ChatGPT and the Future of Coding Bootcamps

The rapid ascent of AI in the tech realm has often been met with a mixture of awe and skepticism. One area significantly impacted by these advancements is education, particularly coding bootcamps. The emergence of ChatGPT and other Large Language Models (LLMs) represents a profound shift in how we approach coding and, by extension, how we teach it.

Coding bootcamps rose to prominence by promising -and, to a large extent, deliverin- fast, intensive courses that equip students with employable tech skills. The appearance of LLMs capable of generating code, error-checking, and even offering coding advice represents a fundamental shift in this paradigm. On one hand, ChatGPT can serve as an ever-available mentor, guiding students through complex problems and offering instant feedback. On the other, there’s a looming shadow—could these models outpace and potentially replace the very programmers they’re helping to train?

Thus, the ability of ChatGPT and similar large language models (LLMs) to write code has sparked a discussion about the future of human programmers. Many believe that LLMs can handle repetitive or boilerplate coding tasks, reducing the need for entry-level coders. With the ability to understand vast amounts of code, LLMs can assist in finding errors and suggesting bug fixes, reducing the time developers spend on these tasks. Given the right instructions, LLMs can code rapidly, potentially outpacing human programmers for specific tasks.

An alternative view, on the other hand, sees the net balance of the impact of LLMs as producing a growing demand for human programmers. According to this view, the code generated by LLMs requires human oversight for quality assurance, ensuring it meets the required standards and serves the intended purpose. In the end, LLMs, like any tool, need human operators. Developers will be required to train, guide, and maintain these models. More broadly, as with any technological advancement, new opportunities arise. Humans will be needed to explore and develop applications leveraging LLMs, potentially leading to new professional domains and specialties. Read more…