- AI is poised to expand the scope of what developers do, panelists said at Google Cloud Next
- It is changing the way hyperscalers like Google build their platforms and toolkits
- Enterprises are open to hires who are curious, but relatively inexperienced, to help fill the AI talent gap
With coding assistant capabilities getting stronger by the day, it’s no secret that AI is fundamentally changing what developers do. But how exactly are things evolving? And what does this mean for the talent pool of engineers hoping to snag a developer role?
“I really think that ops is the next frontier of AI as we head out to the next few years, expanding the developer’s role beyond just writing code to how the entire system is built,” Google Cloud’s Senior Director of Product Management for Developer Tools and Operations said during a panel at Google Cloud Next last week.
Salva continued: “The role of the developer…is going to look a lot more like an architect.” That means not just thinking about what if-then statements are needed to make applications run smoothly but thinking critically about how different components and applications interplay with one another, he added.
That means developer tools will also need to change. And companies like Google Cloud are already making the shift.
Logan Kilpatrick, Senior Product Manager for Google AI Studio and the Gemini API, noted that the company is increasingly focused on supporting “AI builders.” In practice, that translates to transitioning from “we’re building for developers to building for AI builders” and the change in skillsets that brings.
Talking talent – what companies are looking for
As Bain and Company noted in a recent report, demand for AI skills has jumped 21% each year since 2019. The consulting firm added that companies are hustling to implement AI, but 44% indicated a lack of in-house expertise or resources is slowing them down. Bain predicted the talent gap will persist through 2027.
But as much as demand is changing, so are the skillsets companies are looking for.
Walmart SVP of Enterprise Business David Glick noted during a separate panel that “talent is changing” and so are the attributes enterprises are looking for in their developer staff.
According to Glick, companies are increasingly looking for workers who aren’t just technically skilled but also curious and adventurous.
Papa John’s Chief Technology and Digital Officer Kevin Vasconi seconded that idea. He said the company is looking for “technical athletes” who are willing and able to learn how to use new tech as it rolls out and evolves.
Vasconi also noted that the company is willing to recruit less experienced folks to help fill the talent gap that currently exists. And in that cohort, what it’s really looking for are people who have a “solid intellectual drive and curiosity.”