Sundar Pichai says AI writes 25 per cent of all Google software: Story in 5 points

Google CEO Sundar Pichai revealed during the company’s third-quarter earnings call that artificial intelligence (AI) now generates more than 25 per cent of Google’s new code, with engineers stepping in to review and refine it. This trend represents a fundamental shift in software development, where AI not only shares the coding workload but also reshapes engineering roles. By automating routine tasks, Google is enabling its engineers to focus on complex problem-solving and innovation. However, this advancement also raises important questions about the future of entry-level coding jobs, as AI becomes an important part of development workflows.
Here is everything that Pichai has said about coding and AI in 5 points:
CEO Sundar Pichai recently shared a groundbreaking update during the company’s Q3 2024 earnings call: over a quarter of all new code at Google is now produced by artificial intelligence (AI), with final reviews performed by human engineers. This marks a transformative shift, revealing AI’s growing role in streamlining and accelerating Google’s development processes. Pichai’s announcement underscores Google’s commitment to embedding AI deeply within its operations, marking a big moment for tech and hinting at an industry-wide change.
AI-generated code is reshaping the responsibilities of software engineers at Google, who now increasingly focus on reviewing and refining AI-produced work. This shift allows engineers to concentrate on high-level problem-solving and complex tasks rather than spending time on more routine coding tasks. Meaning: Engineers need not be threatened by AI taking their jobs. AI may simply empower coders to engage in more strategic and creative aspects of development. For engineers, however, this means an evolving role where overseeing, adapting, and improving AI-generated code becomes as critical as traditional coding.
While AI integration boosts efficiency, it also raises concerns about the future of entry-level and routine coding positions. With AI handling an expanding portion of code creation, tasks typically assigned to junior developers may be minimised. Consequently, aspiring coders may need to reimagine their career paths by focusing on skills that complement AI-driven processes. Core competencies, such as the ability to guide AI systems, validate AI outputs, and troubleshoot complex issues, are likely to become more important as basic coding tasks are increasingly automated. This change suggests that coders who adapt by acquiring AI-related and strategic coding skills will be better equipped to thrive in an AI-influenced workforce.
Google’s use of AI in coding is part of a wider push to streamline operations across the company. The tech giant recently restructured, consolidating its research, machine learning, and security teams with its platforms and devices divisions. This structural shift aims to facilitate the faster deployment of AI models, such as Google Gemini. By unifying these teams, Google is positioning itself to respond rapidly to technological advances and introduce AI-driven solutions more efficiently.
Pichai’s announcement represents a glimpse into the evolving tech landscape, where AI acts as a collaborator rather than a competitor to human engineers. As AI continues to generate code and support engineers in development, software engineering itself is transforming. Engineers will be tasked with overseeing AI outputs, ensuring code accuracy, and developing complementary skills in machine learning and AI oversight. Far from signalling the end of coding careers, this shift points to a future where AI assists engineers in delivering innovative solutions more efficiently, with human oversight maintaining quality and ethical standards.