Is AI Coming for Software Engineers?
Image generated with ChatGPTThere’s been a lot of talk recently about a future where AI could handle every job. Even software engineers are feeling anxious after witnessing Devin, an AI SWE, building apps and fixing errors autonomously.
But when will these AI become so good they can manage and drive complex projects end-to-end without human oversight?
And will it ever happen?
Here’s how I see it, AI agents will develop as assistants to human software engineers, rather than replacing them. AI will take care of boring stuff like coding and fixing bugs, allowing humans to focus on driving technical direction and working on domain-specific tasks. After all, software engineering isn’t just about writing code.
That said, as AI becomes increasingly adept at coding and bug-fixing, there will be less demand for entry-level software engineering jobs. But IC5+ engineers are safe. Because those roles focus more on strategic decision-making, solving complex problems, mentoring teams, driving innovation, and cross-functional collaboration — tasks that AI won’t replicate in the near future.
Moreover, software engineering jobs will evolve. They will increasingly require the ability to integrate AI features into software systems.
For anyone wondering how to adapt to these changes, here are my suggestions:
- Invest in “human-only” skills like clear and effective communication, product vision (focusing on what to build, not how), and dealing with incomplete or conflicting requirements.
- Get comfortable with AI-powered IDEs. You’ll quickly see how much faster you can bootstrap projects, and how coding is just one part of the job.
- Master prompt engineering — it will enable you to ship code faster, write design documents fast, and much more.
In my view, a jobless future for software engineers is still far away. What I believe is that the future of software engineering won’t be one where human engineers are replaced, but one where they and AI work together to push the boundaries of what’s possible.