Embracing AI: Navigating the Future of IT with Confidence

I’ve been immersed in the IT world for over 25 years, and during this time, I’ve witnessed a dramatic transformation of the landscape. Technological shifts and innovations have been constant, each ushering in new challenges and opportunities.

My Journey in IT: From C++ to Development Tooling

My career began as a C++ Software Engineer, where I tackled bugs in a sprawling, multi-million line code base for a mobile network planning tool running on Solaris OS. “Solaris? What’s that?” I can almost hear the younger generation asking. It quickly became clear that while my coding skills were adequate, my real talent lay in troubleshooting. I had a knack for fixing and repurposing other people’s code, but the thought of starting a project from scratch filled me with dread. It wasn’t long before I realised that my future would not be as a software engineer.

More through luck than judgement, I found myself in the right place at the right time and transitioned into the realm of development tooling. My new domain included Source Code Control, Task Management, Build Engineering, and Change Control. Over the years, the tools at my disposal evolved, growing more sophisticated with each generation. The functionality that once required extensive manual scripting was now built natively into the tools.

The Evolution of Build Engineering

Initially, I wrote shell scripts for make builds, but soon these were replaced by Perl scripts for Ant, and later by Python scripts for Maven. As the landscape continued to evolve, CI/CD tooling began to emerge. Early tools like Cruise Control, Hudson (later renamed Jenkins), and Teamcity paved the way for more mature CI as a service tools like Travis, Circle CI, and others. Eventually, cloud providers entered the scene, introducing cloud-native CI/CD services such as Azure DevOps, AWS CodeBuild, and Google Cloud Build. Today, the latest generation of git-based source code offerings come with built-in CI/CD tools like GitLab CI, GitHub Actions, and Bitbucket Pipelines.

This narrative is just a glimpse of the myriad tools that have shaped our work over time. While some might view the automation of tooling as a de-skilling of the build engineer role, in reality, the role has simply evolved. Today, DevOps engineers engage with cloud engineering, infrastructure as code, configuration management, and self-healing systems, among other advanced technologies.

The Importance of Continuous Learning in IT

In the IT field, change is the only constant. I’ve learned this the hard way through personal experience. There was a time when I became complacent with my current knowledge and skills, not realising that the industry was rapidly advancing without me. This oversight was a wake-up call. I spent time and money upskilling myself the hard way; without the day-to-day hands-on experience. I’ve taken that lesson to heart and am committed to ensuring it doesn’t happen again. Keeping pace with technological progress is now a priority in my career, as I strive to stay relevant and proactive in an ever-evolving landscape.

AI: A Collaborative Partner, Not a Competitor

Today, the hot topic is Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI), a field that is both exciting and, for some, a bit intimidating. As someone deeply embedded in the IT industry for years, I understand the apprehension many of my colleagues feel about Artificial Intelligence (AI). The rapid advancements and the media’s portrayal of AI as a job-stealing spectre can be unsettling. However, based on my experiences and observations, I want to share a different perspective – one that views AI not as a threat but as an enriching tool that can significantly benefit our careers.

The notion of AI as a competitor is a common misconception. In reality, AI acts more like a collaborative partner. It takes over repetitive and time-consuming tasks, allowing us IT professionals to focus on more strategic and engaging activities that require human creativity and empathy. This shift doesn’t diminish our roles but rather enriches them, enabling us to achieve more in less time.

Opportunities for Growth and Innovation with AI

AI’s rise prompts an important shift in our skill sets. It’s natural to feel challenged by the need to learn new technologies. However, this is also an exciting opportunity for personal and professional growth. By embracing AI, we can add valuable new skills to our repertoire, making ourselves more versatile and indispensable in our roles. Continuous learning is at the heart of IT, and AI simply introduces new chapters to our ongoing career journey.

AI’s ability to handle vast amounts of data and perform complex calculations at incredible speeds is a game-changer. It allows us to tackle problems that were previously too complex or time-consuming. For instance, how many times have you spent 20-30 minutes (or even hours) scouring community forums like Stack Overflow and Experts Exchange for insights into a particular problem? AI can accelerate this process by separating the wheat from the chaff, pointing you in the direction of a much better starting point. This capability doesn’t replace our roles; it enhances our problem-solving skills, making our contributions more impactful.

AI and the Future of IT Jobs

While AI automates some tasks, it also creates new job opportunities that didn’t exist before. Roles like AI ethics advisor, machine learning specialist, and AI maintenance technician are emerging rapidly. These positions underscore the need for skilled professionals who can merge traditional IT expertise with new AI knowledge, offering exciting new pathways for career development.

Understanding and integrating AI into our work isn’t just about keeping our skills relevant; it’s about staying ahead in a fast-evolving technological landscape. By adopting AI, we position ourselves at the forefront of tech innovation, ready to lead rather than follow as the industry transforms.

AI doesn’t merely streamline existing processes – it also paves the way for new forms of innovation. In IT, innovation isn’t just a bonus; it’s essential. AI offers us new tools to rethink how our infrastructures are built and maintained, sparking creative solutions that could redefine our industry.

Embrace AI with Optimism

I understand why some feel wary about AI’s role in our future. However, from my vantage point, AI is not a harbinger of job loss but a beacon of opportunity. It invites us to grow, innovate, and redefine what it means to work in IT. By embracing AI, we don’t just adapt to change – we drive it, ensuring our place in an exciting and evolving technological landscape. Let’s approach AI not with fear, but with curiosity and optimism, as we navigate this new era together. ☀️

Need Help Navigating the AI Era?

If you want help navigating the era of AI, Devoteam is here to help. We can offer you a tailored workshop to help you further understand how AI is right for you. Find out more here: https://acloud.devoteam.com/devoteam-aws-generative-ai-jumpstart-workshop/