How Springboard Equips Software Engineers with AI Skills

AI is rapidly transforming the software engineering field, and Springboard is helping students stay ahead with its new AI for Software Engineers unit. We spoke with Muhammad Akkad, a Springboard mentor and software engineer, about why it’s crucial for new developers to understand AI fundamentals like prompt engineering. Muhammad explains how AI tools are essential for productivity and problem-solving in modern development. Learn how the AI for Software Engineers unit equips students to use AI responsibly, avoid common pitfalls, and ultimately boost their hireability in a competitive job market. 

Why is it important for new software engineers to learn AI basics such as prompt engineering?

Almost everyone is using AI in many different fields, so new software engineers should have an understanding of it to help increase productivity. Software engineers always need to stay current with technology, so they have been one of the first fields to use AI on the job. 

How do you think understanding AI basics will help new junior developers launch their careers?

After the introduction of AI tools, a lot of simpler tasks were deprecated because tools like ChartGPT made them easier to do. These tasks may have been done by more junior-level developers to gain experience. Junior developers now have to level up their capabilities by being capable of using these AI tools. They need to have a good understanding of how they work to produce better results. 

A good example of this is calculators. Before calculators, people were responsible for all aspects of accounting and calculations. Calculators helped streamline that job and increased productivity by taking on easier tasks. People who refused to use calculators did not have the same possibilities as people who started using calculators. The same goes with AI. Engineers need to know how to effectively use it so that their productivity is on the same level as other engineers who are using AI.

In addition to being a mentor at Springboard, you are a software engineer. How are you incorporating or using AI on the job now?

I use AI almost every day on the job. I use Github CoPilot, which is an extension for my integrated development environment (IDE), and it helps me automate some of the more tedious, manual work. Smaller copy-paste tasks, like when we need to update text, I’ve assigned to AI. CoPilot is good at predicting what I'm going to write, which saves time. 

I utilize AI for brainstorming. For example, if I'm looking for a solution, I will go to ChatGPT and other tools, and have a conversation with it. AI can be helpful when I'm starting something new. I may not want to write something from the beginning, so I can go to an AI tool and get the starter code or a template. 

I also use AI for debugging. We used to do it with Stack Overflow and through our internet research. Using AI tools reduces the time for research. 

What is the goal of the new AI for Software Engineers unit in the Software Engineering Bootcamp at Springboard?

The primary goal for this unit is to learn how to use AI efficiently. Our aim is for students to learn how to utilize AI and have discernment. AI can be misleading and can lead to errors, bugs in the code, and complications. Before we added the AI for Software Engineers unit to the curriculum, I would see students copy-pasting results they got from an AI tool without understanding what they were. This is why this unit is so important. We’re teaching students how software engineers correctly interact with AI.

What does the AI for software engineers unit cover? Like what are some of the main skills and AI tools that students will learn?

The unit starts with an introduction to artificial intelligence and large language models (LLMs). It's quite important to understand how these work to have a better understanding of these tools. Our main focus after teaching the basics is on prompt engineering, such as how to create clear, specific prompts. 

How many weeks of the bootcamp are dedicated to this new AI unit?

The bootcamp is a self-paced program, so it should take students a couple of hours of reading to complete the unit. 

How will students use AI during their time at Springboard?

Since the focus of the unit is on prompting, no AI projects are being built. There will be hands-on exercises on how to prompt AI, compare results, and determine what to do with the information they get from AI.

Mentorship is a key component at Springboard. How are you helping students implement AI into their work?

I get a lot of questions from my students regarding AI. My approach is to encourage students to use AI. We don't have to be afraid of AI as software engineers. It's a great tool for productivity. I encourage my students to try ChatGPT and then try to code it themselves. AI could give students more confidence because it can be like a mentor. When used correctly, it can explain and help students with solving problems. 

To effectively use AI, you need to have knowledge of software engineering or you won’t be able to utilize them fully. I always clarify with my students that they should not trust whatever an AI tool tells them. I may use AI tools for productivity, but I still have to verify the results. 

Do you think that this new AI in Software Engineering unit will boost Springboard students' hireability?

Yes. While AI is not replacing software engineers, it will replace software engineers who are not utilizing AI. I’m also seeing AI enter interviews, and it’s becoming acceptable for developers to use ChatGPT. Our students will be able to fully utilize AI, which will increase their hireability.

Do you have any tips for students on making the most of that AI for software engineers unit? 

My advice is to give it a try. Try to apply what we are teaching you. Play around with it to learn firsthand how to engineer your prompt to give the best results. Try to utilize it on a daily basis to get it into your routine. 

Find out more and read Springboard reviews on Course Report. This article was produced by the Course Report team in partnership with Springboard.