National, June 20, 2024: A new study by EPAM Systems, Inc. (EPAM), a leading global digital transformation services and product engineering company, in collaboration with CyberMedia Research (CMR), has revealed that 62% of modern engineers expect AI to enhance their career growth, while 52% believe it will boost their productivity.
As AI and generative AI technologies transform the future of business, modern engineers are at the forefront of this technological revolution. The study surveyed over 800 engineers aged 25 and above from eight major cities in India, covering top skillsets such as Data Engineering, Analytics, Product & Platform Engineering, Cloud Transformation & Migration, Testing, Digital Experience Engineering, AI Prompt Engineering, and more.
Key Findings:
Modern engineers believe AI can significantly improve their daily work by automating tasks and increasing efficiency:
- Continuous Learning: 60% of engineers report AI provides ongoing learning and development opportunities.
- Team Communication: AI integration has improved team communication and collaboration for 47% of respondents and clarified data-driven decision-making for 44%.
- Workflow Integration Challenges: 37% of engineers find seamlessly integrating AI into existing workflows a challenge.
- Training Resources: 41% feel current AI training resources are insufficient, causing job security concerns for 44%, yet 76% expect their organizations to offer AI resources and learning platforms.
- Human Accountability: 50% believe following AI protocols ensures human accountability and control over AI-driven decisions, with 56% preferring Explainable AI for transparent decision-making.
Additional Insights:
- Enhanced Decision-Making: AI improves decision-making by minimizing errors and enhancing data interpretation, but requires human oversight for accuracy.
- Transformative Potential: AI offers continuous learning opportunities and acts as a valuable daily assistant, impacting problem-solving, debugging, and workflow efficiency.
- Creative Problem-Solving: AI serves as a catalyst for creative problem-solving, offering alternative approaches and solutions that enhance work quality and relevance.
- Workforce Shifts: AI is expected to handle more tasks, potentially making certain job roles obsolete and shifting workforce dynamics.
- Job Creation and Elimination: AI integration is poised to create roles focused on AI/ML model monitoring, data analysis, and cross-functional team formation while eliminating others.
EPAM’s Commitment to AI-Driven Innovation
Elaina Shekhter, Chief Marketing & Strategy Officer at EPAM, commented on the report: “At EPAM, we see AI as a game-changer for modern engineers. The survey results reflect this sentiment, showing enthusiasm for AI’s potential to boost careers and productivity. We are committed to making this a reality by equipping our engineers to become AI collaborators, not competitors. This will unlock a new era of innovation and efficiency, allowing them to automate mundane tasks, gain deeper data-driven insights, and focus on creative and strategic aspects of engineering. AI is the future of engineering, and EPAM is here to empower our engineers to lead the way.”
Srinivas Reddy, Managing Director at EPAM India, added: “EPAM is the home of the modern engineer, and our survey findings on AI adoption resonate deeply. Engineers see the immense potential of AI to boost careers and productivity. Companies need to bridge the knowledge gap and equip engineers with the skills and support they need to thrive in the AI era. The survey reinforces our commitment to continuous learning and development. By providing comprehensive training resources, fostering collaboration, and addressing job security anxieties, we can empower our engineers to understand AI and leverage its power to become more innovative and productive. AI should be seen as a powerful tool that elevates the work our engineers do.”
Conclusion
The integration of AI in the engineering industry is set to bring significant changes, driving innovation, and enhancing productivity. EPAM and CMR’s study highlights the optimism among modern engineers and underscores the importance of equipping them with the necessary tools and training to harness the full potential of AI.
