Web Designer Day: 55.8% Faster Coding Shows AI Is Improving Software Development, Not Replacing It
With Web Designer Day taking place this week, we’re taking the opportunity to address the effect of AI on web and software development… and debunk the myth that it’s replacing all the coders!
Global Web Designer Day on Sunday 31st May celebrates the people who build, design and maintain websites – the same sites that probably go unnoticed by most people until something breaks!
From e-commerce stores and social platforms to booking systems and payment journeys, the web runs on the often-invisible work of software developers and web designers. But despite this, there’s a rumour circulating that we’ve been hearing a lot from people considering our coding and software development courses recently: “but...is AI not replacing coders and devs?”
The answer is “no”, but AI is undoubtedly changing the shape of their profession.
Written by
Adam is a Senior Career Consultant at Learning People, specialising in helping people move into IT, Project Management, Cyber Security, Software Development, and Cloud Computing roles through personalised 1:1 consultation. He understands well which skills and certifications employers value most in today’s fast-evolving tech landscape.
AI Is Removing The Monotony From Web Development
Despite news headlines claiming that AI is wiping out software roles, evidence from industry-leading experts and organisations repeatedly shows that AI is simply stripping friction from the job and allowing professionals to work more efficiently.
For example, in a recent study, it was shown that developers who use GitHub’s AI assistant Copilot completed the same coding task 55.8% faster than when they didn’t.
GitHub Copilot, Gemini Code Assist and similar tools can suggest code, flag bugs, and handle repetitive tasks. That matters because development work is packed with small loops: boilerplate, syntax checks, test fixes, refactoring and documentation - and AI can speed up this monotonous but essential work.
And the productivity numbers are hard to ignore. A study by Microsoft Research, GitHub, and MIT Sloan found that Copilot users completed 126% more projects per week. Research by KPMG also revealed that GitHub Copilot users saved on average 4.5 hours per week. This saved time can go into testing, design decisions, code review, security checks or deeper problem-solving.
The skills and job markets are moving with these AI-driven changes, with Cornerstone’s 2026 Skills Economy Report highlighting that over 95% of AI engineers require emotional intelligence to perform their jobs.
"The human element of web development is still absolutely crucial. Someone has to define the problem, choose the architecture, understand the user, test the edge cases and decide whether the output is safe, useful and maintainable.
AI tools and automation allow web developers to focus more on big-picture strategy."
Meet coding student, Jose
Enrolling with Learning People in 2020, where has Jose’s new career taken him? We invited him to our UK Headquarters to find out how his career in Web Development has taken him over the last five years, reflect on how his experience was with Learning People, and give him the opportunity to advise students.
Getting Into Web Development? Start With The Fundamentals
Web design and development blends front-end development, back-end logic, user experience and client goals. The best websites work because design, code, content and performance work together in harmony - this is why fundamentals still matter.
HTML, CSS, JavaScript, databases, version control, accessibility, responsive design and basic security give developers the judgment to use AI well. Soft skills (that no AI tool can possess) such as teamwork, creative-thinking and communication, are also crucial in web and software development. Without this knowledge base, web developers can find themselves implementing AI-generated code and guidance incorrectly and ineffectively.
Our coding and software development courses can help you build these practical skills and in-demand expertise, supported by internationally recognised foundations and portfolio-focused learning. Speak to a Career Consultant today about kick-starting your career in tech.
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