AI now handles over 50% of coding tasks

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has emphasized the importance of mastering artificial intelligence (AI) tools for students. In a recent interview, he highlighted that AI is now responsible for over 50% of coding tasks in many companies. Altman believes that understanding AI is vital for anyone entering the job market. He compared the current importance of AI proficiency to the previous emphasis on learning coding skills. When Altman graduated from high school, the key advice was to become good at coding. Now, he suggests that students focus on becoming skilled in AI tools to stay competitive in an evolving job market. Other industry leaders also support the growing role of AI in coding. Dario Amodei, CEO of Anthropic, has predicted that AI could generate up to 90% of code within the next six months. OpenAI’s Chief Product Officer, Kevin Weil, believes that AI could surpass human coding abilities by the end of the year. Altman shared thoughts on "agentic coding," an advanced automation where AI could handle even more coding tasks. He is optimistic about this potential future but recognizes that current AI models still need improvement. For students preparing for the workforce, Altman recommended developing skills like adaptability and resilience. He noted that while software engineers are currently in demand, this demand may decrease as AI technology improves. Altman warned that AI could gradually displace jobs across various industries, with significant impacts expected in the coming years.