If you’re a recent visitor to this blog and you haven’t already worked it out, I’m a software developer working for a company that has recently adopted the fashionable “AI First” strategy. Although I understand some of the reasons why this approach is being implemented, I remain fundamentally opposed to CEOs dictating how software developers should manage and do their own work. It’s one thing to suggest that everyone should use a certain code editor, for example. However it’s quite another to dictate the manner in which the work itself should be done. At the end of the day, the output is code, and the developer should retain control over how they create it. Plus, I think the people at the top who think that AI is some sort of magic potion that is going to get the company out of difficulties are being a tad unrealistic. The company needs to prioritize some key issues, and using AI will be of limited help.
My survival strategy for the moment is to “grit my teeth” and throw the AI bot a bone every now and then. Maybe once a week if I can stomach it. How long this can last I don’t know.For a while now I’ve been looking for a new role. The recent imposition of the AI mandate has just accelerated my efforts. A new programming job would be nice. Whatever, wherever. As long as it doesn’t involve the mandatory use of AI. Otherwise, who knows, maybe I’ll work at the nearest zoo.