Intuit Reevaluates Hiring as AI Tools Transform Coding Workflow

In the rapidly evolving landscape of software development, chief technology officers (CTOs) are rethinking their approach to vetting engineering candidates in the age of AI coding tools. Intuit's CTO, Alex Balazs, draws a parallel between the acceptance of calculators in engineering education and the current adoption of AI coding assistants. He believes that these tools will become integral to the workflow, prompting Intuit to reevaluate its hiring processes. The company is considering more complex coding exercises that require candidates to solve bigger problems, leveraging AI tools to complete tasks. This shift reflects the expectation that new hires will use AI tools in their roles at Intuit.

AI coding tools like Github Copilot, Cursor, and Windsurf have gained significant popularity, particularly among junior developers. Veteran workers, however, remain skeptical about the tools' impact on their jobs. CTOs and chief information officers (CIOs) highlight the productivity gains and faster onboarding these tools provide, with usage rates steadily increasing. The skills required for an AI-enabled developer workforce are also evolving. Deborah Golden, chief innovation officer at Deloitte, notes that memorizing application programming interfaces (APIs) is less critical, while good judgment and risk assessment in AI-written code are more important. She emphasizes that AI tools level the playing field but also create opportunities for those who can adapt quickly.

Several CEOs claim that 20% to 30% of code within their companies is written by AI tools. However, Andrew Rabinovich, head of AI and machine learning at Upwork, cautions that these numbers may be inflated due to the verbosity of AI-generated code. He also points out that AI coding assistants struggle with personalization, which can lead to rejection by senior engineers who have specific coding preferences. Brendan Humphreys, CTO of Canva, addresses concerns about "cheating" during interviews, arguing that software engineering has fundamentally changed and that competency in using AI tools is now essential. Canva has adjusted its assessment criteria to reflect this shift, requiring candidates to demonstrate intelligent use of AI tools.

Raji Arasu, CTO of Autodesk, highlights a report showing a 56% increase in AI skills mentions in U.S. job listings for the design and make industries. This trend has led Autodesk to foster a more adaptable environment, encouraging developers to disrupt traditional project silos. Nikhil Krishnan, senior vice president and CTO of data science at C3 AI, prioritizes problem-solving and reasoning skills in candidates, favoring more senior candidates who can absorb new information and work well in teams. He predicts that it will become harder for junior entry-level software engineers to secure their first opportunities as the industry adapts to AI tools.