Zone01 Kisumu Conference Asks: What Is a Developer's Role in the Age of AI?

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Zone01 Kisumu held an AI and Software Engineering mini-conference at Rotary last week, featuring a panel discussion and a keynote by Amariah Abishai, Founder of Atlarix. The event examined pressing questions about AI's impact on software development, including how engineers should relate to code they did not write themselves. A central theme that emerged was the shift in a developer's role — from writing code line by line to making higher-level decisions about system design, problem selection, and quality validation. Abishai captured the mood with the observation that the job has quietly changed without any formal announcement. Attendees left with the message that AI can accelerate implementation, but engineering judgment, foundational knowledge, and accountability still rest with the developer.

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