Hatena
Software engineering may no longer be a lifetime career
SoftwareFirst seen 33 points
A software engineer argues that using AI may make engineers less skilled over time, and that this could end the idea of software engineering as a lifetime career. He compares the situation to pro athletes and construction workers.
The main idea
The writer thinks there is no strong proof that AI makes people less smart overall. But using AI to do a task clearly means you learn less about that task. Some engineers say this is a good reason to stop using AI. The writer disagrees with that argument, even if the first part is true.
How software engineering used to be learned
Until about 2024, the best way to learn software engineering was to do it. People who liked coding got better over time and could turn a hobby into a good job. The writer says this was a lucky coincidence, not a permanent rule of the job.
Why it matters
The writer says engineers may still have to use AI, even if it hurts their skills in the long run. Construction workers must lift heavy things even though it wears down their bodies. If engineers who refuse AI cannot compete for jobs, they may have to choose between their long-term skills and their paychecks. The writer hopes this is not true, but he thinks people should face it openly and plan for it.
What to watch
- Whether using AI really makes engineers worse at their work over many years
- How fast AI tools change, which makes long-term results hard to predict
- Whether companies start hiring engineers who write code by hand
- How engineers plan for careers that may not last as long as they expect
Glossary
- AI
- Computer systems that can do tasks that usually need human thinking, such as writing code.
- software engineer
- A person who designs, builds, and fixes computer programs and apps.