Software engineers, including me are now slowly coming in terms of the fact that the era of writing code as we know it is ending, that doesn’t mean you are replaceable. This is the best time to increase your humics i.e your human skills, critical thinking, your unique creativity, orchestration, architectural and system design skills.

Imagine you were a factory worker doing all the manual work, and suddenly you are promoted to manager or supervisor of an entire unit. You now have to perceive it from a different angle, acquire different skills for that job, but your previous job skills will still be relevant in order for you to oversee the process or give a solution when a problem arises.

This is what is now happening to software engineers with the AI shift, you have now been taken many levels up, you have more power with AI. You can oversee coding agents do their job while you review their output. We can fix problems when they occur because of our previous experience. We are at such an advantage over a complete beginner. We can scale, we can steer it, and create super-powerful systems from our imagination and mastery.

I remember this story: A large factory’s vital engine fails, and none of the current staff can fix it. They call in an expert with 40 years of experience. The expert inspects the engine briefly, reaches into his bag, and pulls out a small hammer. He gently taps a specific part of the engine, and it immediately roars back to life. A week later, the factory owner receives a bill for $10,000. Outraged at the high cost for such a simple act, the owner demands an itemized invoice. The expert responds with the following breakdown: Tapping with a hammer: $2.00 Knowing where to tap: $9,998.00

The lesson of the story is the value of expertise and experience. It shows that you don’t pay a professional for the few minutes they spend doing a task, but for the years of study and practice that enable them to do it so efficiently. This principle applies to software engineers; AI is a tool in your expert hands, and you can choose when, what, and how to use it. That makes you valuable. Enhance that value. Don’t chase every new fancy tool out there; that’s an endless race and impossible task. As technology evolves so rapidly, you’ll be chasing shadows. Instead, focus on improving your ability to adapt and change with whatever tools come your way, build your fundamentals, master techniques, and think about the bigger picture.

This LinkedIn course by Pascal Bornet sums it up on how to be irreplaceable https://lnkd.in/eDPknKbN

Here are some of the key notes from the course that stood out

• Set Concrete Goals: Implement three AI tools that will save you five hours weekly. Prioritize efficiency over effort to create more value with less volume.
• Identify Automation Candidates: Use the 20% rule to find tasks that consume 80% of your time but deliver minimal value. Research AI tools to automate these repetitive tasks.
• Manage Digital Life: Turn off non-essential notifications and schedule specific times for checking email and social media to minimize distractions.
• Develop Humics: Dedicate 30 minutes daily to developing uniquely human abilities such as genuine creativity, critical thinking, or social authenticity. Set specific daily exercises like creative writing or practicing active listening.
• Build AI Literacy: Allocate 15% of your workday to learning about AI. Listen to AI podcasts, subscribe to AI newsletters, and experiment with one new AI tool weekly.
• High-Value Activities: Identify the 20% of activities that generate 80% of your impact and explore how AI can elevate these activities. Test an AI tool on one task and measure the improvement.
• Digital Footprint: Review and update your digital accounts’ privacy settings and create a schedule to regularly clean your digital footprint.
• Extend Practices to Teams and Family: Implement irreplaceable practices within your teams and family. Create technology-free zones at home and teach children to use AI as a learning tool.
• Community Engagement: Join or create a community to share irreplaceable practices. Schedule learning sessions with colleagues to exchange AI discoveries and human skill development techniques.

Change can be difficult, but it can bring out a whole new, enriched version of you.