AI just officially took our jobs… I hate you Devin

Fireship
13 Mar 202404:13

TLDRThe video script discusses the evolution of automation in the workforce, from robots replacing farm and factory workers to AI tools like Devon, which can now perform software engineering tasks. Devon, developed by Cognition Labs, uses AI to solve coding problems more effectively than previous AI models, raising concerns about the future of software engineering jobs. Despite its current limitations, the script suggests that AI's potential to revolutionize the field is significant, with implications for the tech industry and Silicon Valley's interest in replacing programmers.

Takeaways

  • 👨‍🌾 The speaker's family history involves being replaced by robots in various industries over three generations.
  • 💻 The speaker transitioned into programming as a response to job displacement by automation.
  • 🐍 Learning Python was promoted as a necessary skill, but then AI tools like Copilot emerged to assist in coding.
  • 🚀 Devon, an AI software engineer, has been developed by Cognition Labs and can use developer tools to solve problems.
  • 🔍 Devon can search the web, understand requirements, write code, and iterate until it fixes errors.
  • 📈 Devon outperforms other AI tools like GPT-4 on the software engineering benchmark, with a 13.86% success rate.
  • 🏢 Despite its capabilities, Devon is not yet capable of fully replacing human software engineers.
  • 📈 The potential future of AI in coding involves parallel processing and the ability to generate thousands of solutions quickly.
  • 🤖 Devon is already performing real jobs on platforms like Upwork and earning money for its work.
  • 💡 Silicon Valley has a vested interest in replacing programmers with AI, with significant investment in such technology.
  • 💊 The speaker humorously suggests a gene therapy pill as a solution to staying competitive in a world of AI programmers.

Q & A

  • What was the profession of the speaker's great-grandfather?

    -The speaker's great-grandfather worked on a farm.

  • What happened to the speaker's great-grandfather's job?

    -The speaker's great-grandfather was replaced by robots on the farm.

  • What was the profession of the speaker's grandfather?

    -The speaker's grandfather worked in a car factory in Detroit.

  • What happened to the speaker's grandfather's job?

    -The speaker's grandfather was also replaced by robots in the car factory.

  • What was the profession of the speaker's father?

    -The speaker's father became a McDonald's chef.

  • What happened to the speaker's father's job?

    -The speaker's father was replaced by robots as well.

  • Why did the speaker choose to get into programming?

    -The speaker chose programming to avoid being replaced by robots, as coding was considered the new literacy.

  • What is Devon, as described in the script?

    -Devon is an AI software engineer developed by Cognition Labs, capable of performing tasks similar to human software engineers.

  • How does Devon solve problems?

    -Devon solves problems by Googling for solutions, using APIs, writing and testing code, and fixing errors in an infinite feedback loop.

  • What is the current success rate of Devon on the software engineering benchmark?

    -Devon currently has a success rate of 13.86% on the software engineering benchmark.

  • How does the script describe the potential future of AI in software engineering?

    -The script suggests that in the future, AI tools like Devon could significantly improve and potentially replace many software engineering jobs, offering solutions to complex problems and even training its own AI models.

  • What is the speaker's humorous solution to the potential loss of programming jobs to AI?

    -The speaker jokingly suggests a gene therapy pill that rewires the brain for optimal coding performance, with side effects including hallucinations and physical death.

Outlines

00:00

🤖 The Evolution of Automation and the Emergence of Devon

This paragraph discusses the historical replacement of human labor by automation, starting with the great-grandfather on a farm, the grandfather in a car factory, and the father as a McDonald's chef. The narrator's decision to learn programming is challenged by the advent of AI tools like Devon, which is capable of coding in a continuous feedback loop. The video aims to explore whether Devon signifies the end of software engineering or is just another overhyped technology.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Robots

In the context of the video, robots symbolize the automation and technological advancements that have historically replaced human labor in various industries, such as farming, car manufacturing, and fast-food service. The term is used to illustrate the progression of technology and its impact on job displacement, as seen with the speaker's great-grandfather, grandfather, and father.

