The World of Technology Is Changing Before Our Eyes: Open Lecture on the Challenges of the AI Era Held for Students
On June 5, the Department of Information Technologies hosted an exceptionally relevant and dynamic open lecture for students of the Computer Science program. The guest speaker was Dmytro Yeremenko, a successful graduate of the Faculty of Mechanics and Mathematics at Sumy State University, who currently serves as a Tech Lead at MindK and has more than 11 years of practical experience in the IT industry.
The topic of the meeting spoke for itself and generated significant interest among students: “What’s Going On? And What Am I Supposed to Do Now?” – How AI Has Changed Everything and Forces Us to Change. The speaker engaged the audience in an open and critical discussion about how generative artificial intelligence is transforming software development practices, the labor market, and the skill set required of future engineers.
During his presentation, Dmytro Yeremenko delivered an in-depth analysis of current technological trends that clearly demonstrate a radical paradigm shift in the IT industry. He began with a realistic warning: traditional approaches to learning and software development are rapidly becoming outdated, while the ability to simply write basic code is losing its value. Knowledge of the syntax of popular programming languages has become a widely accessible commodity, as artificial intelligence can handle such tasks within seconds.
Moreover, a phenomenon known as the “vanishing middle” is emerging, where AI increasingly absorbs entry-level tasks by automating template-based coding, basic refactoring, and simple bug fixing. This disrupts the traditional entry path into the industry for junior developers and requires an evolution toward the concept of Software Engineer 2.0, based on the principle of “adapt or disappear.”
In these new realities, the traditional Software Development Life Cycle is being replaced by a new model — AIDLC (AI Development Life Cycle) — in which AI agents directly perform coding and deployment tasks, while humans move into higher-level supervisory roles focused on requirements validation, constraint definition, and exercising final veto authority.
However, rapid automation also brings what the speaker described as the “speed paradox.” The uncontrolled pace at which AI generates code often disrupts testing and integration processes, creating chaos and increasing system recovery times. Therefore, one of the key conclusions of the lecture was that computer science today is no longer primarily about writing code, but about understanding the limits of computation. While syntax can be generated by machines, the most challenging and fundamental responsibilities remain with humans: designing data structures, building system architectures, managing concurrency, and applying critical thinking.
Drawing on his experience as a Tech Lead, Dmytro shared practical advice for aspiring professionals. He emphasized that rather than competing with AI in coding speed, future specialists should focus on developing a deep understanding of software architecture, algorithms, business logic, and the ability to effectively manage AI as a tool for enhancing their own productivity.
We sincerely thank Dmytro Yeremenko for delivering such a powerful, realistic, and motivating lecture, which helped students gain a clearer understanding of the directions for their future professional development.
A video recording of the lecture is available on the Department of Information Technologies’ channel.
