure out what's real and what's hype.
Speaker 2: Right, it's important to understand the real impact, you know, both the obstacles and the opportunities.
Speaker :1 Totally. We'll be looking at what AI can actually do, what that means for the job market, and what the future holds for software development.
Speaker 2: We'll break it down for everyone.
Speaker 1: Yeah, even if you're not a tech expert, don't worry. So, will AI really steal jobs?
Speaker 2: Or is that just hype?
Speaker 1: And what about prompt engineering? Is that the next big thing?
Speaker 2: We'll find out.
Speaker 1: Okay, let's start with the basics. What can AI actually do in software development?
Speaker 2: Well, AI excels at certain tasks, the repetitive ones especially.
Speaker 1: Like what?
Speaker 2: Generating basic code, identifying bugs, suggesting code snippets, stuff like that.
Speaker 1: So, it's like having a super efficient assistant. Someone to handle the tedious stuff. Making developers more efficient, not replacing them.
Speaker 2: Right. The Genetech Solutions article cited research from Microsoft and MIT. Developers using AI tools completed tasks almost 56 percent faster.
Speaker 1: Wow. Almost 56%. That's huge.
Speaker 2: It is. There's a real world example too. Jonathan Burkett, Senior Engineering Manager at Duolingo.
Speaker 1: Duolingo, the language learning app.
Speaker 2: Yeah. He claims AI tools have boosted his efficiency by 25%.
Speaker 1: Okay, so that's pretty impressive.
Speaker 2: Yeah.
Speaker 1: But if AI is getting so good at this stuff, shouldn't developers be worried? I mean, the article mentioned OpenAI is working on AI that could replace some software engineers.
Speaker 2: Sure, it's understandable to have those concerns, but we need to look at the big picture. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 25 percent growth in software developer jobs over the next decade.
Speaker 1: Wait, more jobs, not less?
Speaker 2: More jobs! The demand for tech talent is just exploding across every industry.
Speaker 1: So AI isn't replacing jobs, it's changing how we work.
Speaker 2: Exactly. Those who can use AI tools effectively will have a big advantage.
Speaker 1: So it's not AI versus humans?
Speaker 2: It's humans using AI to be better at what they do.
Speaker 1: Right.
Speaker 2: Think of it as a collaboration. AI handles the tedious stuff. Developers can focus on more complex, creative, strategic work.
Speaker 1: Okay, but couldn't that create a divide? What about developers who aren't as quick to adapt to these new AI tools?
Speaker 2: That's a good point. It highlights the need for ongoing education and training to make sure everyone has the chance to develop these new skills.
Speaker 1: So instead of robots taking over, it's more like robots becoming our partners.
Speaker 2: Yeah.
Speaker 1: Which leads to a question about the future. What does this partnership actually look like in practice?
Speaker 2: Well, imagine this, AI helping with brainstorming, gathering requirements, even generating that initial code framework.
Speaker 1: So developers are freed up to focus on problem solving, refining the code, making sure it's all high quality, the things that really need human ingenuity.
Speaker 2: Exactly, and experience. It's about leveraging the strengths of both humans and AI for better outcomes.
Speaker 1: Sounds like a powerful combination. But this new landscape brings up some interesting opportunities, like the rise of prompt engineering.
Speaker 2: Right.
Speaker 1: The article called it AI whispering, teaching AI tools how to perform at their best.
Speaker 2: That's a great way to put it. Prompt engineers are basically crafting instructions to guide those powerful AI models to get the results you want.
Speaker 1: So it's less about writing code and more about communicating effectively with AI.
Speaker 2: Yeah. It's a skill that's in high demand right now, but it's a rapidly evolving field.
Speaker 1: So is prompt engineering a long term career? Or just a stepping stone to something else. And what does it even involve?
Speaker 2: That's what we'll be exploring in the next part of our Deep Dive. Welcome back to our Deep Dive. Looking at AI and software development. Before the break we were talking about how AI is changing the game. Not ending it. For software developers.
Speaker 1: Right. It's about adapting. Learning to work alongside these new tools.
Speaker 2: Yeah.
Speaker 1: But let's be honest, prompt engineering. It sounds like something out of a sci-fi movie.
Speaker 2: Haha. Yeah, it does have a bit of a futuristic wing to it. But it's becoming more and more relevant. You've got these incredibly powerful AI models. But they need the right instructions to give you the results you want. That's where prompt engineering comes in. It's understanding how these models think. Crafting prompts to really get the most out of them.
Speaker 1: So it's not so much about writing code. It's more about communicating effectively with AI.
Speaker 2: Exactly.
Speaker 1: Can you give us some real world examples? Where is this skill actually being used?
Speaker 2: Oh, absolutely. Think about natural language processing. Prompt engineering can be used to train an AI to create realistic dialogue for a chatbot.
Speaker 1: Oh, interesting.
Speaker 2: Or in code generation. You could craft prompts to get an AI to write specific types of code.
Speaker 1: So you could basically say, hey AI, write a function that does X, and it just spits out the code.
Speaker 2: Yeah, pretty much.
Speaker 1: That's amazing.
Speaker 2: And that's just the beginning. Prompt engineering is being used in image generation, music composition, even scientific research.
Speaker :1 Wow. So it sounds like a career with a ton of potential, but you mentioned earlier that some experts think prompt engineering might be short lived. Why is that?
