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New Delhi: With the rise of Artificial Intelligence (AI) that can now develop software code, many tech workers are speculating whether there is a future for programmers and software engineers. Recognizing these concerns, Infosys Chairman Nandan Nilekani says that AI does not mean that humans will no longer need to have talent. Rather, it will change the country’s work culture and open up new jobs for skilled professionals.
Nilekani said coding just constituted one component of software development. AI can produce code much more quickly than a human, but it will not completely replace human judgment in: designing a system, solving business problems, ensuring security, managing risks, and maintaining large technology platforms. He thinks the future will be ruled by professionals who can work with AI, not against it.
Today’s technology industry has one of the greatest transformations since the birth of the Internet. Developers now can use AI-enabled tools to program code, hunt for bugs, produce documentation, and even automate repetitive tasks. This has propelled productivity in the software industry to a new level. There is a need for engineers to review, validate and ensure applications function properly in real-world scenarios, however.
The main challenge for businesses today is not the access to AI technology but its successful implementation, Nilekani noted. While numerous organizations have experimented with AI in various ways, many have been unable to scale up their AI pilots and initiatives into larger-scale business solutions. Savvy business people are key here. Organizations require individuals with the capability to implement AI systems within current infrastructure, handle data, and guarantee that the technology brings a quantifiable value to the business.
This trend is evident in the evolving profession. Studies around the world indicate that there will be some jobs lost due to automation over the next ten years, and also some new roles that will be added. Some jobs could change their role or vanish, while new ones are emerging in the field of AI development, AI governance, cybersecurity, machine learning, data management, and digital transformation are becoming increasingly popular.
Infosys is making continued investments in talent development. The company has been educating thousands of employees and has continued to hire thousands of graduates in AI skills. So in a time when automation is getting more advanced, large technology firms still view people as their greatest resource.
Experts in the field share the view that AI will not completely replace software developers. Rather, it’s supposed to eliminate repetitive and mundane tasks, freeing professionals up to concentrate on more significant interventions like innovation, architecture design, problem-solving and strategic decisions. AI is indeed proving to be a formidable helper and not a direct competitor in many aspects.
This shift may be particularly important for India’s tech industry. The country’s IT industry caters to business segments such as banking, healthcare, manufacturing, and retail businesses, among others, with government being their biggest customer. There are many of these organizations that are based on complex legacy systems that need deep domain knowledge and human oversight. Experts feel human expertise will always be needed for humanizing critical operations and reliability, while AI can play a major part in modernizing the systems faster.
The demand for skills is also changing. In addition to coding, companies are looking for professionals who have a grasp on business processes, communication, data analysis, and AI tools. In the future, there will continue to be a high demand for engineers who possess a combination of technical knowledge and problem solving skills.
Less manual coding may be a part of the technology future, but that doesn’t mean humans will stop thinking, leading and knowing their way around. AI isn’t going to take the place of people, but rather redefine what it means to be a software professional in the digital age.
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