From Copilot to Autopilot How AI Coding Tools Are Transforming the Developer Role Daniel Sogl @sogldaniel Sofware architect

Daniel Sogl • Software architect @ Thinktecture AG • Focus: Angular, Capacitor and AI-Coding • Socials: https://linktr.ee/daniel_sogl About me

• 76% of developers actively use or plan to use AI tools (Stack Overflow, 2024) • 46% of developers use GitHub Copilot (JetBrains, 2024) • Forecast: 75-85% of developers will work with AI-supported tools by 2028 (Gartner) AI in Developer Daily Life – Current Statistics https://stackoverflow.blog/2024/05/29/developers-get-by-with-a-little-help-from-ai-stack-overflow-knows-code-assistant-pulse-survey-results/ https://blog.jetbrains.com/team/2023/11/20/the-state-of-developer-ecosystem-2023 https://www.capgemini.com/de-de/news/pressemitteilung/studie-generative-ki-in-der-software-entwicklung

• Integration directly into development environments (IDE, CLI) • AI first IDEs like Cursor or Windsurf gaining more market shared • Taking over repetitive tasks (boilerplate code, standard functions) • Developers become curators and controllers rather than mere coders How AI is Transforming Developer Workflows "AI shifts developers towards more sophisticated tasks such as architecture planning, code reviews, and creative problem-solving." (Capgemini Research Institute, 2023) https://www.capgemini.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Low-resolution-24Oct2024-Conversations-for-tomorrow_Edition_9_Report-V1.pdf

Full-stack applications with a user-friendly approach • User friendly interface for nontechnical users • Chat mode to plan before act • Strong Supabase integration for authentication and databases • Optimized for team collaboration with GitHub- first workflows Trade-offs: Opinionated architecture and message-based pricing Tool Spotlight: Lovable.dev

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• Core competencies remain programming knowledge and technical understanding • New requirements: Effective prompting, reviewing AI outputs, debugging, and quality assurance • Emerging roles: Gen-AI developer, Prompt Engineer, AI Systems Architect Skills Developers Will Need in the Future "57% of developers state that AI actively helps them acquire new skills and programming languages.” (GitHub Copilot Study, 2023) https://github.blog/news-insights/research/survey-reveals-ais-impact-on-the-developer-experience

• Tasks completed 55% faster with GitHub Copilot (GitHub study) • Developers accomplish an average of 26% more tasks per week (MIT, Microsoft, 2023) • Reduction in mental fatigue and burnout risk through AI support AI and Productivity – Facts & Insights "AI-assisted coding not only increases output but also enhances developer satisfaction and creativity in the long run.” (GitHub Copilot Study, 2023) https://github.blog/news-insights/research/survey-reveals-ais-impact-on-the-developer-experience/ https://arxiv.org/abs/2302.06590

• Potential for technical debt and reduced maintainability due to poorly managed AI-generated code • Usage of outdated APIs because of old training data • Unable to use private frameworks and documentations without extra effort • Significant increase in "Code Churn" and "Duplicate Code" reported in some projects (GitClear Report, 2025) • AI often struggles with complex, highly contextual problems Risks and Challenges of AI in Coding https://www.gitclear.com/blog/gitclear_ai_code_quality_research_pre_release

The all-inclusive AI Coding toll • Can be used accross multiple IDEs (VS-Code is recommended) • Free to use / 10$ per month for the pro version • Provides chat, edit and agent mode (currently in preview) • Inline autocompletion • Povides different LLMs (4o, o1-mini, Sonnet, etc.) Trade-offs: Unable to use external context or MCP integrations Tool Spotlight: GitHub Copilot – Edit/Agent Mode

System-level AI assistance with deep IDE integration • Integrated as VS Code plugin • On-device processing • Optimizes cost efficiency with model switching (e.g., DeepSeek for planning, Claude 3.5 Sonnet for execution) • Offers Plan/Act modes for controlled AI execution • Provides a checkpoint system beyond Git • Memory-Bank for progress tracking • MCP (Model Context Protocol) support for browser and tooling integration Trade-offs: Requires cost management and is unable to provide code completion Tool Spotlight: Cline

• 80% of companies are increasing investments in generative AI (Capgemini Research, 2023) • 63% of developers use AI tools partially without official corporate approval (Capgemini Research, 2023) • Companies increasingly implement clear guidelines and dedicated training programs • EU AI Act requires companies to train employees Corporate Perspective on AI Adoption "AI is becoming integral to development processes – companies view AI as an opportunity for innovation, efficiency, and quality improvement.” (Capgemini, 2023) https://www.capgemini.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Generative-AI-in-Organizations-Refresh-1.pdf

• Junior developers shifting from writing code to reviewing and enhancing AI-generated code • New specialized roles emerging: AI Trainers, Prompt Engineers, and AI Data Curators (Gartner, 2023) • Developers evolving into strategic system thinkers and AI managers Future of the Developer Role – Predictions "Developers will increasingly become system thinkers and strategic problem solvers due to AI." Thomas Dohmke, CEO GitHub (GitHub Universe, 2023) https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL0lo9MOBetEGF_pCQVCc_3z36ihKSolLC

• The developer role will not disappear but significantly transform, becoming more strategic and valuable • AI tools enhance productivity, freeing developers for creative problem-solving and strategic tasks • Developers who proactively embrace AI and continually expand their skills will positively shape their future Conclusion – The Future Developer Role "AI will not replace developers. It will empower them, allowing them to focus on what truly matters – creativity, innovation, and problem-solving." Satya Nadella, CEO Microsoft (Microsoft Ignite, 2023) https://news.microsoft.com/de-de/microsoft-ignite-2023-neue-technologie-fuer-die-ki-transformation/

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