AI Engineering and Product Composer: the birth of two new professional roles

At the beginning of the industrial revolution, no one imagined that a machine could replace manual labor with such precision. Today, in the era of artificial intelligence (AI), we are experiencing a similar transformation, but in the world of software. Welcome to a new technological reality where two roles are rewriting the rules: the AI ​​Engineer and the Product Composer. In this edition of PROMPTING, we explore how these positions are shaping the future of programming development and what implications they have for professionals and companies. If you are starting your professional career or considering changing your career, this may interest you.

At the heart of this transformation is the concept of Native AI Development, introduced by Guy PodjarnyCEO of Tessl, during the announcement of a $125 million financing round for his company. This investment, preceded by a seed round led by Boldstart Ventures — described by Ed Sim as the largest initial check they have ever invested—underlines the growing importance of this innovative approach.

What exactly does this new paradigm entail? Native AI Development is a methodology that shifts the traditional code-centric approach to that of specifications. Here, the developers define that must do the software through structured particularities, often in natural language. Advanced AI systems, particularly Large Language Models (LLMs), autonomously handle asbreaking down these specifications and implementing the solution in code. This separation allows AI to handle the complexities of code generation, optimization, and maintenance, while developers focus on defining requirements and desired outcomes.

This change represents a significant evolution in the creation and maintenance of software. Delegating code implementation and maintenance to AI increases efficiency, reduces costs, and fosters a more inclusive environment for innovation. As AI advances, the possibilities of what can be built and who can build it expand, leading to a future where the development of software It is faster, more accessible and aligned with the needs and creativity of developers.

But Tessl is not alone in this exploration. There is a growing trend of creators using AI tools to build apps without requiring extensive technical or coding skills. In an interview with Zain Kahnfor Superhuman AIRiley Brown, influencer and creator, spoke about the role of the “Composer of Software”. However, we believe that this term does not fully capture the transformation underway, since “Software” may imply a still technical approach. We propose the term Product Composer instead.

The role of the Product Composer

A Product Composer is a professional who specializes in defining the that of a product softwarefocusing on the specifications rather than the underlying code. In the context of Native AI Development, these composers leverage AI tools and platforms to turn detailed specifications into functional applications, without requiring extensive coding skills.

This role requires a deep understanding of business objectives, industry dynamics, and user needs to create accurate and effective specifications that AI can implement. By focusing on desired outcomes and product features, Product Composers accelerate development cycles and reduce technical dependencies.

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The emergence of this role signals a shift towards a more strategic and specification-driven approach in the development of softwareenabled by AI. By focusing on defining that a product should make—based on business insights and user understanding—Product Composers can leverage AI to bring products to market quickly and effectively. This not only streamlines the development process but also opens up new possibilities for innovation, making the creation of software be more accessible and aligned with business needs. As AI continues to advance, the role of the Product Composer will become increasingly essential in shaping product development and the broader technology landscape.

AI engineering, a new horizon in the development of software

If you are familiar with engineering softwareyou’ll surely recognize O’Reilly books as essential resources for developing and honing technical skills. Following this tradition, O’Reilly Media announces the launch of AI engineeringa new book written by Chip Huyen, which will be released in January 2025. In this title, Huyen introduces the role of AI Engineer as one of the fastest growing specialties in the development of software. But what exactly is an AI Engineer?

An AI Engineer is a professional who specializes in building applications leveraging available fundamental models, rather than developing machine learning models from scratch. This role focuses on using powerful, pre-existing AI models—often provided as a service through APIs—to efficiently create, adapt, and deploy AI-powered applications.

AI Engineers use techniques such as promptsfine-tuning and model adaptation to adapt these fundamental models to specific needs. This approach differs from traditional machine learning engineering, which typically involves developing and training models using data and specialized algorithms.