AI is Taking Our Jobs: The Real Threats, the Real Opportunities, and the Path Forward

AI is Taking Our Jobs!
Bryan Finster
Distinguished Engineer
MinimumCD.org SADMF.com

AI Issues
Lost Code Deleted Databases
Large, Unexpected
Changes
Hallucinations
Reduced Productivity

Our Jobs Are Safe!
Thanks for coming!

Spring 2023
" Fine for regex patterns.
AI coding is BS!"

Winter 2023
"We need to expose this nonsense"

Jan 2024
GenAI for DevOps
Hackathon
"This is going to be a
thing"

What Changed?
The tools got better I learned more

Today’s Prediction
"CD Practitioners will win."
Build quality in Work in small batches
Computers perform
repetitive tasks, people
solve problems
Relentlessly pursue
continuous
improvement
Everyone is responsible

Blog Scraper Experiment
The Hypothesis:
With BDD and small batches, we can build tools without
touching the code

Describe the Problem to Claude
Goal:
• Build an app to download all Medium blog posts as
markdown with frontmatter.
Workflow:
• Follow acceptance test–driven development
• Implement one scenario at a time
• Enforce code quality standards
Initial Prompt

Working Agreement
v1 CLAUDE.md

Acceptance Tests
v1 feature file

Acceptance Test Driven Development
Write failing
acceptance test
Implement
scenario
Refactor
Commit changes

Iterating Through the
Unknown
• Google OAuth
• Multiple URL patterns
• Infinite Scroll

Total time: ~4 hours
Time saved: ~2 days
https://github.com/bdfinst/medium-download

"Oh yeah? How do you
know you saved 2 days?!"

Neither are humans.
That's why we drive development with tests!

AI Issues
Competence Issues
Lost Code Deleted Databases
Large, Unexpected Changes Hallucinations
Reduced Productivity

Outcomes Reflect Development Rigor

AI Amplifies Your Skill
“But what if I suck?”
Exactly

Developer Takeaways
AI speeds up everything, good or bad
AI isn’t going to take your job. Developers who use XP to drive AI will.
AI isn’t closing the gap between average and excellent developers…
It’s widening it.

Near Future Job Opportunities
XP practitioners using AI to recover vibe-coded systems
Coaching teams on XP and continuous delivery

But it may not matter in your org
AI can rapidly deliver code change…

Developer Productivity ≠ Speed to Value

Fix the Right Problems
• Vague requirements
• Functional silos
• Manual validations
• Bureaucratic approvals
• Fragile release processes

The Whole Value Stream Must Improve
Product
• Clear goals
• Testable requirements
• No functional silos
Development
• Loosely coupled cross-
functional product teams
• Test-driven development
• Continuous integration
Downstream
• Automated pipelines
• No manual approvals
• Small batch delivery
• Rapid feedback

The Path Forward
1
Map your value stream
2 Find the real constraints
3
Fix them
4 Train the skills to use the AI platform
5
Leverage AI to amplify your success

Let's Learn Together!
MinimumCD.org My Blog LinkedIn Scaled Agile DevOps
Currently Interviewing Employers

AI is Taking Our Jobs: The Real Threats, the Real Opportunities, and the Path Forward

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