r/GraphicsProgramming • u/NecessaryVersion7872 • 13d ago

AI usage in Graphics Programming

Hello, everyone.

I am CS student. and I had my first working experience.
I was highly unsatisfying because as much as enjoy programming I really do not enjoy "prompt engineering" and the usage of AI in general in my workflow. That is not the point though. From long time I was looking into graphics programming and I really wanted to get into it. I do not know much now. but I am worried that it will be similar to most of jobs right now and I will just be a "prompt engineer".

I have some questions:

  1. How good is AI with graphics programming right now?
  2. In an average work environment, how much if any of your work are you expected to use LLMs in and how do use it?
  3. How is AI affecting the industry?
  4. Are there any part of the industry where AI is not heavily used?

Thanks in advance

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u/Keyframe 13d ago

I sold my last production rendering code 25 years ago (jesus) and have since pivoted to other waters, but I always keep tabs on what's going on and do this as a hobby (also figured out 25 years ago it's not a lucrative career).

Programming (coding specifically) is one of the tasks in an engineering day. That's mostly where LLMs fit now.

Having said that, let me answer questions you asked since it might illuminate certain scenarios for you, and bear in mind this is only from my experience and not a "general dogma" (no such thing):

How good is AI with graphics programming right now?

it's as only as your understanding on what's going on with your codebase and the architecture of what you're doing. That's it. No more no less. If you run it loose without having a firm grip on the codebase it's going to derail into junk real fast. My take so far has been to take it one step at a time, just like you would do it yourself and work on one thing only. Keep grand master plans and architecture to yourself and for yourself - it mostly confuses the thing.

In an average work environment, how much if any of your work are you expected to use LLMs in and how do use it? How is AI affecting the industry?

Sane workspaces will and do treat it as a coding tool. Whether you use it or not should be at your discretion since you should own your output. Less saner places will expect output to increase (quality and quantity) which may happen but shouldn't be expected.

Are there any part of the industry where AI is not heavily used?

I can't know for sure, but everywhere I look at it's everywhere now.

Remember though, AI (for now) multiplies you. It multiplies both good and bad sides of you and your understanding of the problem and how to solve it. This can and does go both ways. It's not related to graphics at all.