In today’s AI-driven world, many people wonder, “Is AI going to take my job?” However, AI’s impact isn’t just about jobs. What about creativity? Is AI going to take away the very thing that makes us unique as humans—our ability to think critically, provide feedback, and manage expectations?
Having been in the field of computer science and software engineering since 2019, I’ve seen a tremendous shift in technology. From struggling to print “Hello, World!” to dreaming of working at FAANG companies, we’ve all had our journey. But as we gain more technical skills, something often fades: our motivation.
The Dream of FAANG and the Reality of Work
In the early stages, the dream of landing a FAANG job motivates many developers, whether it’s solving basic problems like checking for even numbers or building something more complex. But after some years in the industry, many students and professionals feel stuck. Even though they’ve learned to write code beyond simple exercises, they find themselves struggling to find meaningful work or stay motivated. This shift can be partially attributed to the failure to provide effective feedback and consistent challenges.
Why do we dream about FAANG? It’s simple: at first, we are solving problems and challenging ourselves. We receive feedback from mentors, friends, or ourselves. But soon, we stop seeking challenges and feedback, and we begin to judge ourselves negatively. In many cases, we stop applying our creativity, relying instead on AI tools to do the work.
AI and the Decline of Creativity
AI is often viewed as a productivity booster, but here’s the problem: AI is not taking your job, it’s taking your creativity. Let’s be clear—AI is a tool, but over-relying on it can make us dependent and reduce our ability to solve problems independently. For example, you may use AI to generate code for a product MVP (Minimum Viable Product), but that doesn’t mean you’ll end up with a stable product. What’s more, AI-generated content often lacks the innovation that a human mind brings to the table.
Instead of thinking critically, AI prompts us to choose easier paths, leaving us without the necessary creative problem-solving skills. This dependency is especially problematic for junior developers, who find themselves less capable without AI tools, even in simple projects.
The Importance of Feedback in AI-Driven Workplaces
Another crucial element often overlooked in today’s AI-driven workplaces is constructive feedback. Many junior developers struggle due to lack of proper feedback, especially in workplaces where senior developers might criticize their mistakes harshly. Constructive feedback should focus on improvement rather than pointing out flaws. For instance, if a junior developer pushes a wrong commit to the main branch, instead of scolding them, offering guidance on how to fix it can build their confidence and help them grow.
Feedback should motivate developers to learn, rather than discouraging them. Positive, constructive feedback is essential to fostering growth in any work environment—especially when working with AI tools that may overshadow human creativity.
Managing Expectations in an AI World
One of the biggest challenges today is managing expectations—both personal and professional. Many of us expect too much from ourselves, our colleagues, and even AI tools. Whether it’s expecting a developer to deliver the perfect solution on the first try or believing AI will always generate flawless work, unrealistic expectations can lead to frustration.
Startups often expect too much from freshers, interns, and even AI tools. This creates misunderstandings and hampers productivity. It’s crucial to set realistic expectations to ensure that both humans and AI can function optimally without pressure or disappointment.
The Key to Thriving in an AI-Driven World
So, what’s the solution? We need to embrace our creativity and allow it to shine. AI is not the enemy, but we should use it as a tool to enhance our capabilities—not replace them. To stand out in this AI-driven world, we must balance thinking, feedback, and expectations.
- Think critically and solve problems independently.
- Give constructive feedback to help junior developers grow.
- Manage expectations and stay realistic about what can be achieved—both by humans and AI.
AI will continue to shape the future, but our creativity, problem-solving abilities, and unique human insight will always be the factors that set us apart. Let’s continue to build, learn, and adapt—leveraging AI while keeping the human touch at the heart of everything we do.
A topic related to this one read it here
also read https://blog.zarsco.com/impact-of-artificial-intelligence/
