From Tools to Teammates:
How Software Engineers Can Thrive in the Age of AI
With insights from Dr. Renata Jovanovic, Deep Tech Advisor & Quantum Ambassador
As AI reshapes how we build, work, and create, software engineers face a defining moment. Do we treat AI as just another tool? Or learn to work with it as a partner?
At 42 Berlin, this question is at the heart of how we teach. We don’t just prepare students to write code. We train them to think critically, adapt fast, and collaborate with new technologies as they evolve.
That’s why we invited Dr. Renata Jovanovic to speak at our “Mai ist für AI” event. A global expert in digital transformation and quantum innovation, Renata joined us for a conversation about what it really means to be future-ready.
Dr. Renata Jovanovic on the Future of AI on YouTube.
Rethinking the Relationship:
AI as a teammate
For Renata, AI isn’t just software. It’s also a collaborator.
“AI is my friend, my teammate, and my advisor,” she says. “When new technology arrives, you can either learn to drive the steamroller or become the road.”
It’s a mindset we also foster at 42 Berlin. Whether students are experimenting with GenAI tools or working on real-world projects, the goal is the same: learn how to learn, and treat AI not just as an automation tool, but as a creative, technical, and strategic teammate.
Mindset before Prompts
Renata’s advice for working with AI isn’t about mastering every algorithm. It’s about how you approach it.
One key takeaway: better prompts = better results.
Instead of generic commands like “Write me an article,” she recommends treating AI like a teammate you’re briefing. Add context. Personalise. Give it a role to play. The more thoughtful your input, the more useful the output.
“The real differentiator now isn’t access to tools,” she says. “It’s knowing how to use them.”
In a similar fashion, our students don’t just use AI. They challenge it. They break it. They figure out how to make it better. Because in today’s tech landscape, knowing how to prompt, evaluate, and iterate is just as important as knowing how to code.
Upskilling That Makes Sense
In a world flooded with courses and tutorials, Renata offers a grounded approach:
Start by using AI for the parts of your work that feel repetitive or time-consuming. Automate what drains you so you can focus on what energises you.
And rather than trying to master everything, lean into what you already know. Whether it’s software, science, or strategy, AI can help you go deeper, if you learn how to bring it into your workflow.
This echoes our philosophy at 42: Start from your strengths. Build from there. Make the technology work with you, not against you.
What's Next:
Quantum and the Hybrid Future
But AI isn’t the end of the road. According to Renata, the next big shift is already emerging: quantum machine learning.
It’s not a simple reskill, you’ll need new ways of thinking. But for developers just starting out, it’s an exciting space to watch and explore.
“If you have the chance to study quantum machine learning,” she says, “do it. You’ll be ahead of the curve.”
At 42, we’re already thinking—and planning—for what comes after AI. We think it’s important to prepare our students for the next next thing. Because the future won’t belong to one technology. It’ll be a hybrid of many: traditional computing, AI, quantum, and even bio-computers.
A New Kind of Software Engineer
So what does this all mean for the next generation of engineers?
According to Renata, it’s not just about technical depth. It’s about being T-shaped (or even π-shaped):
You’ll need breadth across disciplines, depth in one area, and the soft skills to bring it all together: Curiosity, leadership, and the ability to collaborate across human and machine.
“That’s your human edge,” she says. “It’s what makes you not just a good engineer but a great teammate.”
At 42 Berlin, this is exactly the kind of profile we’re helping students develop: adaptive, curious, and equipped for a world where learning never stops.
🎧 Listen to the full podcast on Youtube.
📍 Recorded live at Mai ist für AI, 42 Berlin
Curious how we’re preparing the next generation of software engineers for a hybrid tech future? Find out more.
