How AI Is Transforming the World of Programming 🤖
The tech world today is buzzing with AI news—so much so that it's nearly impossible to spend a week without hearing something new about it. A question that keeps coming up is: "Will AI take our jobs?" While this topic pops up in many industries, here I'll focus on what it means for programmers.
Many folks are so worried that AI might steal their jobs that they avoid diving deep into what AI is all about. You often hear claims about the superiority of human work and that it’s pointless to try replacing it. But here’s the deal: AI will definitely transform the work we know today. With the current pace of technological progress, the job of a programmer in a few decades will likely look completely different from what it is now.
Just think about it—programming decades ago was nothing like it is today. Back then, there were no interactive solutions, no in-code suggestions, no step-by-step testing of our programs. So rather than demonizing AI for taking over parts of our work, it makes sense to see it as an evolution. AI is simply taking over some of our routine tasks, and that’s not necessarily a bad thing.
Embracing AI as a Tool
The key is to stay open to these changes, experiment, and treat AI as a tool that can help you. Instead of clinging to the old ways just because they’re familiar, why not see what AI can do for you in different scenarios? Progress happens when we step outside our comfort zone and try something new.
Let me share some examples of how I use AI in my everyday work:
Autocomplete, code suggestions, test scenarios, and boilerplate generation
I rely on GitHub Copilot for these tasks. I used to think that writing every line myself was the best way to learn. Sure, that approach made sense when I was starting out. But now that I’ve written the same component a thousand times, having an autocomplete tool that guesses what I’m aiming for—and provides a template I can tweak—saves me a ton of time. I always review the AI-generated code carefully, though, to ensure everything is spot on. Next week, I’m also planning to try out a tool called Cursor for coding.
Assisting with pull request reviews
When I need a clearer picture of the changes in a pull request, I sometimes ask Copilot (directly in GitHub) to summarize the modifications or highlight specific fragments.
Answering documentation queries, comparing solutions, optimizing code, and debugging
I switch between Perplexity and ChatGPT for these tasks. I initially leaned towards Perplexity because it shows its sources, making it easy to verify the suggestions. Lately, I’ve also been using ChatGPT’s search feature (I have a paid subscription that unlocks various models and functionalities) and it’s been pretty effective.
Creating test data sets
For generating data sets for component or end-to-end tests, I use whichever tool is at hand—be it Perplexity, ChatGPT, or Copilot. The quality is similar enough across the board.
Improving writing: grammar, style, and conciseness
I often draft longer messages on Slack with a little help from ChatGPT. Since most of our communication is in English, and I tend to be a bit verbose, ChatGPT helps me condense my thoughts into clearer, shorter messages.
Summarizing long texts and extracting key insights
Again, ChatGPT comes in handy here, whether I need a quick summary or a list of the most important takeaways from a document.
Drafting texts, notes, and outlines
I’ve even used ChatGPT to build content like outlines for my projects or podcasts. For instance, a challenge I once developed—“Working with Purpose”—was entirely synthesized by ChatGPT using my own notes and ideas. The game changer for me was using the "custom instructions" feature in ChatGPT, which helped me maintain a consistent style across all my content.
Product research and comparing scientific studies
When I’m on the hunt for a new product or need to compare research findings, I rely on Perplexity. It’s a great companion for in-depth research.
Design assistance
When it comes to picking color palettes or font sets for web and app projects, I use ChatGPT. I’m not a natural-born designer, so I lean on AI-generated suggestions to ensure my projects look visually appealing and consistent.
All in all, these are just some ways I integrate AI into my daily workflow. I don’t use every tool all the time—it’s more about using AI to support my work rather than replace my creativity. Embrace AI as a tool, experiment with it, and let it inspire you to try new things. 🚀
I hope this article inspires you to explore AI in your own work and discover the benefits of experimenting with new tools. Happy coding!
Top comments (1)
After reading this, I am on the right track