Learn how our team of passionate developers is embracing AI responsibly to drive innovation and help businesses thrive in 2025.
Most of the people on my street have been there since the 1970s or 80s. I’ve lived in my house for 15 years, which makes me the new kid on the block. My neighbors tell me that my house is built on the foundation of what used to be a horse barn. Here’s the thing… barns aren’t really meant to keep things out, so I have my share of invasions from the outside. But the house has good bones, and a good foundation is what makes the difference.
That is kind of how I see the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in code development. It is an invasion that’s already in progress. As software developers, we need to choose wisely how we handle it.
Right now, it’s winter and the invasion going on in my house is in the form of ladybugs. They do no harm and brighten my day. This is the good side of AI. Our developers can use AI tools to get fresh ideas on how to code a cumbersome piece of logic; transform a large amount of data quickly for a one-off task; or learn how to interact with a system or technology that is new for them. This makes our team smarter, faster, more creative, and ultimately allows us to provide better service to our clients. We like the ladybugs.
Yesterday however, I was working at my home office and a stinkbug landed right on my keyboard. This is the remnants of last summer’s invasion of stinkbugs. This guy has been hiding out waiting to cause trouble. This is one of the pitfalls of AI in the developer’s workflow – buggy code and buggy information. When developers allow AI to generate code or produce analysis results, but do not apply the correct quality and validation measures you can end up with stinkbugs on your keyboard. It’s important that software development along with data analysis and compilation practices that incorporate AI include the proper amount of oversite and quality controls. Trust but verify.
The worst invasion in my home are the wasps that show up in the heat. They come from nowhere and strike quickly. They cause pain and disruption. These are the security holes that can be opened up when AI is used in any way within an organization, but can be particularly detrimental if your software developers aren’t keeping security top of mind. Utilizing the wrong tools can put your company’s data and systems at risk. It’s important to establish guidelines around what tools can be used and in what context, along with ongoing monitoring of the ever-changing threat landscape around AI.
The stinkbugs and wasps are enough for some companies to outlaw the use of AI by their developers, but this comes at the expense of keeping out the ladybugs. Those ladybugs can make dramatic differences in the learning curve for less advanced developers, efficiency for more advanced developers, and bring new capabilities within reach. Harnessing the power of AI while keeping quality high and security top of mind can be the catalyst toward change that can revolutionize how you do business. It’s all about the foundation. It’s all about the bones.
At the end of each year, I sit down with the members of my staff to collaborate on goals for the following year. In 2025, I’ve charged 50% of my staff with a goal of expanding their knowledge in this area. The focus will be on using AI in a responsible way that helps us be in the best position to help our clients navigate through this landscape because the invasion is not just coming. It’s already here.
We are not just code-slingers. We are a group of professional software developers with a genuine curiosity and passion around technology, and a drive to use technology to help our clients. We would love to chat with you about exploring how we can partner with you to use technology to help drive your goals for 2025.
(No AI was used in the generation of this content. Stay in control, folks.)
Written By:
Jill Epperson
Director of Microsoft and Mobile Application Development
Applications Solutions Group
