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Ask HN: Assume AI replaces programmers in 5 years. What is your backup career?

4 points by ryanschaefer 3y ago

mikece 3y ago
A very high-priced consultant hired to clean up the mess made by managers who asked AI to build an enterprise system but didn't think it through or specify it correctly.
billconan 3y ago
I will become a product manager and hire AIs to build the apps I want to build.
cristina_prok 3y ago
If that would actually happen (not change our jobs but replace all developers) I think a lot of other jobs would also be replaced. So don't see a point in trying to plan for that very unpredictable future. Better to pivot at that point instead to what seems to be the best option at that time.
mastry 3y ago
We use Copilot (chat) at work. IMO we are nowhere near the point of being concerned about this.
- ryanschaefer 3y ago
  I personally don’t believe it, but as the title says: what if? I realized yesterday I’m not sure I truly have a viable plan whether it happens in 5, 10, or even more years.
mtmail 3y ago
That'd mean the military also switched to AI to write software. I'd become a doomsayer and prepper. I'd mean sell ebooks and online courses on prepping of course.
- ryanschaefer 3y ago
  I like the idea of humans still being the keepers of knowledge forbidden to be disclosed by AIs
lady3jan3 3y ago
My hope is that I would still be valuable from a UX and high level architectural point of view: knowing what to ask the AI to write and connect together to create the application. Suddenly my writing the spec for the software that the AI will write becomes my job, and maybe I can then produce a lot of softwares whereas pre-AI I’d only be able to work on one at a time, since I have to also write the actual software.
Zambyte 3y ago
I've asked myself a similar question in the form of "if I was born 100+ years ago, what would I do instead?" I feel like I would get into carpentry more. Though I have really been enjoying pottery lately, so maybe I would do both and see what works out.
Rounin 3y ago
Retirement?
mikece 3y ago
While it wasn't called AI 22 years ago I've been hearing my whole career that some new tech would make programmers obsolete. As far as I can tell we're still 25 years away from being 25 years away.
- ryanschaefer 3y ago
  I wasn’t trying to argue the truth of any of the recent timeline claims regarding AI. The question could be taken as any disruption that removes the viability of your career in a short period of time. What’s your backup in that case?
sys_64738 3y ago
QA tester
devhead 3y ago
My plan is to wait until AI can just tell me it wants me to do for it. be it technical or back rubs. :D
nobody9999 3y ago
I'd consider becoming a Walmart greeter, but there is no Walmart near me. So I guess I may have to start selling drugs or robbing banks.
marssaxman 3y ago
I will become a flying-pig rancher.

4 points by ryanschaefer 3y ago

A very high-priced consultant hired to clean up the mess made by managers who asked AI to build an enterprise system but didn't think it through or specify it correctly.

billconan 3y ago

I will become a product manager and hire AIs to build the apps I want to build.

cristina_prok 3y ago

If that would actually happen (not change our jobs but replace all developers) I think a lot of other jobs would also be replaced. So don't see a point in trying to plan for that very unpredictable future. Better to pivot at that point instead to what seems to be the best option at that time.

mastry 3y ago

We use Copilot (chat) at work. IMO we are nowhere near the point of being concerned about this.

ryanschaefer 3y ago
I personally don’t believe it, but as the title says: what if? I realized yesterday I’m not sure I truly have a viable plan whether it happens in 5, 10, or even more years.

mtmail 3y ago

That'd mean the military also switched to AI to write software. I'd become a doomsayer and prepper. I'd mean sell ebooks and online courses on prepping of course.

ryanschaefer 3y ago
I like the idea of humans still being the keepers of knowledge forbidden to be disclosed by AIs

lady3jan3 3y ago

My hope is that I would still be valuable from a UX and high level architectural point of view: knowing what to ask the AI to write and connect together to create the application. Suddenly my writing the spec for the software that the AI will write becomes my job, and maybe I can then produce a lot of softwares whereas pre-AI I’d only be able to work on one at a time, since I have to also write the actual software.

Zambyte 3y ago

I've asked myself a similar question in the form of "if I was born 100+ years ago, what would I do instead?" I feel like I would get into carpentry more. Though I have really been enjoying pottery lately, so maybe I would do both and see what works out.

Rounin 3y ago

Retirement?

mikece 3y ago

While it wasn't called AI 22 years ago I've been hearing my whole career that some new tech would make programmers obsolete. As far as I can tell we're still 25 years away from being 25 years away.

ryanschaefer 3y ago
I wasn’t trying to argue the truth of any of the recent timeline claims regarding AI. The question could be taken as any disruption that removes the viability of your career in a short period of time. What’s your backup in that case?

sys_64738 3y ago

QA tester

devhead 3y ago

My plan is to wait until AI can just tell me it wants me to do for it. be it technical or back rubs. :D

nobody9999 3y ago

I'd consider becoming a Walmart greeter, but there is no Walmart near me. So I guess I may have to start selling drugs or robbing banks.

marssaxman 3y ago

I will become a flying-pig rancher.