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80% of engineers will need new AI skills by 2027.
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AI won’t replace engineers, but will change how they work.
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Upskilling in AI, machine learning, and data science will be essential.
A recent Gartner report reveals that approximately 80% of engineering workers will require new skills to work with artificial intelligence (AI) by 2027. This shift is driven by AI’s transformative impact on software development, creating new roles and changing the nature of software engineering.
According to Philip Walsh, Senior Principal Analyst at Gartner, AI will augment human creativity and expertise, rather than replacing engineers. The report outlines three stages of AI’s impact on software development:
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Short-term: AI boosts productivity for experienced engineers.
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Medium-term: AI agents automate tasks, requiring skills like prompt engineering.
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Long-term: Organizations need engineers with AI, machine learning, and data science expertise.
To address this shift, companies must invest in tools and platforms that integrate AI, and upskill data and platform engineers to adapt to AI technologies. Gartner’s report emphasizes that AI will create new opportunities for engineers willing to learn AI-related skills.
The report highlights the growing demand for AI/machine learning engineers, with over half of software engineering leaders considering this role the most in-demand for 2024. As AI adoption accelerates, upskilling and reskilling will be crucial for engineers to remain relevant in the industry.
