The importance of coding skills in a world that is increasingly digitalised and competitive has never been greater, especially with the rapid AI advances and widening digital skill gap.
National Coding Week 2018 has AI as its core theme. This year’s National Coding Week explores the role of AI and coding education in preparing workers for the future. We gather insights from technology specialists on how businesses can empower teams with coding skills to navigate the AI world effectively.
AI & human intuition: a collaboration, not a substitute
Lori MacVitte is a Distinguished Engineer at F5 and states that “AI can assist in routine coding but its limitations reinforces the need for skilled coders who are able to create innovative, secure solutions.” Coders are responsible for more than developing software. They also analyze code to find vulnerabilities and design robust security tools that will strengthen cybersecurity. The demand for skilled coders will continue to grow as AI advances. “It’s important to remember that artificial intelligence is designed to complement human work, not to replace it.”
Nat Natarajan is in agreement with this sentiment. He notes that AI is reshaping the way businesses hire and manage talent globally, automating and streamlining all aspects of employment lifecycle. AI will enhance the human element of the workplace, but not replace it. “Organisations must consider how AI can complement and support human work to make it more efficient, scalable and effective.”
John Smith is the EMEA CTO of Veracode. says: “AI tools such as ChatGPT can accelerate coding efficiency. It can even support “Pair Programing,” in which one developer creates code, while the AI makes suggestions and finds errors. This two-pronged method can be used to quickly identify and fix bugs, which is a great advantage in today’s fast-paced business environment. The question is whether coders will be able to rely on ChatGPT for accuracy every time. I think that relying solely on AI tools is a risky move, as they may introduce new vulnerabilities or issues. These tools are not able to produce perfect code or fix every bug as thoroughly as humans can, especially when the code becomes larger and complex.
Close the AI Skills Gap
Mark Gray highlights the UK & Ireland Country manager, Universal Robots: “Robotics are estimated to be worth PS183.6 billion for the UK economy. Robots will assist workers in industries such as manufacturing, where repetitive, high-precision tasks are common. This growth is dependent on a workforce that can program and collaborate with these advanced technologies. It’s important to prioritize coding and robots education to ensure that the next generation will be ready to lead this change. We can provide young professionals with the technical expertise and creativity required to integrate robots and collaborative robotics (cobots), into workplaces by integrating these skills in mainstream learning.
EJ. Cay, UK&I Vice President, Genesysagrees that the demand for coders is on the rise. These professionals will be needed to maintain and optimize the AI-powered apps that drive innovation. This is particularly true in the CX space, where sophisticated software and intelligent automated processes are used to create great experiences. CX teams need coders that can create seamless, omnichannel orchestrated customer experiences.
Enhancing Diversity in Coding
Rohit Gaupta UK&I Country Head at Cognizant, says: Beyond technical expertise, ” Generation AI tools already enable developers to bypass considerable amounts of menial work that goes into coding and will continue to disrupt the work day of coders as they develop. As a result, the focus of developers will shift away from coding and towards problem-solving.
Gupta continued: “Businesses can only be competitive if they have a workforce that is diverse, versatile and skilled. Otherwise, they risk not realizing the full potential of the new technology.” Technology-focused education is important to provide students with a variety of skills and to be accessible to all people. This will ensure that the workforce of tomorrow is multi-faceted and high-achieving.
Hayath Hassein, Chief Operation Officer, Com Laude adds: “Technology companies must ensure that they are able to attract talent regardless of location or background. It’s not just about diversity and inclusion that improving access to tech through initiatives to encourage underrepresented groups and mentorship programs is beneficial. “Online services that are used by millions of people will still rely on developers, regardless of AI’s impact. We need to make sure that we have developers with strong analytical and coding abilities to maintain them in the future.”
Faye Ellis is a Principal Training Architect at Pluralsightand she adds that “Ethically integrating AI in coding is another crucial aspect of upskilling businesses must address.” The developers must understand how to use AI effectively, but also any potential risks or ethical concerns such as bias within algorithms. To adapt to the changing coding landscape, it is important to upskill through online courses and practical experience. To integrate AI into programming effectively, tools and skills must be combined to maximize productivity and achieve long-term success.
Cybersecurity concerns
Another growing concern is the security of AI systems. Rich Turner is the EMEA President of CyberArk warns that “National Coding Week emphasizes the need to develop enhanced coding skills in order to keep up with the rapid adoption of AI. This is especially true when it comes to the security and protection these tools. CyberArk research on identity shows that 47% predict that the number of machine identities they have will triple in the next 12 months. The main reason for this is the increased use of AI and multi-cloud.
Developing a future workforce
The demand for AI-related education and skilled coders has risen as AI systems are becoming more advanced and integrated into industries. Businesses must prioritize coding education to prepare the future workforce. This will foster effective collaboration between AI and human creativity. By investing in inclusive and diverse upskilling programs, businesses can bridge the skills gaps and create a secure, agile and innovative workforce.
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