Programmers and software development professionals
Programmers and software development professionals design, develop, test, implement and maintain software systems on a range of platforms in order to meet the specifications and business objectives of the information system; they also design and develop specialist software e.g. for computer games.
Task Bundle Breakdown
How AI interacts with this occupation's task bundle
Task-by-Task Breakdown
Every task scored individually — sorted highest to lowest AI exposure
writes and codes individual programs according to specifications
GitHub Copilot, Cursor, and Amazon CodeWhisperer can generate substantial portions of code from specifications, dramatically reducing manual coding time while humans review and refine output.
develops user interfaces
AI tools like v0 by Vercel and Figma AI can generate UI components and layouts from prompts, with humans refining UX decisions and accessibility requirements.
tests and corrects software programs
AI-powered testing tools like GitHub Copilot and Diffblue Cover can auto-generate unit tests, identify bugs, and suggest fixes, though complex integration testing still needs human oversight.
writes operational documentation and provides subsequent support and training for users
ChatGPT and Notion AI can draft technical documentation, user guides, and training materials from code or specifications, saving significant time while humans verify accuracy.
develops website and website interfaces and establishes methods to ensure appropriate website security and recovery
AI tools like GitHub Copilot and ChatGPT can generate web code, suggest security configurations, and identify vulnerabilities, though final security architecture decisions require human expertise.
plans and maintains database structures
AI tools like ChatGPT can generate schema designs and optimisation suggestions, but complex data architecture decisions involving security, scalability, and business logic need human expertise.
examines existing software and determines requirements for new/modified systems in the light of business needs
AI tools like GitHub Copilot and Claude can help analyse codebases and suggest requirements, but understanding business context and stakeholder needs still requires human judgment.
undertakes feasibility study to design software solutions
AI can generate feasibility reports and architectural options (e.g. ChatGPT, Claude), but evaluating trade-offs against organisational constraints requires experienced human reasoning.
implements and evaluates the software
AI can assist with deployment scripts and performance analysis, but evaluating software against real-world business outcomes and edge cases still requires human judgment.
writes code for specialist programming for computer games, (for example, artificial intelligence, 3D engine development)
AI can assist with boilerplate game logic and suggest algorithms, but highly specialised 3D engine and AI game development requires deep creative and technical expertise that current AI cannot replicate.
ROI Calculator
Programmers and software development professionals
This is not a pay rise — it's 1,080 hours of productive capacity that AI could return to you, valued at your current rate.
The portion of your current salary tied to tasks AI can automate or augment. Not a prediction of job loss — a signal of where your role is changing fastest.
How is this calculated?▾
Task weights — each task is weighted by its O*NET frequency rating. Where frequency data is absent, equal weighting is applied.
AI time reduction — tasks scored as "AI Automates" assume 80% time saving; "AI Assists" assumes 40%; "Human-Led" assumes 5%.
Salary equivalent — annual hours saved × (salary ÷ 1,800 working hours/year).
Value at risk — salary × share of role time in AI-automate or AI-assist tasks.
Figures are indicative estimates for planning purposes, not guarantees of productivity gain or job loss risk.