According to reports, Google has fired every member of its Python team in the US. But should it make Python developers in the industry fearful? Contrary research indicates. According to HackerRank’s 2023 Developer Skills Report, Python is one of the most in-demand programming languages worldwide.
Web developers use the programming language to create server-side web apps and automate web scraping chores, while data scientists use it to analyze massive datasets and extract insights. Machine learning engineers utilize Python for the purpose of creating, honing, and implementing machine learning models. The productivity of repetitive processes can be increased by automating them with the use of computer languages.
This means that a variety of businesses will continue to need Python developers. Python is still the second most popular programming language on GitHub, according to a survey from that platform. In Europe, the number of developers using the language is increasing year over year. In Spain, 25% of developers use the language, while 22% do so in Germany, Italy, and France, and 24% do so in Portugal.
Python programmers in the AI age
Many people worry that their careers may be threatened by AI as we are on the verge of a revolution in this field, but that may not be the case for everyone. A major component of AI is machine learning, which strongly depends on Python. Python libraries such as PyTorch and TensorFlow offer pre-built functions for artificial intelligence applications. One important pillar in the AI development cycle is the programming language.
The nature of work for Python developers will change as they concentrate more on creating AI models or incorporating AI into current systems, but their abilities will still be valued highly in the field. The Next Web claims that Python is the main programming language used by all of the Big Tech businesses as well as other companies including Netflix, Facebook, IBM, Intel, and Spotify. Python is one of the four primary languages used by Google and is also used to write YouTube.
Regarding the Google layoffs, a Free Press Journal story states that the corporation, lead by Sundar Pichai, terminated every member of its Python team due to the availability of “cheap” labor. According to the source, Google intends to lower costs for the corporation by hiring labor that is less expensive outside of the United States—possibly in Munich, Germany.
Less than ten people were said to be on the US Python team, which was in charge of managing a sizable portion of Google’s Python ecosystem. Their tasks included creating a typechecker, updating thousands of third-party packages, and keeping Google’s version of Python stable.
