Making with artificial intelligence: Software in the AI era

What it covers

Software is increasingly built by people working in partnership with AI tools, but useful software still starts with understanding real needs and making good design decisions. This unit introduces you to AI-powered software development through the design and delivery of working digital solutions such as apps, tools, systems and websites. You will learn how to understand user and stakeholder needs, define requirements, shape feasible software solutions, and use contemporary AI coding tools to support implementation, testing, documentation and refinement across the software development lifecycle. The unit incorporates core software engineering practices, including requirements analysis, system design, modular implementation, version control, testing, deployment, technical documentation and collaborative development. You will learn to use AI-enabled development tools responsibly and critically, including prompting, reviewing, adapting and validating AI-generated code and design suggestions. Emphasis is placed on building software with appropriate complexity while maintaining code quality, correctness, maintainability, security awareness and alignment with user needs. Through practical, project-based activities, you will create, evaluate and improve software artefacts using modern development workflows. The unit develops the capability to move from problem or need to working software solution, while understanding the role, limits and responsibilities of AI-assisted development in contemporary software engineering practice.

Assessment

When and where