AI is changing software development. It’s not necessarily a replacement for the need for a good developer, but it does have ramifications for what they need to do. And that has repercussions both for agencies, the people who power them and the clients who hire them.
The question isn’t if AI will change software development, it’s how you’ll respond
AI is no longer just disrupting industries; it’s rewriting the rules of how we work, build, and compete. From boardrooms to back-end systems, its impact is being felt across every layer of business. The age of AI isn’t on the horizon; it’s embedded in your workflow. For developers, especially in fast-paced agency environments, tools like GitHub Copilot, ChatGPT, ZenCode, and Amazon CodeWhisperer are already shifting the day-to-day from writing code to orchestrating outcomes. While this shift means more than efficiency gains, it’s redefining roles, skillsets, how agencies deliver value and what outcomes a client can expect. According to Thoughtworks, software development productivity could increase up to 30% with GenAI tools integrated into the workflow. Source
From Builders to Orchestrators
AI-powered platforms like GitHub Copilot, ChatGPT, ZenCode, and Amazon CodeWhisperer aren’t replacing developers; they’re supercharging them. Tasks that once took days can now be prototyped in hours. Instead of starting from a blank file, devs can now curate, edit, and optimise AI-generated code.
The code development scenario is changing fast. To reduce the time taken to develop and deploy a tech solution, Publicis Sapient developed an AI-powered platform called Sapient Slingshot, designed to automate and expedite complex software processes, including prototyping, coding, testing, and deployment.
According to their insights, Sapient Slingshot enables user interface development in days rather than weeks or months, dramatically reducing front-end development timelines by allowing engineers to instantly generate UI components from design files. This approach has transformed legacy systems, making modernisation projects more feasible and predictable. Source
The result? Faster prototypes, quicker experimentation, and more time spent on what matters. This isn’t just about tech, it’s about competitive advantage.
AI tools are well-equipped to handle the syntax. The development value these days lies in understanding context, shaping outcomes, and creating user impact. This isn’t just working faster. It’s building smarter, learning faster, and scaling sustainably.
Why This Matters for Agencies
Agencies that embrace this shift are already seeing a transformation in how they scope, staff, and scale projects. With fewer bottlenecks and faster iteration loops, AI enables leaner teams to produce enterprise-grade work, focusing more on the what and why, and less on the how.
AI isn’t just trimming hours off a sprint; it’s opening entirely new ways to scope, staff, and scale client work. A recent example is the AI‑powered vaping‑cessation chatbot that Cancer Council NSW launched with Miroma Project Factory (MPF) in May 2025.
Facing the challenge of reaching 14 to 25-year-olds, MPF’s team used generative tools and LLM pipelines for conversation variants, and automated test harnesses to transform co‑designed dialogue and UX flows into a working MVP in under six weeks. AI drafted dialogue variations, scaffolded branching logic, and stress‑tested edge cases, while the human team concentrated on:
- Strategic technical planning – selecting the right AI models, guardrails, and data‑privacy controls.
- Youth‑led UX design – turning research from 150+ young Australians into a tone‑perfect, mobile‑first experience.
- Content & escalation pathways – crafting supportive messaging and integrating live hand‑off routes for higher‑risk users.
- Communications positioning – ensuring the pilot could attract future partners and funding for national roll‑out.
The result? A production‑ready MVP that shipped faster, cost less, and resonated more deeply with its audience than a traditional build could deliver. For agencies, this case proves that the competitive edge now lies in orchestrating AI and human expertise in curating solutions, not just coding them. Leaner teams can deliver enterprise‑grade outcomes, freeing headcount and budget for higher‑value strategy, experimentation, and client impact.
Why This Matters for Clients
Clients who recognise and support their agency in exploring and playing with AI tools will get better outcomes than those who just look for cost savings. If your project can be improved by 10-30% when your agency uses AI – this leads to better developed, more stringently tested, easier to maintain code. Look for the longer-term benefit rather than a short-term cost saving.
The New Developer Skillset: Strategy > Syntax
AI democratises access to complex coding patterns, meaning that developers who thrive will be those who are willing to explore, can effectively interpret needs, ask the right questions, and make informed architectural decisions. Agencies need to upskill teams in problem-solving, curiosity, design thinking and platform fluency – not just frameworks.
With AI handling boilerplate code and syntax, developers are now tasked with higher-value work:
- Interpreting requirements means prompting AI to explore options and validate assumptions early.
- Architectural decisions are now informed by rapid prototyping and AI-assisted comparisons.
- Cross-disciplinary collaboration happens faster, with devs turning Figma designs or user flows into working code in real time.
- Product thinking replaces feature delivery, AI handles the “how,” developers now focus on “why” and “for whom.”
AI automates syntax. Developers now create value through judgment, strategy, and user impact.
Always-On Innovation: The AI-Enabled Workflow
With AI tools continuously learning and improving, the development process is shifting toward continuous delivery and experimentation. This means quicker MVPs, more frequent user feedback, and a more agile response to market shifts, which competitive advantage agencies can’t afford to ignore. AI tools are continuously improving, which means your dev process can be too. This supports a new standard of delivery:
- MVPs in days, not weeks
- Live user feedback loops
- Agile iteration based on real-time signals
But with AI-assisted development, intellectual property (IP) ownership can raise important questions, particularly when code is generated or heavily influenced by tools like GitHub Copilot or ChatGPT. Ownership of AI-generated code depends on the terms of service of the specific tool being used and how the code is ultimately used or modified. At MPF, we treat this seriously. We ensure all terms of service, AI-generated code is reviewed, validated, and customised by human developers, so that the final product is both fit-for-purpose and fully owned by the client. Our workflows are designed to preserve IP clarity, maintain compliance with open-source obligations, and deliver confidently licensable outputs, critical for long-term platform investment and future commercialisation.
The role of the developer is evolving, and so is the agency model. Those who harness AI not just as a tool but as a team member will unlock new levels of efficiency, creativity, and scale. It’s not about coding less, it’s about coding smarter.
Want to see how your team can leverage AI to reduce time-to-market and deliver more strategic value?
Book a discovery call with our team and let’s talk about how we can integrate AI into your workflow Kat@theprojectfactory.com
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