CIOs assess generative AI's risk and reward for software engineers

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There's tremendous hype about the potential impact of generative artificial intelligence (AI) tools in software development and engineering.

Some experts believe these tools cloud boost productivity by reducing the repetitive tasks that slow IT professionals down.

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The Intersection of Generative AI and Engineering

The surge of generative AI can harness tremendous potential for the engineering realm. It can also come with its challenges, as enterprises and engineers alike figure out the impact of AI on their roles, business strategies, data, solutions, and product development. What does the future roadmap look like for bringing generative AI into the software fold? ZDNET decodes from all angles.

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So, what's the truth?

Jarrod Phipps, CIO at auto specialist Holman, says a sense of perspective is crucial.

Yes, generative AI tools, such as OpenAI's ChatGPT and GitHub Copilot, have the potential to transform the work activities of developers and engineers.

However, that transformation isn't going to happen overnight. What's more, these AI tools won't work in isolation but will instead generate benefits as an adjunct to human IT professionals.

Also: AI is great at coding, but there are some massive caveats

"I call it an exoskeleton," says Phipps, who talks with ZDNET about the potential impact of generative AI. "It makes you stronger, faster, more agile. The way AI could wrap around all the pieces of our business is an exoskeleton that makes people better at what they do. Generative AI is not necessarily a direct threat, it's a compliment. And we want to wrap an exoskeleton around our developers to make them more efficient at writing code."

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