Speaker 2: Well, it's a valid point. As AI tools become more sophisticated, more user friendly, the need for a specialized prompt engineer might decrease.
Speaker 1: Makes sense. The easier it is to interact with AI, the less we need someone to translate between human language and AI language.
Speaker 2: Right. It's like any new technology. There's an initial wave of specialists. But then as it becomes mainstream, those roles might evolve or even disappear.
Speaker 1: So even if the job title of prompt engineer fades away, the skills will still be important.
Speaker 2: Exactly. Critical thinking. Problem solving. The ability to communicate with AI systems. Those are transferable skills, and those will always be in demand.
Speaker 1: Okay, so it's not just learning one specific trick. It's about developing a deeper understanding of how to work with AI. So if I'm a software developer listening to this, what should I be doing? Should I be worried? Excited?
Speaker 2: I mean, it's natural to have concerns, but I'm definitely more excited than worried. AI is a powerful tool, but it can't replace human ingenuity or problem solving. It's about collaboration, not competition.
Speaker 1: And that collaboration can lead to amazing advancements.
Speaker 2: Yeah.
Speaker 1: AI can help us work smarter, not harder. Freeing developers up to focus on those uniquely human aspects of software development, like creativity and strategic thinking.
Speaker 2: That's it. And while some specific roles might shift or evolve, the overall demand for skilled developers, that's just going to increase. The future of software development is bright, but it belongs to those who are willing to adapt and learn alongside these new technologies.
Speaker 1: So embrace the change. Stay curious. Never stop learning.
Speaker 2: Yeah, couldn't have said it better myself. And that leads to a bigger question. If AI is having such a big impact on software development, what other industries could be transformed in similar ways?
Speaker 1: That's a great question. We're already seeing AI being used in healthcare, finance, manufacturing, even the arts. It feels like we're at the start of a technological revolution.
Speaker 2: Absolutely. And as we wrap up this part of our Deep Dive, I think it's important to remember with all this talk about AI's potential, we can't overlook the importance of responsible AI development.
Speaker 1: That's a really good point. AI is a powerful tool. We need to make sure it's used ethically for the benefit of humanity.
Speaker 2: Right. We'll dive into those considerations in the last part of our Deep Dive.
Speaker 1: Welcome back to the Deep Dive. We've been talking about AI's impact on software development. From its capabilities, to the job market, to that whole world of prompt engineering.
Speaker 2: And as we wrap things up, we really need to talk about responsible AI development. You know, we've talked about the potential, but we need to make sure it's used ethically. That it benefits everyone.
Speaker 1: Definitely. It's easy to get caught up in the excitement of new technology. But we need to think about the implications. But where do you even start with something as complex as AI?
Speaker 2: Well, it's a big topic, but a key area is the potential impact on the workforce. Earlier we talked about AI possibly automating certain jobs.
Speaker 1: Right. And you said the overall demand for skilled developers would probably increase. But what about the people who can't adapt to these changes?
Speaker 2: That's a valid concern. It really emphasizes the need for education and training. We have to equip people with the skills to thrive in this new world. And it's not just about learning to code. It's about being adaptable. Embracing lifelong learning.
Speaker 1: So it's about empowering people to work alongside AI, not seeing it as a threat.
Speaker 2: Exactly. AI can handle those repetitive tasks. So human developers can focus on the higher level stuff, problem solving, creative work. It's about using the strengths of both humans and AI for better results.
Speaker 1: It's not about replacing humans, it's about making us better.
Speaker 2: Right. And as we move towards this future, we need to be aware of potential challenges. Like transparency. As AI systems get more complex, it can be hard to understand how they make decisions.
Speaker 1: Right, that could be a problem. Especially in areas where those decisions have big consequences. Like imagine an AI making recommendations in healthcare.
Speaker 2: Yeah.
Speaker 1: Or finance, without us really knowing how it got there.
Speaker 2: Exactly. We need what's called explainable AI. Systems where we can understand the reasoning behind those decisions. It's about trust and accountability. If an AI makes a mistake, we need to be able to trace it back, understand why it happened.
Speaker 1: It's not just about the AI working, it's about understanding it.
Speaker 2: Yeah. And that ties into another crucial point, data privacy. These systems rely on massive amounts of data, and handling that data responsibly, that's essential.
Speaker 1: Absolutely. We need to make sure user data is protected.
Speaker 2: Right. We need strong regulations. Ethical guidelines for AI development. Prioritizing user privacy and data security.
Speaker 1: So, there's a lot to think about as AI changes things. It's not just about the tech itself. It's about addressing the bigger societal and ethical questions.
Speaker 2: Exactly. Responsible AI development requires us to be having these conversations. Thinking critically. Making sure AI aligns with our values as a society.
Speaker 1: Well, this deep dive has definitely given me a lot to think about. AI is transforming software development. But it's up to us to guide that transformation responsibly.
Speaker 2: I agree. It's an exciting time. So many possibilities. But we need to approach it responsibly, committed to ethical development.
Speaker 1: And for our listeners who want to explore this more, remember this deep dive was brought to you by Genetech Solutions. They offer expertise in AI consultation and a whole range of cutting edge tech services. And if you're ready to start your own journey, reach out to Genetech Solutions via their website, www. genetechsolutions. com and get your tech journey elevated.
Speaker 2: So stay curious, stay informed, stay engaged in the conversation about AI. It affects us all.
Speaker 1: That's all from the Deep Dive. Until next time, keep exploring.
