AMD is leading the charge to make software development faster and easier through the power of artificial intelligence (AI) with AMD AI embedded in its engineering workflows. The company knows what software engineers struggle with. It seeks to transform their work with big, creative solutions. AMD hires an incredible workforce, with nearly 50% of the company’s employees being software engineers. The company’s mission is to optimize the software development process more broadly and deliver disruptive productivity gains.
Finally, in the field of software engineering, practitioners spend almost half their workweek on non-coding activities. They only spend an estimated 40 percent of their time developing and testing new code. The other 20 percent is spent on triaging and debugging already identified issues. Software engineers spend about 20 percent of their time on code review and optimization. Their job consists of 10 percent learning new technologies and then another 10 percent documenting their work. AMD has to be aware of these dynamics. Doing so will be critical as the company looks to adopt AI tools that can automate workflows and improve net team output.
The Current Landscape of Software Development
The software development culture at AMD goes beyond the standard project management 101 to a highly regimented work flow and process. Each iteration of AMD’s Adrenalin graphics software suite sticks to a cookie-cutter schedule. It often takes at least six months to develop the idea into an actual release. After this release, the software moves into a support phase that can extend the time an extra three to six months. Even more than most, this long cycle reminds us how crucial speed and efficiency is to the development process.
In truth, a dedicated and talented team of engineers is essential at every step of the project lifecycle. About 60 engineers are staffed on each during development and testing, running a gauntlet of quality control and performance standards. The design phase requires an average of 10 engineers, but only 5 engineers work on requirement definition of the project. Such structure is fundamental to producing consistently high-quality output in a winner-take-all market.
To maximize on this strategic flow, AMD has recognized the power of integrating AI into its work. For example, when deployed in the functional testing stage, organizations can expect to decrease manual test efforts by 15 percent through the use of AI. AI increases the amount of test scenarios by 20 percent. These increases provide an unprecedented opportunity to evaluate and compare software performance in much greater detail.
Impact of AI on Engineering Productivity
AMD is convinced that embracing these new AI tools will increase individual and team productivity exponentially. They’re projecting a really great increase— 25-plus percent. This ambitious goal is a testament to the company’s desire to leverage technology as a means of improving the company’s operations.
Today’s software engineers deal with several external forces that make it hard, if not impossible, to do their best work. When too much time is wasted writing, testing, debugging, and optimizing proprietary code, it impacts innovation. Most importantly, it discourages teams from emphasizing the time investment needed to learn and adopt new technologies. AMD helps incorporate AI solutions to remove these burdens. This frees engineers to focus on creative problem-solving and sharpen their skills through meaningful work.
Bringing AI into the design workflow represents a paradigm shift in the way an engineer can work and get things done. AI automates the tedious, time-consuming aspects of test creation and debugging. This frees up software engineers to spend their efforts on more foundational and strategic initiatives. This change in focus can have a transformative effect on morale and overall culture with engineering teams. It further encourages the type of culture of continuous improvement that we all want to see.
The Road Ahead for AMD’s Engineering Teams
AMD is continuing to double down on its AI efforts. The company is committed to supplying their engineers with the appropriate camera and computer equipment, along with training, to ensure proper integration. Training programs will be essential to ensure that all engineers are equipped with the skills needed to work alongside AI technologies effectively. This forward thinking will set them up to seamlessly shift gears while getting the most out of all the new tools to come.
Additionally, AMD understands that working in concert with others will be critical to success in this effort. By fostering an environment where engineers can share insights and experiences related to AI implementation, the company can drive innovation and creativity within its teams. Joint efforts will broaden the range of solutions considered and make sure everyone’s voice is included as we navigate this exciting time of change.