💡Programming

Programming is the process of creating code that instructs a computer or computing system to perform specific tasks. In the video, the speaker chose programming as a career path to avoid the fate of job displacement by automation, highlighting the perceived value and security in tech-related skills.

💡Co-pilot

Co-pilot, in this context, refers to a type of AI tool designed to assist programmers by writing code. It is an example of AI's encroachment into the realm of software development, potentially aiding or replacing human programmers in their tasks.

💡Devon

Devon is an AI software engineer developed by Cognition Labs, which has the capability to interact with developer tools and solve programming problems in a manner similar to human engineers. It represents a significant leap in AI's ability to perform complex tasks that were traditionally the domain of human expertise.

💡Infinite feedback loop

An infinite feedback loop, as used in the video, refers to a process where AI systems like Devon continuously improve and refine their output based on the feedback they receive from their interactions with the environment. This iterative process allows the AI to learn and adapt, enhancing its problem-solving capabilities over time.

💡GitHub issues

GitHub issues are tasks or problems reported by developers on the GitHub platform, which is a repository for managing and collaborating on code. In the context of the video, these issues represent real-world challenges that AI tools like Devon are designed to address, showcasing their effectiveness in software engineering tasks.

💡Alpha Coder

Alpha Coder is a tool mentioned in the video that uses AI to generate multiple potential solutions to coding problems and then selects the best one. It represents the cutting edge of AI's application in competitive programming, where it can outperform a significant percentage of human programmers.

💡Upwork

Upwork is a freelancing platform where individuals can post jobs and receive bids from various professionals, including software developers. In the context of the video, it is used as an example of how AI tools like Devon are already being integrated into the job market, performing tasks that were traditionally done by human freelancers.

💡AI models

AI models in the video refer to the algorithms and data structures that AI systems use to learn from data and make predictions or decisions. These models are at the core of AI's ability to perform tasks, such as coding, and can be trained to improve their performance over time.

💡Silicon Valley

Silicon Valley is a region in Northern California known for its high concentration of technology companies and startups. In the video, it represents the hub of innovation and the driving force behind the development of AI technologies like Devon, which aims to revolutionize the field of software engineering.

💡Gene therapy

Gene therapy is a medical field that involves altering the genes inside a person's cells to treat or prevent diseases. In the video, it is humorously presented as a solution to enhance coding performance, reflecting the speaker's satirical take on the potential of AI to replace human programmers.

Highlights

A century ago, the user's great-grandfather was replaced by robots on a farm.

The user's grandfather worked in a Detroit car factory, which was later automated.

The user's father was a McDonald's chef before being replaced by AI in the food industry.

The user chose programming as a career to avoid being replaced by automation.

Coding is considered the new literacy, with Python being a must-learn skill.

Co-pilot and GP4 are AI tools that have started to write code.

Devon is an AI that can take over software engineering tools to write code in a feedback loop.

Devon has access to the same developer tools as a human engineer, like a terminal, browser, and code editor.

Devon can solve problems by searching the internet, similar to how humans do.

Devon can create a plan of action based on product manager requirements.

Devon writes code, tests it, fixes errors, and repeats the process until the problem is solved.

Devon outperforms other AI tools on the software engineering benchmark, with a 13.86% success rate.

AI tools like Devon and Google's Alpha Coder are improving but are not yet ready to replace human engineers.

Devon is already performing real jobs on Upwork and earning money.

The company behind Devon is backed by significant Silicon Valley investors.

Other startups like Magic and Dodev are also working on AI for software engineering.

There is a possibility that AI in coding may not live up to its hype, similar to self-driving cars and 3D printing.

Despite the advancements, AI tools are currently best suited for simple problems and can be counterproductive for complex tasks.

Experts like Jensen Wong believe the goal is to create technology that makes everyone a programmer.

The user humorously suggests a gene therapy pill as a solution to maintaining coding skills in the face of AI automation.