Businesses have adopted AI extensively, yet concerns persist over excessive dependence
In the rapidly evolving world of technology, the integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in coding is becoming increasingly prevalent. Canva's Chief Technology Officer, Brendan Humphreys, has shared his insights on this topic, highlighting both the benefits and the concerns that come with it.
According to Canva's recent findings, an overwhelming 92% of technology leaders now use some form of AI-assisted coding tools. These tools enable quicker prototyping, new idea exploration, and draft generation, leading to faster and freer innovation for companies.
However, Humphreys emphasises that human attributes such as creativity, critical thinking, and a deep sense of ownership are crucial when working alongside AI. He believes that the engineers who will thrive are those who use AI to enhance their thinking and output, not replace it.
Nearly one-third (30%) of leaders cite over-reliance on AI as their top concern, while 95% flag the risks associated with AI-generated code. Human oversight and tighter guardrails remain crucial for AI-generated code, ensuring quality assurance, security, and full accountability in AI-assisted development processes.
One-fifth (21%) of tech leaders have concerns about junior engineers' development being stunted when using AI. This highlights the need for further training to ensure developers adopt AI tools with full accountability, a view shared by industry experts and founders such as Jan Bentz and Felix HΓΌsgen.
Looking ahead, Canva sees the need for such training to ensure developers can harness the power of AI while maintaining their classic expertise. Despite the widespread use of AI-assisted coding tools, four in five (78%) developers rely on these tools every day.
Two-thirds of technology decision-makers expect AI usage to increase significantly over the next 12 months. However, the potential concern of AI tools slowing down experienced developers is yet to be fully addressed.
In conclusion, while AI is revolutionising the coding landscape, it's essential to remember that human creativity, critical thinking, and ownership are still a must-have. As we move forward, the focus should be on equipping developers with the skills to work effectively with AI, ensuring a harmonious blend of human and machine intelligence.
