Google executive on how GenAI is changing coding: “The way developers wrote code…”

Artificial intelligence has significantly transformed coding at Google. According to a session at this year’s Google I/O, AI-assisted coding powered by generative AI can enhance developer productivity and accuracy. Speaking on similar lines, a Google executive has stated that while Generative AI is revolutionising how developers write code, it won't completely eliminate the need for coding skills.
“I think the landscape is changing significantly. The way developers wrote code before generative AI, how they code now, and how they will in the coming years is likely to change significantly,” Gabe Monroy, vice-president of Developer Experience at Google Cloud told Moneycontrol.
Monroy suggested that the growing use of coding assistants like Google's Gemini Code Assist will likely lead to a shift in the makeup of software teams and the specific roles individuals play within those teams.
“There will be less need for specialisation, testing, DevOps practices and distinct back-end versus front-end developments. You could have fewer developers who could be more generalist, thanks to artificial intelligence providing the knowledge of adjacent areas in the software process,” he was quoted as saying.

Earlier this year, Google CEO Sundar Pichai was asked how he uses Gemini.
“We have been having fun with it. I have been brushing up my coding skills," Pichai said in an interview with CNBC.
Pichai has further encouraged engineers to adapt to the changing landscape of programming with the advancements in AI.
"Programming is going to get easier in a way that is better. We are already thankful that we don't have to write in assembly code; we are used to higher-level abstractions. AI will help with even higher-level abstractions," he said.
“You're going to use natural language and sometimes just say, 'Hey, can you debug this code for me and explain what happened?' and it will do it,” Pichai added.