AI's Role in Code Generation at Microsoft
AI coding prowess highlighted by Microsoft CEO: AI now composes around 20-30% of Python code in select projects, according to Satya Nadella.
Listen up, bud! Microsoft's CEO, Satya Nadella, has dropped a bomb. In a chat with Meta CEO, Mark Zuckerberg, at Llamacon, Nadella said AI is responsible for writing around 20-30% of the code in some of Microsoft's projects[1][2][3]. And get this, the AI is working in various programming languages, with Python generating 'fantastic' results, while C++ is still catching up[5].
Now, this could be shedding some light on those weird Windows updates we've been seeing lately, with that mysterious empty folder that supposedly boosts security. But it's not crystal clear where this AI-crafted code is winding up. And let's not forget, those auto-completion tools in coding software kinda count as AI, too, so that 30% figure is a bit hazy.
Microsoft isn't the only one hopping on the AI bandwagon. CTO Kevin Scott expects 95% of Microsoft's code to be AI-produced by 2030[2]. Google CEO, Sundar Pichai, also revealed that AI churns out 30% of code for Google. As for Zuck, he's a bit vague on the percentage of AI-spun code at Meta[3].
Both Zuck and Nadella are keener than ever on the concept of relying heavily on AI coding agents in the future, without any word on how it may pan out for jobs. Zuck reckons AI code will enhance security, but a recent study points out that AI's propensity to 'hallucinate' package dependencies and third-party code libraries could be quite risky[4]. When AI generates code, it opens the door for someone to upload a malicious package based on an AI-induced line of code. Here's hoping the big three—Microsoft, Meta, and Google—give their AI-generated code the once over before broadcasting it anywhere... but I ain't holding my breath for corporate accountability, mate.
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Jess KinghornJess has been penning about games for over a decade, dedicating the last seven years to print publications such as PLAY and Official PlayStation Magazine. When she's not crafting hardware articles here, she's getting cozy with a horror classic, ranting about a surprise indie game to a captive audience, or fiddling with some tabletop nonsense.
- The role of artificial intelligence in code generation at Microsoft is expanding, with AI possibly being responsible for 20-30% of the code in some projects, even using programming languages like Python and C++.
- While AI-written code may contribute to more streamlined processes, it could also introduce risks, such as the tendency for AI to 'hallucinate' package dependencies and third-party code libraries, potentially leading to security vulnerabilities.
- In contrast to Zuckerberg's interest in relying on AI coding agents, Mark Zuckerberg's stance on the risks associated with AI-generated code seems somewhat vague.
- The frequent updates seen in Windows may be the result of AI-generated code, although the specific locations of this code are unclear.
- The increased focus on artificial intelligence and machine learning in technology has led some, including Meta's CTO, Kevin Scott, to predict that 95% of Microsoft's code may be AI-produced by 2030.
