ChatGPT: The Downfall of Programmers?
Tags: chatgpt, ai, programming, webdev
Published: 2023-04-06 14:13:09

## Will I lose my job to A.I.?

As artificial intelligence (A.I.) technology continues to advance, many programmers, including myself, are beginning to have sleepless nights wondering if AI, particularly language models like ChatGPT, will eventually replace human programmers altogether.

In today’s topic, we will answer this complex question and discuss if we should at all worry or if we should instead embrace our A.I. dominators and improve ourselves with their help.

P.S. Remember [to check the introductory article about ChatGPT on our blog](https://www.lexis.solutions/blog/chatgpt-the-new-content-creator-or-ultimate-cheating-tool)!

## Why are programmers intimidated by ChatGPT?

If you are a programmer or someone that works in the tech world, you know that ChatGPT is everywhere. It is the most talked about subject on the Internet right now and will continue to be as more people learn about it.

Most people with no tech background are fascinated by it and try to learn more about it and experiment with it. But some of us who are aware of the existence of A.I. and have seen simple models that work on predicting if an image has a dog or a cat on it are surprised by the rapid advancement of A.I. technology and feel intimidated by it. When you dig deeper and try it for yourself, you begin to understand how capable ChatGPT is.

Regarding programming skills, ChatGPT is capable of understanding and generating code. It can generate code based on natural language input, which means that it can create complex programs and scripts, including those that require machine learning, data analysis, and other advanced techniques. It has access to a large number of code examples.

**Don’t believe me?**

Tell a programmer to create a simple snake game, and let’s see how fast he can do it. Even the most advanced programmer can take up to 10–15 minutes to create it without external resources. ChatGPT would have generated it simultaneously in 10 different programming languages.

That was only a simple example, but from even that, we can see the potential in it. With enough time and large amounts of data to be “Fed” into it, tomorrow, it might not create only simple snake games for our amusement but rather create whole websites, servers, and businesses in a fraction of the time it would take an entire tech firm to do.

Аll sounds discouraging for all of us, right? There isn’t only bad news on the horizon. A.I. could dominate us in the future, and it might take our jobs as well, but today is not that day, and instead, let’s now discuss why humans are still needed and cannot be replaced so easily.

## Everyone has their part to play

While ChatGPT can generate code and understand natural language input, it needs more creativity, ingenuity, and experience than human programmers possess. It cannot invent new solutions or think outside the box like human programmers. Additionally, it is limited by the quality and scope of the data it has been trained on, which may need to reflect real-world scenarios or considerations.

Furthermore, programming is not just about writing code but also about problem-solving, innovation, and strategy. Human programmers are still essential in the development process, as they possess the critical thinking skills necessary to identify and address complex issues and potential challenges that may arise.

Another important consideration is that ChatGPT needs help understanding the larger context in which code is being developed. It cannot anticipate how to code will be used or how it will interact with other systems, which can lead to unintended consequences or security vulnerabilities.

Currently, a client that wants to create a product must write more than just a few vague descriptions for the A.I. bot and expect it to make what it envisions. They still need that human factor to understand them, write and design every part he wants, and then create and publish it for everyone to use.

That’s why instead of fearing the rise of A.I. language models like ChatGPT, programmers should view them as valuable tools that can help streamline the development process and free up time for higher-level tasks. By embracing and integrating them into their work, programmers can stay up-to-date with the latest technological advancements and improve their productivity and efficiency. And to do that, let’s discover some that can help us improve. A.I. as a tool for improvement

As the field of artificial intelligence continues to advance, programmers can use a growing number of A.I. tools to increase their productivity and streamline their workflows.

## Here are some of the most useful ones for programmers:

## Code Completion and Auto-Suggestion

AI-powered code completion tools like TabNine or Kite can help programmers write code faster by suggesting code snippets and completing code as they type. They use machine learning algorithms to analyze code and offer suggestions relevant to the context.

## Testing and Debugging

AI-powered testing and debugging software, such as DeepCode or Snyk, can help programmers identify and fix bugs in their code more quickly and efficiently. They use machine learning to analyze code and detect potential issues, including security vulnerabilities.

## Natural Language Processing (NLP)

NLP, such as GPT-4 or spaCy, can help programmers process and analyze large amounts of natural language data. They can be used to build chatbots, analyze text data, and perform other natural language processing tasks.

## Version Control

AI-powered version control tools like Gitcolony or DeepGit can help programmers manage code changes and resolve conflicts more effectively. They analyze code changes and suggest the best action to resolve disputes.

## Intelligent Code Review

AI-powered code reviews software, such as CodeGuru or DeepSource, can help programmers improve the quality of their code by identifying potential issues and suggesting best practices. They analyze code and provide feedback specific to the programming language and coding style.

There are many more such as GitHub Copilot, Bard - Google's answer to ChatGPT and its rival for years to come, and even Grammarly, with which this blog is monitored for all typing mistakes. Overall, these A.I. tools can help programmers save time and improve the quality of their code by automating routine tasks and providing intelligent feedback.

## Conclusion

Programmers should embrace A.I., like ChatGPT, rather than fearing it. By leveraging the power of A.I., programmers can increase their productivity, improve the quality of their code, and ultimately create better products that meet the needs of their users.

A.I. will take over, and there is no doubt about it. But we are still far from that future. Stay calm about the future and focus on living fully in the present.

**Viktor Enchev — Full-stack developer at [Lexis Solutions](https://www.lexis.solutions/)**