AI Hype or Apocalypse? A Developer’s Perspective
“AI isn’t coming for your job. But you know what might? That JavaScript framework you didn’t learn last year.” — A Thabo-ism
We’ve officially entered the AI arms race. From GPTs that write essays to tools that generate pitch decks in minutes, the internet is freaking out — and with good reason.
But let’s get real for a second. AI isn’t a sentient overlord. It’s a tool. A powerful one, yes. But like any other tool, it’s only as useful as the person wielding it.
So, is this the end of developers, designers, writers, and thinkers? Nah. But things are changing.
The Hype
- “AI will replace coders.”
- “AI will design your website.”
- “AI can build your business in 10 seconds.”
Yes, those are real headlines. Yes, some tools are impressive. But let’s separate productivity boosts from total replacement.
Reality Check (for Devs)
Here’s what AI can do:
- Generate boilerplate code
- Suggest smart autocompletions
- Refactor repetitive functions
- Generate UI layouts (to some extent)
Here’s what it can’t do (yet):
- Understand your business logic
- Handle nuanced data relationships
- Replace your debugging instinct
- Manage state across a full-stack app without breaking something
How to Stay Relevant
- Learn to prompt — Prompt engineering is the new keyboard shortcut.
- Understand context — AI tools need hand-holding.
- Integrate AI into your workflow — Don’t fear it, delegate to it.
Final Thabo-ism:
“The real danger isn’t AI taking your job. It’s not learning how to use AI and being left behind.”