Impacts of AI on software development
Thapalia, Kiran (2025)
2025
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Julkaisun pysyvä osoite on
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2025052817711
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2025052817711
Tiivistelmä
This research-based thesis explores the idea of whether the rise and widespread adoption of AI impacts the field of software development, and if so, how. The target group for this thesis were IT professionals, and the main objective was to answer a question that has been lingering in the minds of many individuals with an IT background: what are the essential skills to survive in this AI era, and which IT skills or roles are unlikely to be replaced by AI?
The research made use of a mixed-methods approach, utilising both qualitative and quantitative research methods. For the qualitative method, semi-structured interviews were selected, while for the quantitative method, surveys were made using google forms.
The introduction begins by presenting the thesis topic, the main objective, and some key terms, followed by a theoretical framework that defines AI, its history, some of its components, the actual topic impacts of AI on software development, and ethical implications. The next section explains and justifies the chosen research methods and their implementation, followed by findings from the interviews and survey results. The discussion section answers the research question. Finally, a conclusion is drawn.
The research concludes that the integration of AI has been mostly positive, with only a few individuals expressing uncertainty. AI is the future and is here to stay. It is a tool that increases productivity as well as efficiency, making people's lives easier. The study finds that critical thinking is a skill AI is unlikely to replace, along with customer service making these valuable skills essential to thrive in the AI era. Some believe that junior-level positions will become scarce and are most likely to be replaced by AI, while others argue that without the human touch, AI cannot function independently.
The research made use of a mixed-methods approach, utilising both qualitative and quantitative research methods. For the qualitative method, semi-structured interviews were selected, while for the quantitative method, surveys were made using google forms.
The introduction begins by presenting the thesis topic, the main objective, and some key terms, followed by a theoretical framework that defines AI, its history, some of its components, the actual topic impacts of AI on software development, and ethical implications. The next section explains and justifies the chosen research methods and their implementation, followed by findings from the interviews and survey results. The discussion section answers the research question. Finally, a conclusion is drawn.
The research concludes that the integration of AI has been mostly positive, with only a few individuals expressing uncertainty. AI is the future and is here to stay. It is a tool that increases productivity as well as efficiency, making people's lives easier. The study finds that critical thinking is a skill AI is unlikely to replace, along with customer service making these valuable skills essential to thrive in the AI era. Some believe that junior-level positions will become scarce and are most likely to be replaced by AI, while others argue that without the human touch, AI cannot function independently.