[Exclusive]
Key Points
- 1Korean e-commerce company Kurly is pioneering the allowance of AI tools like ChatGPT in its developer coding tests, a move that contrasts with the traditional industry ban and signals a recognition of AI proficiency as a core developer skill.
- 2This policy change reflects the rapid advancement of AI's coding abilities, which now surpass junior developers, shifting the focus of required developer competencies toward planning and effective AI utilization.
- 3Consequently, coding education institutions are adapting by shortening traditional programming courses and introducing AI application training, anticipating a future job market that will favor developers adept at leveraging AI.
The article details a significant shift in the IT industry's approach to developer recruitment and training, driven by the rapid advancement of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in coding.
The central development is Kurly, a Korean e-commerce startup, allowing the use of AI chatbots like ChatGPT during its developer recruitment coding tests for the first time. This policy extends to evaluating generative AI utilization for non-developer roles, aiming to boost overall company productivity through widespread AI adoption and internal training initiatives. This move is presented as exceptional, given that major Korean IT companies (Nekaracubbaedangto: Naver, Kakao, Line, Coupang, Baedal Minjok, Danggeun Market, Toss) traditionally prohibit AI use in coding assessments, viewing it as "cheating." An example cited is Amazon's rescinding of a job offer and Columbia University's suspension of a student who used an AI tool to pass a coding test. Kurly's rationale is that AI utilization willingness is now a core competency for developers.
Daangn Market, another platform, is also mandating company-wide AI integration and considering AI use in recruitment tests. Some analysts suggest this indicates a strategic HR pivot to reduce employment burden by reskilling existing permanent developers rather than new hires.
The article highlights the qualitative leap in AI's coding capabilities, which experts claim now exceed those of 1-3 year junior developers and can handle complex programming tasks, as affirmed by OpenAI CEO Sam Altman. This necessitates a change in required developer skills, emphasizing planning and product understanding over mere coding proficiency.
The impact extends to coding education. Training institutions like Zerobase are shortening basic programming language courses (e.g., Java, C++) from one month to two weeks, and regular courses from six to four months, reallocating the saved time to teaching AI coding utilization. They observe a decreasing emphasis on pure development knowledge and an increasing focus on AI utilization skills in job interviews. D-Lab, a coding academy for youth, is introducing and regularizing "AI Coding Special Lectures," acknowledging the need to adapt curricula to the AI trend. Furthermore, a new demand for AI coding education among non-developers is emerging due to the rise of "Vibe Coding," which allows app development through natural language commands to AI. Internal company coding education statistics show AI coding courses growing from 19.6% of total offerings in 2023 to 90.4% by April 2024.
The article concludes with a projection of a polarized developer job market: developers proficient in AI will see increased value, while those resistant to AI adoption may become obsolete. It also suggests new opportunities for junior developers who readily embrace AI.
In essence, the "methodology" observed throughout this news report is an empirical and qualitative analysis of industry trends and expert opinions, identifying a paradigm shift wherein the ability to effectively leverage AI in coding and broader work processes is transitioning from a fringe skill to a fundamental requirement, thereby reshaping recruitment, education, and professional development within the IT sector.