AI Impact On Software Development

AI has introduced a profound shift in software development.

Where programmers once needed to both design solutions and write every line of code, modern tools now automate large parts of the coding process.

This creates a new divide. Programming becomes the art of thinking, planning, and architecting, while coding is increasingly handled by machines.

Understanding this separation is essential for developers navigating the future of the craft.

Here are three major impacts AI is having on programming that support this shift:

1. Acceleration of Routine Implementation

AI tools (such as GitHub Copilot, Gemini or ChatGPT) excel at generating boilerplate code, standard algorithms, and unit tests.

This creates a productivity multiplier where developers spend significantly less time typing out repetitive structures and more time focusing on the unique business logic of the application.

2. The Shift from "Author" to "Editor"

The developer's workflow is changing from writing every line of code from scratch to reviewing, refining, and debugging AI-generated code.

This requires a different skillset. The ability to quickly read and understand code one did not write, and the judgment to verify that the AI’s solution is secure, efficient, and contextually correct.

3. Lowering the "Syntax Barrier"

By allowing users to generate code using natural language prompts, AI abstracts away much of the rigorous syntax memorization previously required to program.

This allows developers to focus on *what* the program should do (the architecture and problem-solving) rather than getting stuck on *how* to phrase it in a specific language (the coding), effectively bridging the gap between technical and non-technical stakeholders.

In conclusion, as Amir Husain, Founder of AI unicorn Avathon, writing for Forbes on Programming in The Age Of AI: Why Code Still Matters states:

Those who cannot think computationally will be passengers in a vehicle they cannot steer. Those who can will be the architects of what comes next."
Amir Husain

In short, the programmer of the future, and the future is here, are those who understand what they want, and get the AI model to write it precisely. They programme first, and master the code after it has been generated.