The Printing Press

Florian wakes up on a relatively warm August afternoon of 1440 in Strasbourg and gets ready for his day of work at the St Arbogast scribe workshop, a world-renowned centre for scribe work and hand-written and hand-decorated books. He has studied script-writing for 12 years and now excels in calligraphy and gold-leaf decorating of the text. The workshop is a book production leader in Strasbourg and has hefty business. Florian is particularly excited about the order for 10 books that were requested by a nearby monastery. This order will keep him, as well as the 12 other scribes, working at the workshop, busy for the next four months or so.

And yet, after getting ready and walking into the workshop, he is met with unsettled looks. Johann, his fellow student and now colleague at the workshop, comes over and starts talking about how a printing machine recently invented by a certain Gutenberg can actually print books quickly and accurately, requiring no skill or training in order to do so. Florian shrugs off what Johann is telling him and reiterates what the workshop master had told him on hearing about the rumours earlier: centuries-old traditions will not die out because of a fad or invention, and the skills that they have will never be replaced by machines.

Florian dusts off his desk, takes out the inkpot, and sets out to work.

The Development Centre

Fast forward to 2024. The context is a development centre, set up specifically in Malta by a Nordic gaming company. The office is relatively small, employing 11 persons, but all of the team members there are highly-skilled, knowledgeable and experts in the use of .NET for backend technologies and React for frontend. The company has also employed a QA Tester using automation tools and a Database engineer to help out with the data layer.

The team has worked hard to develop a platform bottom-up and over four years has managed to develop a proprietary application that is helping the organisation. However, a Gutenberg-like problem looms over the team - is generative AI getting this team out of business?

AI's impact on Software Development jobs

The rise of artificial intelligence (AI) in recent years has prompted widespread discussions about its impact on various industries, particularly the job market for software developers. While some fear that AI could displace human workers, the reality is more nuanced. AI is indeed transforming the role of developers, but it is not necessarily taking their jobs away.

The changing landscape

AI technologies, especially those involving machine learning and automation, are altering how software is developed. Tools like GitHub Copilot and OpenAI's Codex can write code, automate routine tasks and even debug programmes. These advancements significantly enhance productivity by allowing developers to focus on more complex and creative aspects of their work. For instance, instead of spending hours writing boilerplate code, developers can leverage AI to generate this code in seconds, thus speeding up the development process.

In Florian's time, the introduction of Gutenberg's printing press posed a similar challenge to scribes. The ability to print books quickly and accurately without extensive training threatened the centuries-old tradition of hand-written manuscripts. However, just as Florian's skills in calligraphy and decoration remained valuable for certain types of bespoke, high-quality work, modern developers' expertise in complex problem-solving and innovation remains critical despite AI advancements.

Augmentation rather than replacement

AI's primary role in software development is augmentation rather than replacement. AI tools assist developers by providing suggestions, catching errors early and optimising code. This collaborative approach can lead to higher quality software and more efficient development cycles. Developers are still essential for their problem-solving abilities, creativity and understanding of nuanced business requirements - skills that AI currently lacks.

Similarly, in Florian's era, while the printing press could mass-produce text, it couldn't replicate the artistic and intricate work of skilled scribes. The human touch in creating beautifully-decorated and illuminated manuscripts still had a place and demand. This parallel highlights how AI tools today, like the printing press back then, serve to augment human capabilities rather than replace them entirely.

Creation of new opportunities

The integration of AI into software development is also creating new job opportunities. There is a growing demand for professionals who can design, develop and maintain AI systems. This shift necessitates a new set of skills, including knowledge of AI and machine-learning frameworks, data science and ethical considerations related to AI deployment. As a result, many developers are reskilling to stay relevant in the evolving job market.

The transition from hand-written books to printed ones in Florian's time also opened new avenues. Printers, typesetter, and book designers became new professions, reflecting the evolving needs of the industry. The adaptation and creation of new roles in response to technological advancements are recurring themes across history.

Limitations of AI

Despite its advancements, AI still has limitations. It relies heavily on existing data and patterns, which means it can struggle with novel problems that require innovative thinking. Developers are indispensable when it comes to creating new algorithms, understanding the specific needs of end-users and ensuring that software solutions are aligned with organisational goals. Moreover, ethical considerations, such as ensuring fairness and avoiding biases in AI models, require human oversight and intervention.

The limitations of the printing press in Florian's era were also evident. It couldn't produce the unique artistry of illuminated manuscripts, which continued to be valued for their beauty and craftsmanship. The recognition of such limitations in both historical and modern contexts underscores the enduring importance of human creativity and oversight.

Conclusion

The comparison between the scribe workshop of Florian's time and the modern development centre highlights a recurring theme in technological advancement. While AI is undoubtedly transforming the software development landscape, it is not eliminating developer jobs. Instead, it is changing the nature of these jobs, emphasising the need for continuous learning and adaptation. Developers who embrace AI tools can enhance their productivity and focus on more strategic and innovative tasks.

In both eras, technology introduced significant changes but also preserved the need for human skill and creativity. Florian's meticulous work as a scribe and today's developers' intricate problem-solving abilities share a common thread of adaptability and resilience. The future of software development, much like the future of book production in Florian's era, lies in a symbiotic relationship between human expertise and technological innovation, where both complement each other's strengths to create superior solutions. The evolution from hand-scribed books to printed ones and from manual coding to AI-assisted development demonstrates the perpetual interplay between tradition and innovation, ensuring progress while valuing human contribution.