The secret skill every developer needs to succeed with AI today

How experimenting with AI tools can jumpstart your developer career.

Gant LaBorde, a software developer with 25 years of experience, sat down with the All Things Open team to share how his journey into AI began, why prompt engineering is a crucial skill for developers, and how embracing failure can open doors in open source.

Gant’s fascination with AI sparked in 2017 after watching a TV show depiction of it. Since then, he has dived deep into AI, even authoring a TensorFlow.js book in 2020. He draws parallels between the early days of web and mobile development and today’s AI revolution, where if you can imagine it, you can build it. His advice for newcomers is clear: Spend time experimenting with every AI tool available and build connections before the ecosystem becomes crowded.

A key insight from Gant is the growing importance of prompt engineering, the art of crafting precise instructions for AI models to get meaningful results. He emphasizes that good storytelling and technical finesse are what separate successful AI use from trashy outputs. Gant also shares his enthusiasm for tools like MSTY, which allow running and fine-tuning large language models (LLM) locally, boosting productivity and control.

Beyond the tech, Gant encourages developers to embrace failure, especially in open source, which can be difficult when working openly. He shares his own story of feeling out of place early in his AI journey but persevering until he became a recognized author and speaker. His message to the community is simple yet powerful: You have to fail your way to success.

Read more: What is prompt engineering?

Key takeaways

• AI experimentation is essential: Spend time exploring different AI tools and models to stay ahead in the rapidly evolving landscape.
• Prompt engineering is a new core skill: Crafting precise prompts is crucial for harnessing AI’s creative and practical potential.
• Failure is part of growth: Open source and AI learning require persistence and embracing mistakes to achieve success.

Conclusion

Gant’s journey reflects the exciting challenges and opportunities AI brings to developers. His blend of curiosity, technical skill, and openness to failure provides a roadmap for anyone looking to innovate in AI and open source. For developers navigating this new frontier, this story is a reminder that persistence and experimentation are key.

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