Advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) have led to a new era in coding. With the development of large language models like ChatGPT, natural language can now be translated into code, and auto-complete, debug, and suggestion tools are available. OpenAI recently released Codex, a private beta tool that can translate natural language commands to code, and according to OpenAI co-founder Greg Brockman and CEO of Code.org Hadi Partovi, this marks the beginning of a shift in how computer software is written.
This shift is so significant that the traditional advice given to laid-off writers to “Learn to code” might soon become “Learn to write.” The traditional idea of coding as a highly-valued and high-paying skill may soon be outdated, as everyone will be able to code simply by using natural language. As the technology behind AI-powered coding tools continues to advance, it is set to transform programming and make it easier to learn and more efficient.
The advent of “no-code” coding using AI is not without its ethical concerns. Already, it has been associated with troubling implications for workers who code, as technology that boosts workers’ productivity often leads to a reduction in the total number of workers a company employs. In this context, AI is part of an emerging framework of marginally increased productivity at a time of austerity, which may lead to companies becoming more stringent on budgets and reducing employee headcounts.
Despite these concerns, the potential benefits of AI-powered coding tools are significant. AI can help expedite programming processes and break down some of the barriers to access to computer science, making software more accessible for people. In fact, Amjad Masad, the CEO of Replit, an online platform for collaborative coding, believes that the word “coding” will eventually disappear from our lexicon because programming will stop requiring code and instead be about the pure act of solving problems using computers, making it accessible to more and more people.
In this new era of coding, having knowledge of coding will still be a good skill to have, as AI will simply help expedite programming processes. “There really aren’t enough programmers in the world, they’re very expensive,” Masad says. “The more efficiency we have in programming, the more software we’re able to create. An AI assistant can help you debug your code, can help you make it better, and refactor it, and that will just make every aspect of the software development lifecycle better.”
As AI-powered coding tools continue to improve, it is clear that they will have a significant impact on the future of software development. However, it is important to address ethical concerns and ensure that the benefits are distributed equitably. With the right approach, AI-powered coding tools have the potential to revolutionize software development and make it more accessible to everyone.
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