I'm a principal engineer at Microsoft. I barely program anymore

4 days ago

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The author reflects on their 30-year programming career, suggesting that AI advancements will soon make human programming obsolete.
Programming traditionally requires deep understanding of machines, languages, and problem-solving, with continuous learning to manage complexity and trade-offs.
The introduction of AI tools like GPT-3 and Claude Code has demonstrated AI's ability to solve programming tasks efficiently, challenging the need for human programmers.
Microsoft's Amplifier project showcases AI's capability to autonomously develop software from design to implementation, learning and improving over time.
The author experiences an existential crisis, questioning the future role of programmers as AI begins to automate problem-solving and software development.
Despite initial skepticism, the rapid progress of AI in programming suggests that the timeline for human obsolescence in programming is shorter than expected.
The author contemplates the broader implications of AI's role in society, including solving societal-level problems, while grappling with the personal impact on their identity and legacy as a programmer.

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