AI will transform work in Australia, but it won’t replace Engineers

Tech giants are touting AI as the future of software development, with some suggesting that AI will eliminate the need for human developers. Concerns are rising in Australia about AI's impact on software development jobs, amplified by global hiring freezes at companies like Salesforce.

This is an important topic, given the recent findings of a McKinsey report, which found that up to 62% of Australians' time at work could be automated using technologies like AI.

But I think many business leaders are missing the bigger picture. While AI can enhance software engineers' capabilities, it does not eliminate their roles. Strategic tasks and complex problem-solving will continue to require human expertise.

Instead, it's more likely to shift the demand, redefine job roles, and create opportunities for training and upskilling. For example, the Tech Council of Australia projects that AI development and adoption could create up to 200,000 jobs by 2030.

AI won't be a substitute for strategic thinking

DevSecOps is a framework that combines different technical specialties into single teams. Many DevSecOps teams aim to achieve a short time to deployment for software that solves business challenges and accelearates revenue. However, too often organisations concentrate on developer productivity without considering developer experience. 

This means they have skilled developers performing under deadline pressures who are nonetheless still focused on time-consuming and mundane tasks. While those tasks are necessary, limiting an engineer's productivity measurement to that kind of toil can be demotivating. AI can eliminate friction from the software delivery process by taking over the less exciting work. This can speed up deployment cycles, improve code security and quality, and boost developer morale.

With AI, engineers can prioritize innovation

AI can suggest or complete code, perform various tests, or automatically document code functionality in a standard format - tasks that would otherwise take up a significant portion of a developer's day.

According to GitLab's Global DevSecOps report, less than a quarter of global respondents spend their time writing new code, with the rest of their day spent on repetitive tasks, improving existing code, testing, and addressing security flaws. That's over three-quarters of a developer's day-to-day tasks where AI can introduce efficiencies.

Much of AI's value today is similar to the value of "pair programming," when two programmers work together and share one screen, touted decades ago. Essentially, pair programming promotes an improved developer experience to realise better outcomes. Most companies couldn't afford to put it into action, but with AI, they can.

AI for developers is about evolution, not extinction. When AI bears the load, humans can focus on their greatest strengths: critical thinking and creativity. 

Engineers enjoy tackling challenging projects that test their problem-solving capabilities, and want to unlock the next generation of user online experiences. Why not let them concentrate on these? For your business, this means getting more out of your teams. 

Upskilling is a strategic investment

When businesses are intentional about their AI deployments, they can create upskilling opportunities for developers seeking career growth. A strategic AI strategy allows companies to provide their developers the opportunity and support t spend time developing new skills so they can then coach others.

AI can teach developers how to optimise code, improve efficiency, and identify and remediate vulnerabilities before deployment. Developers might also use AI to familiarise themselves with unfamiliar code bases, languages, and frameworks.

A report from McKinsey found that developers using generative AI-based tools in their work are happier than their counterparts who don't have access to the tech. Developers attributed this to the tools' ability to automate grunt work that kept them from more satisfying tasks. They also found the tools could give them information faster than searching for answers across different platforms.

These are the developers that businesses are looking to hire. And that's the kind of developer experience that every engineering leader should strive to deliver.

From this perspective, AI seems to be a key ingredient in a DevSecOps solution, critical to an engineering leader's roadmap for success, and a powerful way for organisations to attract, engage, and retain the best tech talent.

Implementing AI requires careful planning. You must consider your current business dynamics and the complexity of your workflows to determine where AI can most efficiently improve your software development processes. If implemented effectively, AI won't replace your team—it will enhance their potential.