Jan 28, 2025

From Ctrl+C, Ctrl+V to Ctrl+AI

From Ctrl+C, Ctrl+V to Ctrl+AI

About the author

Adarsh Lathika explores how 'work' as we know will evolve in response to technology and how that will impact the relationship between employer & an employee. He is studying artificial intelligence, anthropology & neuroscience for its impact in positivity, productivity and wellbeing. He shares his understanding in the 'Anatomy of Work' LinkedIn newsletter.

Remember the days when a developer's life revolved around a blinking cursor, a mountain of coffee, and the existential dread of debugging a particularly stubborn line of code? The good old days of 2000. I know it all too well as I was one among the thousands of developers then. Back then, I was a lone wolf, battling syntax errors and wrestling with compilers. "Ctrl+C" and "Ctrl+V" were the closest things to magic before discovering Lord Google, but the fear of accidentally deleting a crucial file never left me. The boring and often less regarded tasks of adhering to the prescribed coding standards and documentations were performed with even less enthusiasm.

Fast forward to 2025, and things have dramatically shifted. The developer has been joined by a pack of AI assistants, each with their own helpful suggestions. Now, nobody wastes their time staring blankly at the screen, desperately trying to decipher a vague error message. Now, a simple query to the AI overlords can solve the problem before you even finish typing it.

This shift, however, brings with it a profound responsibility.

As AI becomes an inseparable part of the software development lifecycle, we as developers must do everything we can to make sure it’s used ethically and responsibly.

So, how do we do that?

  1. Start with privacy

    We cannot allow the convenience of AI-powered tools to compromise the sensitive data entrusted to us. Every interaction with AI tools must adhere to strict privacy guidelines, ensuring that confidential user information never inadvertently finds its way into the training data of these AI models. This requires a deep understanding of how these tools function, their data handling practices, and the potential risks associated with their use.


  2. Thorough evaluation

    Before integrating any AI tool into our workflows, a thorough due diligence process must be conducted. This includes assessing the potential systemic risks, evaluating the tool's conformity with our security standards, and understanding its limitations. This not only ensures the security of our systems but also helps us avoid unintended consequences and maintain control over the development process.


  3. Education and awareness

    Every developer must be equipped with the knowledge and understanding to use AI tools responsibly. This includes training on data security best practices, the potential risks of malicious code and data poisoning, and the importance of adhering to established guidelines for AI tool usage. Clear usage guidelines, defining permissible data exposure and outlining appropriate security measures, are essential for mitigating these risks.


  4. Robust control mechanisms

    Uncontrolled access to powerful AI coding assistants can lead to unintended consequences and potential security vulnerabilities. Implementing robust processes to manage access to these tools, categorize them based on their risk levels, and provide a controlled environment for their evaluation is crucial. This ensures that the use of AI remains aligned with our security and ethical principles.


  5. Continuous monitoring and adaptation

    The AI landscape is constantly evolving. Therefore, we must continuously monitor the performance of AI tools, assess emerging threats, and adapt our practices accordingly.

This includes staying informed about the latest security best practices, regularly reviewing and updating our AI usage guidelines, and conducting periodic security audits to identify and address potential vulnerabilities. While AI has revolutionized the way we develop software, it also brings with it new challenges and responsibilities. By prioritizing privacy, conducting rigorous evaluations, educating our workforce, establishing robust controls, and continuously adapting our practices, we can harness the power of AI to build secure, reliable, and ethical software solutions that benefit both our businesses and our customers.

AI Promise’ under People+ai has developed a set of statements that organizations can adopt, endorse and declare to its customers on how they are using trustworthy AI technologies to build new products and services, improve processes and increase customer interaction.

You can share your views on them by responding to this short survey

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People+ai is an EkStep Foundation initiative. Our work is designed around the belief that technology, especially ai, will cause paradigm shifts that can help India & its people reach their potential.

Join the Community

People+ai is an EkStep Foundation initiative. Our work is designed around the belief that technology, especially ai, will cause paradigm shifts that can help India & its people reach their potential.

Join the Community

People+ai is an EkStep Foundation initiative. Our work is designed around the belief that technology, especially ai, will cause paradigm shifts that can help India & its people reach their potential.