Forrester Predicts AI Impact On Software Development
Forrester predicts AI will significantly impact software development, with fifteen percent of staff looking for new roles, according to Forrester. This change may bring poor-quality products to customers.
Original reporting · forrester.com
Original: “Predictions 2027: AI Turns Up The Heat On Software Development”
Read “Predictions 2027: AI Turns Up The Heat On Software Development” at Forrester →
How this was written. Voyager Commercial wrote this article with a language model from Forrester’s reporting (model: @cf/meta/llama-3.3-70b-instruct-fp8-fast); it describes that reporting rather than adding to it. The original, linked above, is the full story.
Key points from Forrester’s report
- Fifteen percent of staff will be looking for new roles due to AI in software development.
- Thirty-five percent of organizations will add automated testing on the line to ensure high-quality products.
- Leaders must help developers understand what customers want and why to deliver successful products.
Forrester reported that organizations are changing the role of developers, focusing on speed, but not keeping up with cultural changes, training, and process changes. As a result, AI-generated code may reach production without sufficient review or accountability. This may lead to poor-quality, unstable products being delivered to customers.
The use of AI in software development may lead to significant changes in the workforce. Fifteen percent of staff will be looking for new roles, as AI developers who are just clicking 'accept' on AI-generated code may find themselves out of work. However, developers who understand what good architecture looks like and what the customer wants will remain in their roles.
To address the challenges of AI in software development, thirty-five percent of organizations will add automated testing on the line. This will help ensure that products are of high quality and reliable, especially as more AI features are added to products.
Leaders play a critical role in bringing the back and front of the house together, helping developers understand what customers want and why. This will be key to delivering successful products and services, according to Forrester.
The future of software development will require organizations to pay close attention to customer preferences and to ensure that their people are responsible for what goes out. This will involve rethinking talent strategy and cooking up success.
Forrester provides more insights on how to ready teams and put these predictions into action in their report, Predictions 2027: Software Development.
Questions and answers
What percentage of staff will be looking for new roles?
Fifteen percent of staff will be looking for new roles.
What percentage of organizations will add automated testing on the line?
Thirty-five percent of organizations will add automated testing on the line.
What is the key to delivering successful products?
The key to delivering successful products is helping developers understand what customers want and why.
