AI & You #5: How our CTOs using Generative AI for Coding

Hey Subscriber,

This week, we’re diving into the wild world of AI-powered coding. We’ll share insights from our very own CTO’s adventures in generative AI, and discuss how ChatGPT and Bard are shaking up the coding game. Prepare for a tech-tonic shift!

Evan Davis, our CTO, has leveraged the latest in AI technology to solve real-world problems. He recently discussed his experiences using generative AI for coding work with the Skim AI team, providing some of his personal insights into the technology’s practical applications and potential pitfalls.

In his recent experience with top generative AI models like ChatGPT-3.5, GPT-4, Github CoPilot, Amazon CodeWhisperer, Bard and more, the technology has proven to be a valuable ally in coding tasks.

For those with some coding knowledge, the technology can provide a significant head start, potentially taking care of around 80% of the task and making the debugging process more manageable.

However, as with any emerging technology, generative AI is not without its limitations. In his personal experience, Evan noted that the technology occasionally generated code that lacked in logic, particularly with less common libraries.

GitHub Copilot and Its Potential Impact

Evan also shared his experience with GitHub Copilot, an AI-powered coding assistant that suggests line-by-line code. He found it less likely to go off the rails, as it operates within the boundaries of the user’s existing code.

Generative AI: Today’s Rosetta Stone

During the team’s conversation about generative AI, CEO Greggory Elias drew an interesting analogy between AI-generated code and the Rosetta Stone, illustrating the capabilities and constraints of the technology. Just as the Rosetta Stone served as a translation mechanism for ancient languages, generative AI can be seen as a translator for coding languages.

The Quality of Training Data: A Critical Factor

Evan also emphasized the importance of the quality of the training data that feeds into AI models. The internet is abundant with code of varying quality, and ensuring that the AI model is trained on high-quality code is a significant challenge.

Ushering in a New Era

Generative AI models, like ChatGPT, have begun to significantly reduce the need for hundreds of thousands of coding hours and years of specialization within libraries for programmers and end users alike. This transformation represents a monumental leap forward in the accessibility and usability of programming applications.

https://skimai.com/using-generative-ai-for-coding/

ChatGPT and Bard Spell Danger For Coders

The emergence of sophisticated AI models such as OpenAI’s ChatGPT, Google’s Bard, and other generative AI technologies, have begun to raise alarming questions about the future role of human coders in the software development process.

Just a few years ago, the field of coding was considered a bastion of job security, offering steady employment, attractive salaries, and an opportunity for continuous learning. However, the landscape is swiftly changing. Today, even core technical roles are experiencing the brunt of corporate layoffs.

A Broader Trend in Tech

This trend is symptomatic of a broader change within the tech industry, which is gradually transitioning from a phase of aggressive growth to a state of maintenance and optimization.

Not All Gloom and Doom

The news isn’t all grim. Despite the potential threats posed by generative AI, it’s crucial to remember that these models are tools, designed to augment, not replace, human capabilities. Coders still play a vital role in designing, training, and supervising these AI models. AI might be able to handle repetitive tasks, but it lacks the creativity, critical thinking, and problem-solving abilities that human coders possess.

The Democratization of Coding

It’s important to note that the sophistication of AI tools is driving the democratization of coding. With AI’s assistance, programming is becoming more accessible, opening up the field to individuals who may not have traditional computer science backgrounds. This development could lead to a more diverse and inclusive tech industry.

While the rise of generative AI does pose a real threat to the traditional role of coders, it also presents significant opportunities. The key to navigating this transition successfully is adaptation and evolution.

https://skimai.com/chatgpt-and-bard-spell-danger-for-coders/

Thank you for taking the time to read AI & You!

*Skim AI is a Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence consultancy that educates executives, performs due-diligence, advises, architects, builds, deploys, maintains, updates and upgrades enterprise AI across language (NLP), vision (CV) and automation based solutions.

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