If you’ve been following the rise of AI coding tools like GitHub Copilot, ChatGPT, and others, you might wonder, Is it worth becoming a software engineer anymore?
It’s a fair question, and one we hear from prospective coding bootcamp students who are interested in learning the craft but wonder about its modern practicality. But the answer, supported by recent research, is clear:
Yes, software engineers are still nneeded, especially considering evolving market needs.
A recent report from GitClear, titled AI Copilot Code Quality: Evaluating 2024’s Increased Defect Rate via Code Quality Metrics, analyzed the quality of 211 million lines of code written with the help of AI code assistants. The report found something surprising (or maybe not so surprising, depending on your point of view): While these tools can boost short-term productivity, they’re also introducing long-term code quality issues.
In short, while AI helps developers write code faster, it doesn’t always help them write it better.
What the GitClear report shows
The GitClear report found that AI-assisted coding led to:
- A Rise in Code Duplication: The study found an increase in duplicated code blocks during 2024, with the use of copy-pasted lines growing 6% faster than anticipated. This trend suggests that using AI-generated code may prioritize short-term productivity over long-term maintainability.
- A Decline in Code Refactoring: Refactoring is an important part of coding. It means improving the readability and maintainability of existing code. The report shows an overall decrease in refactoring activities, which indicates a possible reduction in efforts to improve or simplify existing code. Human software engineers are great for refactoring because they can understand the why behind the code.
- More Errors: This research aligns with Google’s 2024 DORA (DevOps Research and Assessment), which reported a rise in software defect rates (errors) that correlate with the increased adoption of AI coding assistants.
These patterns suggest that AI-generated code tends to prioritize speed over structure or sustainability, which is something seasoned engineers know can lead to trouble in their production environments. Human software engineers are essential to ensure that code is clean, maintainable, and aligned with a product’s needs. AI doesn’t understand business context, user experience, or how to build scalable systems. It can generate code, yes, but it can’t think critically about what that code should do.
What does this mean for new software engineers?
Far from making entry-level engineers obsolete, AI is creating a new kind of opportunity:
- Engineers who understand best practices and software architecture will be in high demand.
- Those who can collaborate with AI tools, refactor messy code, and spot hidden bugs will stand out.
- Skills like problem-solving, communication, and empathy are becoming even more valuable.
In our coding bootcamps, we don’t just teach you to code — we teach you to understand how coding works and to think like an engineer.
During our programs, you’ll learn:
- How to write clean, readable code
- How to debug and test your work
- How to collaborate on real-world projects
- How to use AI tools after you’ve built a strong coding foundation on your own
- How to develop important soft skills like teamwork and communication
- How to prepare for technical interviews
The future of tech careers
AI isn’t replacing engineers, but it is changing what it means to be an effective one. In a world where AI can write code, the most successful engineers will be the ones who know how to effectively use AI and lead efforts to improve and maintain code in accordance with shifting business and project objectives.
If you’re ready to build your skill set and step into an evolving, exciting career, our coding bootcamps can help you get there. Get started today.