Can AI replace developers?

Ever since AI started writing code, we have been asked one question many times: will AI replace software developers?

It is truly impressive what AI is capable of doing today and how quickly it evolved to this level. It can write code, explain programming concepts, find bugs and even build simple websites and applications from short prompts. A few years ago this was not even imaginable. The evolution of AI has definitely impacted how developers work, many of whom use AI every day. It can help write repetitive code and suggest solutions to difficult problems, speeding up testing and time consuming tasks making developers even more productive. However just as calculators did not replace accountants, AI is currently only another tool that helps professionals work more efficiently.

Despite the common belief that development means 1 person sitting behind a computer writing code the entire day, there is actually much more behind development than coding. Before writing any code, someone needs to understand and analyse the business problem. They need to decide what should be built, how users should interact with it, how it will work with existing systems and softwares and how it may evolve in the future. 

While understanding the business and brainstorming of possible solutions, development teams often come up with simpler, more efficient solutions than what a business owner may be asking for. A client may ask for a mobile app when a web app would be cheaper, faster and easier to maintain, or a company may ask for a customer portal when in reality they need a simpler booking system. This is already a key point where AI would fail to understand the business, as it bases its answers on the given information. While it can help create the solution, it does not ask the right questions or suggest alternatives based on experience. 

AI works with prompts, the more descriptive the better. However the number of decisions that a good web solution requires is often overlooked, which is where using AI can become challenging. Many of these questions would only come up once there is an issue later on, and by then any correction and modification is difficult and costly. These include security questions, data handling, type of technology and how it communicates with other systems, what happens with different use case scenarios or with external system errors. There are hundreds of decisions that users never see, many are even invisible to business owners. 

AI is a very useful tool for developers but mainly in working more efficiently, reducing time spent on repetitive work. It can also be great for:

• Explaining unfamiliar codebases,
• Writing tests
• Finding bugs
• Creating documentation
• Converting code between languages
• Research 

Developers work differently today already than they did 10 years ago, and most likely in the next 10 years their roles will evolve even more. Those that are comfortable using AI tools can become significantly more efficient. However currently, the need for developers is extremely important especially for complex websites and applications and long term digital products. Contact our developers at Swiss Tomato to find out how they can help your business advance using the right AI tools!