Just as calculators revolutionized mathematics decades ago, artificial intelligence (AI) is now transforming programming. An example is Kyo, an eight-year-old boy from Singapore, who created a platform game in just two hours using the coding app Cursor and Claude AI, attracting over 500, 000 players. Despite having no formal coding training and without assistance from his coder father, Kyo went on to develop more games and apps, completing each in about two hours. This illustrates how AI is significantly lowering the barriers to software development, connecting creative ideas with technical execution. AI tools such as Google’s AlphaCode 2 and Replit’s Ghostwriter further facilitate this process. Similarly, eight-year-old Fay from the U. S. built a chatbot mimicking Harry Potter in just 45 minutes. For experienced coders, AI applications like Tabnine and GitHub Copilot act as smart assistants, suggesting and autocompleting code, while others like Sourcery and DeepCode offer real-time code cleaning and vulnerability fixing. New tools continue to emerge, such as OpenAI's GPT Canvas, which aids in sophisticated coding tasks and can translate code between languages. The benefits of these tools are revolutionizing the software industry. About 70% of companies have adopted AI tools like GitHub Copilot, enabling coders to create more reliable, bug-free software. This shift allows developers to focus on higher-level tasks, such as system design and collaboration. However, educators face challenges adapting teaching materials and assessment methods as AI tools take on more coding tasks. Despite their potential, AI coding remains in its infancy.

Current AI tools can help non-coders create simple applications but struggle with complex IT projects and problem-solving. They often generate code that may work but lacks efficiency or security and may mishandle sensitive data or perpetuate biases. Thus, there remains a need for human coders to ensure standards are met. Future developments may enhance AI's capability in handling security and specialized subjects, but for now, AI complements rather than replaces human coding skills. If you're interested in building your own game, here’s a simplified guide: 1. **Sign Up**: Create an account with an AI tool like Cursor or AlphaCode 2, and follow setup instructions. You may also need to install a programming language (e. g. , Python) and a source code editor (like VS Studio Code). 2. **Start Your Game**: Open a new project in the chosen tool and type: “Create a simple platform game where the platforms are made of sweet treats. ” 3. **Preview Your Creation**: Click “run” or “preview” to view your game, which should show candy or cake platforms. 4. **Make Adjustments**: To change the main character to a parrot, type: “Make the avatar a green parrot. ” 5. **Add Features**: Enhance the game by adding controls and a score counter: “Let the parrot be controlled by the cursor arrows, insert sweets to collect, and add a score counter. ” 6. **Test and Tweak**: Continuously test your game by running it and iterating through adjustments, such as adding challenges or new features, until satisfied with the results.