This has never been truer than it is now. I have been using GitHub Copilot and Cursor agents to achieve unimaginable productivity. Tasks that used to take a week now get done in just three to four hours. Large Language Models (LLMs), as their name suggests, excel at generating text and, therefore, code.
As software engineers, our job has always been problem-solving. Development tools and code are merely one of the ways to achieve that end. Our ultimate goal is to build experiences that provide real value to end users.
In today’s world, as software engineers, we must focus more on the results and the value we provide through innovative architecture and solutions because code can now be generated. We no longer hold the unique leverage of being needed solely for coding. We are transitioning into a world where progress is defined by the value and impact we create.
AI excels at generating code, but it still lacks the intuition and emotional intelligence that humans possess. We use this intuition and emotional intelligence in everyday decision-making, and that has become the new norm.
Just like past innovations such as personal computers, phones, and the internet, AI is changing our lives as we speak. We must adapt and learn to integrate AI into our current workflows, delegating tasks to AI where possible and focusing on smart work ourselves.
Do not try to compete with AI in generating code—it’s a battle you are likely to lose. Instead, view AI as a tool that can help you innovate at such rates which could never be achieved before. This is the kind of impact and value generation that our new AI-driven world requires.
Engineers who can leverage these tools to create experiences that generate immense value will be the new frontiers.