OpenAI to Robotaxi: 4 updates and what they mean for you

What these recent tech developments mean for your future coding career — and what to do about it.

This blog was originally published on Substack. Subscribe to ‘Letters to New Coders’ to receive free weekly posts.

Note: As we approach year’s end, I’ll be taking a little hiatus from Letters to New Coders — but let’s stay in touch! I’ll still be sharing insider tips for beginners on LinkedIn.

Big developments in tech are more than just headlines — they’re signals of where the industry is headed. From AI shake-ups to the growing demand for in-office collaboration, it’s essential that you know what they mean in order to plan for success.

Here’s what’s happening right now, why it matters for you, and how you can stay prepared for what’s next.

What 4 recent developments mean for you

1. OpenAI transitions to a for-profit business

OpenAI, the company behind ChatGPT, was founded as a nonprofit in 2015. Their main goal was to make sure artificial intelligence (AI) was developed safely and for the benefit of everyone, rather than just to make money.

But starting in 2025, OpenAI plans to become a for-profit company. This means they’ll focus more on earning revenue, and their CEO, Sam Altman, will be paid in shares — which aligns the company’s success with personal financial gain.

This change has been building for a while. Back in 2019, OpenAI allowed investors and employees to earn profits (with limits). Now, with an even stronger focus on profit, tools like the GPT language model — which powers ChatGPT and other applications — could become more expensive. OpenAI might also start working more with big businesses and less with smaller projects or individual developers.

Why this matters for you:

More job opportunities in AI: As OpenAI grows, there will probably be more jobs for developers with AI skills.
Higher costs: OpenAI’s tools, like ChatGPT, (which lets developers integrate AI into their own projects) and DALL·E (an AI that generates images from text), might become more expensive. This could make them harder to afford for smaller teams or individual developers.
Focus on big companies: OpenAI could start focusing on larger businesses, which means fewer tools or support for smaller, experimental projects.
Fewer free tools: OpenAI has contributed to a lot of free, open-source projects in the past, but with this shift, expect fewer free tools for developers to use.

The demand for AI skills is growing fast, and staying up to date with AI tools can help you stand out as you build your career. Check out my earlier post on how you can start leveraging AI while learning to code.

2. Leadership changes at OpenAI could breathe new life into the company

As OpenAI transitions to becoming a for-profit company, it’s also experiencing major leadership changes. Half of the original team that built the GPT language model is no longer with the company, and out of the 11 co-founders, only Sam Altman and Wojciech Zaremba remain.

This year, key figures like Bob McGrew (Chief Research Officer) and Mira Murati (Chief Technology Officer) have left. Some have moved to other companies, while others, like cofounder Andrej Karpathy, are starting their own ventures, such as his new AI-focused education startup, Eureka Labs.

These high-profile departures could spell changes in OpenAI’s direction. As new leaders join, they may introduce fresh ideas and innovations that affect the kinds of projects OpenAI prioritizes.

Why this matters for you:

Shifting priorities: OpenAI may focus on different projects., so stay informed about new directions to keep up with tools or projects that interest you.
New opportunities: New hires often bring new innovations, which could mean new tools and possibilities will emerge for developers.
AI ethics and safety: As AI continues to grow, conversations around safety and ethics are becoming even more important. Staying informed will help you understand how these discussions affect the industry and your role.

3. Dell’s new return-to-office policy reflects a larger industry movement

Dell, following a trend started by companies like Amazon, just announced that its sales team will be required to return to the office 5 days a week. Right now, most hybrid employees are expected to come into the office 3 days a week, but the sales team is the first to be asked to come all week.

Earlier this year, Dell gave U.S. employees the option to go hybrid (a mix of remote and in-office work) or fully remote, but remote workers weren’t eligible for promotions or new roles. Dell’s leadership said that having teams in the office helps with collaboration and skill-building, but some employees feel the change was too sudden.

Why this matters for you:

More companies might require in-office work: Dell’s move might be a sign that other tech companies will soon start asking employees to come into the office more often. Be ready for this possibility as you begin your career.
In-person work helps with learning: Working in an office allows for real-time feedback and collaboration, which is especially helpful for learning new skills, solving problems quickly, and growing as a developer.
Adaptability is important: Being flexible and open to changes, like returning to the office, can help you stand out. It shows that you’re engaged and willing to adapt, which could open up new opportunities or leadership roles down the line.

Personally, I don’t agree with how Dell handled the shift, but I can appreciate their point about collaboration. More tech companies are likely to follow, so it’s a good idea to stay open to the change.

In case you missed it, last week I wrote about why in-office work is especially valuable for junior developers — here’s the link if you’d like to check it out.

4. Tesla’s Robotaxi misses the mark, but there’s still opportunity for developers

On October 10th, Tesla revealed its new “Robotaxi,” a self-driving, two-seater car with no steering wheel or pedals. But investors were disappointed by what they felt was a lack of information about when the Robotaxi would be available or how it works, and Tesla’s stocks tumbled 9% after the reveal.

Despite the setback, the market for autonomous vehicles is definitely growing. In 2022, the autonomous vehicle market was valued at $1.5 trillion and is expected to reach $13.6 trillion by 2030, according to Fortune Business Insights.

Why this matters for you:

W*e need skilled developers for autonomous vehicles to be successful.* To that end, there will be plenty of opportunity for developers to work on AI, machine learning, and sensor tech for self-driving cars.
If you’re interested in self-driving technologies, there are many ways you can contribute to their improvement. For example, you could work on how these cars “think” through neural networks (a type of AI which mimics the human brain) or you could work to improve safety algorithms (the rules that keep the car and its passengers safe).

Stay informed, stay flexible

Tech is always evolving, and staying on top of trends helps you understand how to break into the career you want. As a new dev, I advise being open to in-office work, because we’ll only see more of it. I also hope you’re excited about AI, because if you haven’t already noticed — it’s driving most innovation these days (which means that, eventually, you’ll need to learn some AI skills too).

In the meantime, a strong foundation is pivotal no matter what the tech industry throws our way. You can get hands-on with Educative’s interactive Learn to Code courses to grow your technical skills and prepare for the future.

Once again, I’ll be taking a little break from Letters to New Coders, so be sure to follow me on LinkedIn to keep getting tips and insights to help you gear up for 2025.

Happy learning.

— Fahim