Redefining Engineering with AI
As artificial intelligence continues to reshape various industries, engineering is no exception. With AI-driven technologies revolutionizing traditional engineering practices, engineers must adapt their roles to thrive in this evolving landscape.
Tomorrow you won’t be needed for your engineering skills. You won’t be valued for your quick sort or framework knowledge anymore. I’m not raising a concern here, I’m stating a fact that I believe is close to being a reality in the nearest future.
Embracing the AI Evolution
We all see this AI race around us. Each day new company announces its brand-new AI tool. More things are automated now. It is likely that in just a few years, no engineer will be found without the latest version of ChatGPT or Copilot. And this is fine.
The evolution of programming has been a continuous journey toward simplification. With every new programming language, framework, every new small script, our workflows have become more efficient, and our abstractions higher. In coding, we’ve transitioned from bytes to objects, from self-made scripts to huge frameworks covering every possible use case.
A fitting example comes from the world of iOS development. Each new iOS version introduces tools that allow developers to work more easily and quickly. The new UI framework, SwiftUI, for instance, enables the creation of an entire screen in under 100 lines of code, complete with a dark theme and accessibility features. For something like that you could spend hours before.
Yes, SwiftUI, like any other new tool, is not ideal. Also, we have lost some customization options along the way. And of course, sometimes it behaves unpredictably. However, these are the trade-offs we make for speed and optimization.
Same with new AI tools, like ChatGPT, Copilot, and others. This is our new reality. These tools are there, waiting for you to integrate them into your workflow. And every day without using them now makes you less productive and less valuable.
Every new tool has its own flaws, but the general trend leads us to a new way of engineering, which is much simpler, faster, and more accessible to newcomers. It’s time for us to accept and embrace this new reality.
So where does this leave us, engineers?
Imagine building an entire mobile app with a unique design by merely tweaking the ChatGPT code. Does this signal the end of our relevance? What difference can we make if ChatGPT handles the heavy lifting, and all that remains for us is to integrate it into a Pull Request, drafted by Copilot? What’s the next step for us? I believe it’s time for growth.
Fear not, this is where things get truly exciting. For example, we can now focus on constructing products rather than solely writing code. Engineers have never had so much capacity to connect to the product side of the equation.
Firstly, this increased involvement with the product side fosters a deeper understanding of the end-user's needs and enables us to create more user-centric solutions.
Secondly, it enhances our creative problem-solving skills, as we become more adept at identifying unique opportunities and innovative approaches that may have been overlooked in the past.
Moreover, this shift in focus empowers engineers to develop a more holistic view of the project, incorporating aspects such as business strategy, market trends, and sustainability concerns. This expanded perspective equips engineers with the ability to make better-informed decisions, ultimately leading to more successful and impactful products.
Lastly, by embracing the AI revolution engineers have the opportunity to stay at the forefront of technological advancements and continuously refine their skill sets in an ever-evolving landscape.
The AI revolution and the abstraction layer it introduces above our typical workflow grant us the most precious resource — time. This newfound time allows us to step back and, instead of merely contemplating WHAT and HOW we can delve into the WHY.
What should I do with the free time I have because with ChatGPT I finished my task earlier?
- Take care of yourself. Breathe deeply and relax. There will always be other tasks to do. No need to rush. Make some tea or blow the dust off your PS5 and play a favorite video game for a while. Taking breaks to focus on your mental health is essential in maintaining a healthy work-life balance.
- Reflect on aspects of your project that intrigue you. What would be interesting for you to do on your project? Is it an unexplored area of the system that you would like to investigate? Or the improvement idea you had in your mind for a long time?
- Think about business. Consider delving deeper into the business side of things. Engage with product managers, designers, and stakeholders by asking questions. Challenge the status quo and inquire about the performance of recent features. By promoting a data-driven approach across the board, you’ll contribute to a more innovative and effective work environment.
- Explore new AI tools. Every day new AI tools appear. We have text-to-text, image-to-text, text-to-image. We are really close to the first few text-to-video tools. All these AI tools empower me and give inspiration. A synergistic collaboration between engineers and AI can unlock new avenues for discovery, accelerate the pace of innovation, and ultimately, revolutionize the engineering landscape.
Conclusion
In the end, I believe it doesn’t matter where the code is coming from. New AI tools, in essence, represent a higher level of abstraction that empowers us to focus on what truly matters. By embracing these technological advancements, we can dedicate our energy to solving complex problems, driving innovation, and shaping a brighter future.
Thank you for joining me on this exploration of engineering in the age of AI. If you’d like to connect with me or learn more about my thoughts and experiences, please feel free to follow me on Medium, LinkedIn, and Twitter.
