🌍 The developer role is changing. Here's how to stay ahead.

⚡ The shift: Robots are coming for your boilerplate code. In fact, AI is on track to write 90% of code within the next 2–5 years.

🙌 The opportunity: Robots are terrible at creativity, collaboration, and big-picture thinking. Which, conveniently, is where the future of development is headed.

We’re entering a new AI-powered era. 

Knowing how to code will still be important, but your main job as developer will be that of orchestrator, strategist, and collaborator. Your value will no longer hinge on typing speed, but on your ability to solve, design, and inspire.

“Developers’ roles are evolving from manual coders to orchestrators of AI-driven development ecosystems,” says Ketai Qiu, co-author of From today’s code to tomorrow’s symphony: The AI transformation of developer’s routine by 2030. “The future of programming will be less about writing lines of code and more about defining intent, guiding AI systems, and integrating their outputs into coherent solutions.”

So what does this shift mean for you, and how can you start building these new skills into your workflow today? Let’s dive in:

👑 Context is king

AI can generate code in seconds, but it doesn’t know what you’re building unless you tell it. That’s where context comes in: your goals, data, and intent help Copilot suggest valuable output. Without it, Copilot’s answers risk feeling generic, like a friend who always says “it depends.”

That’s why we built GitHub Copilot Spaces, a place where you give Copilot instructions, sources, and intent so its answers are tailored to your work.

✅ Here’s how to get started:

Step 1: Create a space → github.com/copilot/spaces.

Step 2: Add context → instructions, files, or entire repositories.

Step 3: Use the chat interface → ask questions with your added context. For example, without context you might ask “Write a SQL query to find active users” and get a generic answer. With your database schema uploaded as a source, you can ask the same question and Copilot will tailor the query to your actual tables and fields.

💡 Pro tip: If you’re working in a team, create an organization-owned space so everyone benefits from the same shared context.

🎤 Want to see context at scale? At GitHub Universe 2025 (October 28–29 in San Francisco and online), join:

• Dawn of the agents: Leveraging AI-powered tools to accelerate software development 🟦 In this session, see how context and intent drive more powerful outcomes.

• From intent to output: Designing with AI agents 🟦 Learn how developers are guiding Copilot beyond single prompts into orchestrated solutions.

👉 Explore the full Universe agenda →

👥 Collaboration is the multiplier

AI can suggest outputs, but only humans can bring judgment, perspective, and teamwork. The future belongs to developers who can orchestrate people and machines together.

That’s where GitHub Copilot code review comes in, your built-in AI reviewer. It scans pull requests, leaves comments, and suggests changes just like a teammate would (minus the office politics).

✅ Try it today:

Step 1: Request a Copilot review → open an existing pull request and add Copilot as a reviewer.

Step 2: Review Copilot’s feedback → after a moment, it will add comments, suggestions, and inline changes you can commit directly.

Step 3: Refine the review → re-review, thumbs-up/down feedback, or add a .github/copilot-instructions.md file for custom rules.

💡 Pro tip: Once Copilot provides feedback, you can enable automatic reviews so it checks every pull request by default. Don’t worry, Copilot won’t block merges unless you decide to.

🎤 Want to take collaboration further? At GitHub Universe this year, join us to explore:

• From pair to peer: The next evolution of Copilot code review 🟦  In this session, learn how global teams are using Copilot code review to speed delivery and reduce bottlenecks.
• Micro-mentoring for students → Apply by Sept 19 for a 30-minute 1:1 with a GitHub employee (resume feedback, career coaching, or skill-building tips). Sessions run Oct 20 – 31, 2025, with limited availability.
• Plus: GitHub Expert Center, Career Corner, and Open Source Zone → where hallway conversations turn into lasting collaborations.

👉 Plan your Universe experience →

📚 Learning fuels career longevity

The half-life of technical skills has always been a reality. But in an AI-powered world, it’s getting shorter. What you know today won’t be enough tomorrow, which is why continuous learning is the key to staying ahead.

✅ Here’s a practical roadmap to grow your AI skill set right inside GitHub (adapted from our blog, Vibe coding: Your roadmap to becoming an AI developer):

Step 1: Learn essential languages and frameworks → start with Python, then expand into Java and C++. Explore frameworks like TensorFlow, PyTorch, and Scikit-learn.

Step 2: Master machine learning basics → deep learning, NLP, and computer vision. Try open source repos like Awesome Machine Learning, NLTK, or OpenCV.

Step 3: Showcase your skills on GitHub → organize repos, publish READMEs, contribute to open source, and build a standout profile on GitHub Pages. 

Step 4: Get certified in GitHub Copilot → learn the full toolkit, prepare with docs and projects, and earn your Copilot certification badge.

💡 Pro tip: Don’t just learn AI skills in isolation, show your work. Every repository, contribution, or badge signals to employers that you’re keeping pace with the AI era.

🎤 Want to accelerate your learning curve? At GitHub Universe, you’ll hear directly from the people shaping how software gets built:

• Leading with GitHub Copilot: Rethinking experience, strategy, and collaboration 🟦 Presented by Sharanya Doddapaneni, VP of Engineering at GitHub, this session explores how AI is reshaping engineering leadership.
• Flying high with AI: Cathay Pacific on transforming software development 🟦 Hear how Rajeev Nair, general manager of IT Infrastructure and security, is scaling security and modernizing development at one of the world’s leading airlines.
• Plus, sessions from leaders at GitHub, HubSpot, Microsoft, and GM on pushing AI-powered workflows forward.

👉 See the full speaker lineup →

We’re all in this together 🌍

The role of the developer is changing, and the best way to stay ahead is to learn from those shaping the future. Join us at GitHub Universe — where context, collaboration, and creativity come together. See what’s next, and be part of the community that’s building it.

🔥 Reserve your seat now →

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✨ This newsletter was written and produced by Gwen Davis. ✨