How will you avoid the AI regurgitation machine?

A high-schooler’s essays have a certain level of depth and, shall we say, quality to them. They are only ever read by the teacher, maybe the parents, and on occasion the student themselves (that’s a joke… probably). This happens because the student lacks skill and experience in writing, and experience in life in general. This is the reason they write; to gain the necessary experience and to move out of the “regurgitate everything I am told” phase and into the “I have thoughts and ideas phase”.

Like a high-schooler, AI in in the regurgitation phase. Granted it has access to the whole internet, so it is able to pull from a much much larger pool, and it is able to do this blindingly fast, but it is, currently, still a regurgitation machine.

I don’t know what a defensible moat looks like against AI for developers, but my guess is it’s going to be providing value outside basic coding. If your business model is helping companies make derivative work, Uber for 𝓍, you’re in trouble. The question is what higher-level, higher-value help can you provide? Can you understand the technical implications of business decisions, can you discern the issue that is 6-months down the road, can you provide human related skills and understanding?

These are the types of issues that AI can’t do well today, and are likely to struggle with in the future. Don’t be a blacksmith stuck surprised and complaining about those new “fangled automobile thingies”! Take charge of your business and career.

What are you doing to “AI proof” your job today?