Over the past two years, AI-assisted programming has allowed developers to write code faster — and often, more accurately — using digital tools to create code based on natural language prompts or partial code inputs. (Like some email platforms, the tools can also suggest code for auto-completion as it’s written in real time.)
For now, Loukides said, computer programming still requires knowledge of programming languages. While tools like ChatGPT can generate code with minimal understanding, that approach has significant limitations.
“First, what do you do if the generated program is incorrect? Can you debug it? Can you describe what’s wrong with it? What if the problem you solve is relatively complex, and isn’t amenable to a simple solution?” Loukides said. “If you aren’t familiar with the programming language you’re generating, using AI to write code is sort of like traveling to a foreign country with only a phrasebook. If you’re a tourist, that’s probably OK. If you want to live there, though, you’ll eventually need to acquire fluency.
“Programming is the same,” he said. “Sure, you can use AI to generate code. But if you want to be a professional, you need fluency. You will want to read the code, you’ll want to debug it, you’ll want to improve it, you’ll want to adapt it to other situations.”
