Regardless of your opinion on generative AI, this new technology is infiltrating many areas of enterprise software stacks, raising existential questions for tech professionals everywhere. If you’re a software engineer or developer watching an AI-powered chatbot churn out code, you may be wondering if your job is safe.
First, here’s some good news: AI hasn’t led to massive job destruction among tech professionals. However, it may require you to adjust your focus and strategy a bit. By focusing on your strategic thinking and problem-solving skills and letting generative AI handle the more mundane aspects of your job, you can peacefully coexist with this rapidly evolving new technology. Here are some practical tips:
Generative AI can’t replicate everything human
Yes, generative AI has become very good at generating words and lines of code in response to a prompt. However, it doesn’t understand context and isn’t very creative: it can’t imagine a new, game-changing feature or propose a solution that disrupts the status quo. If your company insists that you adopt generative AI to write code, you can “future-proof” your work by focusing more on the things that the technology can’t successfully replicate. For example:
Think like a product owner: Go beyond the code and explore the “why” behind features. Analyze user needs, market trends, and competitor strategies to identify innovation opportunities. Start your journey by shadowing your product manager or business analyst on a project; ask them questions about their thought process and decision-making.
Focus on solving strategic problems: Don’t wait to be told what to build. Identify long-standing problems in your product or industry and brainstorm potential solutions, even if they seem outlandish at first. To make progress in this area, schedule regular brainstorming sessions with colleagues from different disciplines. This cross-pollination of ideas can foster truly innovative solutions.
Constantly propose new ideas: Be the one who pushes the boundaries and champions new product and service concepts. Research emerging technologies and present them to your team, highlighting their potential impact. If you want to get started, prepare a concise presentation introducing a new technology and its potential applications. Focus on the benefits it offers to your team and the company’s goals.
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Of course, adapting your work to embrace a whole new set of tasks and workflows can be a long and tedious process. It also requires broader buy-in from your manager and team. Here are some quick tips for making a compelling case to your team:
- Focus on efficiency: Think of your strategic thinking as a way to improve your team’s overall effectiveness. After all, you’re spending more of your time on strategic-level issues.
- Promoting competitive gains: In theory, more time to strategize, solve problems, and deliver better products will allow your team and your company to differentiate itself (in a good way) from your competitors.
- Bridging knowledge and workflow gaps: If your team lacks experience in areas like user research or market analysis, offer to support training initiatives or workshops to improve everyone’s skills.
The rise of AI is inevitable. However, by effectively integrating it into your workflow, you can leverage it in ways that benefit your job and career instead of jeopardizing them.
