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Could ChatGPT Replace Developers?

 

	Published on March 28, 2024
	By Dr. AlaEddin Almabhouh

 

 

The recent debut of ChatGPT, a natural language chatbot capable of composing emails, poems, and even Python code, has sparked excitement about the practical applications of AI. Yet, it prompts speculation: Will AI like ChatGPT render writers and developers obsolete, akin to how technology has displaced certain job roles in the past?

 

The future sophistication of AI's text-generation capabilities remains uncertain. While it has potential applications in various fields, its utility in programming is likely to be limited. Rather than supplanting developers, ChatGPT may become an additional tool in their arsenal, handling routine tasks while leaving critical thinking to human software engineers.

 

Developed by OpenAI, ChatGPT impresses with its human-like conversational skills and breadth of knowledge. However, its reliance on data over human intelligence leads to limitations. While responses may seem coherent, they can lack critical insights, and may even recycle offensive content. Such limitations make it unreliable for coding tasks, as evidenced by errors in generated code and inaccuracies in responses.

 

For instance, ChatGPT's inability to grasp nuanced requirements poses challenges. While humans can discern that a ball bouncing twice travels farther than one bouncing once, ChatGPT struggles with such subtleties. Understanding the human context of programming is crucial, something AI currently lacks.

 

Despite its potential, ChatGPT's shortcomings are evident. Stack Overflow, a popular coding Q&A platform, temporarily banned its use due to quality control issues. ChatGPT-generated answers often miss the mark, highlighting its unsuitability for practical programming tasks.

 

In essence, while AI like ChatGPT may aid developers in certain aspects, it cannot replicate human expertise or understanding. Crafting quality software demands more than just code generation—it requires comprehension of user needs and complex problem-solving, areas where human ingenuity remains irreplaceable.

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ChatGPT faces challenges even with basic math, struggling to discern the magnitude between negative and positive numbers. While it can accurately compute sums, it fails to grasp fundamental concepts such as -5 being less than 4. Imagine the chaos if your thermostat malfunctioned, heating up to 40 degrees Celsius instead of -5, all because of how the AI programmed it!

 

Furthermore, pre-trained AI code generation raises legal concerns regarding intellectual property rights. Currently, AI lacks the ability to differentiate between code licensed under various conditions, potentially exposing users to licensing compliance risks. This issue has already sparked legal action against GitHub Copilot, another OpenAI-based product.

However, there is still a role for AI in software development. Just as automation aids security operations, AI can assist in handling lower-level programming tasks. Platforms like GitHub Copilot and tools such as Amazon's CodeWhisperer leverage AI to enhance code quality, add tests, and identify bugs. DeepMind's AlphaCode, a code generation tool, showcases the potential of AI in solving complex programming problems.

While machine learning systems continue to advance, they cannot replicate human thought processes. Despite their ability to recognize patterns and increase productivity for simple tasks, they may not match human coding capabilities. Before widespread adoption, AI systems like AlphaCode must demonstrate proficiency comparable to human programmers on platforms like Codeforces.

In essence, while ChatGPT may not disrupt the field of software engineering, concerns about AI displacing programmers are exaggerated. Human cognition remains essential for tasks beyond the capabilities of machines. As AI evolves, it can complement developers by tackling simpler programming challenges, allowing humans to focus on more intricate issues.