Learning & building
Hi, I’m Remo.
I’m a computer science student who enjoys building software and understanding how systems work.
My take on AI in Software Development
TL;DR: AI is changing software development, and I’m excited to be part of the change.
When I started my studies at University of Zurich in 2021, the frontier LLM models hadn’t started their unparalleled rise to ubiquity yet (ChatGPT was released in 2022). I learned coding without the help of AI, which included many frustrating hours, but also the satisfying moments when a problem was finally solved. While AI has affected many fields, few have been changed as fundamentally as software development.
I feel like I have chosen the WORST and the BEST time for my studies
The job market for Junior Developers has imploded and it may never have been harder for computer science students to find a job after completing university. I enjoy coding manually, but the job of a developer is shifting from writing code towards designing and reviewing AI-generated code - which can feel less gratifying.
However, during my studies I’ve had the chance to follow the rapid development and adoption of AI in an academic setting and with a depth that wouldn’t have been possible otherwise. I have learned a lot about the limitations and risks of AI, but I have also come to understand how powerful a tool it is and that it provides exciting opportunities in software development. AI has come to stay and we should make the best out of it.
Why I still (or more than ever) want to be a Software Developer
I don’t believe that AI will replace Software Developers anytime soon, and I think that my rather unusual path has equipped me with the skills needed to become a good developer. I’ve successfully worked with people of all ages and backgrounds (including students, factory workers and CEOs), and I think collaboration with stakeholders will become even more important for future developers. The analytical skills I’ve developed as a Business Controller help me understand complex and abstract systems.
I am looking forward to building software that solves practical problems. I enjoy taking a complicated problem apart, understanding how the pieces fit together, and turning that understanding into working software. I want to combine that curiosity with my business experience to develop software that is useful to the people working with it.