Hey there! That's a really insightful question that's on the minds of many automation engineers right now. As someone working in industrial automation, I've been wondering the same thing - what's changing and what do I need to learn to stay ahead?

From what I'm seeing in the industry, traditional PLC programming approaches are definitely evolving. The biggest shift is that relying solely on ladder logic is becoming a limitation. While ladder logic isn't going away completely (it's still great for simple logic), the days of it being the only tool in your toolbox are numbered. The PLC ecosystem itself is being criticized as outdated compared to modern development standards.

Here's what's becoming less relevant:

• Pure ladder logic programming for complex systems

• Isolated PLC systems that don't communicate with higher-level systems

• Manual programming without AI-assisted tools

• Proprietary protocols that limit integration

For the next 5 years, you should be focusing on these key skills:

1. Python programming - This is becoming essential for data processing, AI integration, and flexible logic beyond traditional PLC languages

2. MQTT protocol - The new industrial 'must-have' for IoT communication

3. OPC UA - For secure, standardized data exchange between systems

4. AI and machine learning basics - Understanding how to integrate AI models into automation systems

5. Cloud computing - Connecting industrial systems to cloud platforms for data analytics and remote monitoring

6. Data analytics - Making sense of the massive amounts of data modern systems generate

The good news is that AI isn't replacing automation engineers - it's transforming our role. We're moving from just writing ladder logic to becoming system integrators who connect traditional automation with modern AI and data systems. The future is about combining your existing PLC knowledge with these new technologies to create smarter, more connected industrial systems.