How does AI impact my job as a programmer?

The article discusses the impact of large language models (LLMs) like ChatGPT on the programming industry. The author argues that while these models can generate code and assist with integrations, they often produce inaccurate or unhelpful results, shifting even more of a programmer's work towards investigation and debugging. The author suggests that the use of LLMs could lead to programmers spending all their time fixing code generated by these models, rather than writing their own.

The author also criticizes the current state of programming education and culture, which focuses more on building skills rather than investigative skills, which are more crucial in the current programming landscape. The author concludes that while LLMs can't replace human programmers, they can change the nature of their work, and programmers need to improve their investigative skills to add value in this new landscape.

Key takeaways:

Large language models (LLMs) like ChatGPT are increasingly being used in programming, shifting the majority of work from building to investigating code.
LLMs often produce inaccurate or unhelpful results, with the author finding that around 60% of responses from an LLM were incorrect or misleading.
Despite these issues, LLMs are unlikely to replace programmers but will change the nature of their work, requiring more investigation and understanding of existing code.
The author argues that the value of human programmers lies in their ability to understand, analyze, and repair existing code, a skill set that is not currently prioritized in education or industry rhetoric.

How does AI impact my job as a programmer?

Key takeaways:

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