The rise of AI in software development has sparked both anxiety and optimism among engineers. With tools like Replit, Cursor, Windsurf, and Lovable enabling rapid software creation through natural language, many fear that AI could replace traditional coding jobs. Tech leaders have fuelled this debate, questioning whether software engineers will even be necessary in the near future. However, not all voices are pessimistic.
AI and the Future of Coding: Growth, Automation, and the Role of Human Engineers
Todd McKinnon, CEO of Okta, dismissed such fears as “laughable,” comparing AI’s rise to earlier tech revolutions like personal computing and mobile—both of which expanded job opportunities. He believes that in five years, the number of software engineers will grow, especially at major firms like Microsoft, Meta, and Salesforce, as engineers shift to building on top of AI-generated tools.
Sam Altman, OpenAI CEO, acknowledged the growing role of AI in coding but emphasized that human oversight remains essential. He suggested engineers would become more productive, not necessarily obsolete, although fewer might be needed in the long run. Dario Amodei of Anthropic echoed this, predicting AI would handle 90% of coding within six months. Sridhar Vembu of Zoho supports this, stating that 90% of code written today is “boilerplate” — routine, repetitive code that AI can easily handle.
Engineering Beyond Code: Why Human Expertise Still Matters in the AI Era
However, experts argue that coding is only one part of software engineering. Engineers are still needed for system design, scalability, and long-term maintenance—areas AI can’t fully manage yet. Google CEO Sundar Pichai and Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella both emphasized the continued and evolving demand for engineers, especially those with expertise in AI, cybersecurity, and quantum computing.
Despite AI’s increasing capabilities, true software engineering still requires deep thinking and problem-solving. François Chollet, creator of Keras, predicted an increase in global software engineers from 26 million to 30–35 million in five years. He argued that the value lies in engineering, not just writing code.
Upskill or Obsolete: Navigating AI’s Impact on the Future of Engineering
Gartner’s 2024 report supports this, forecasting new AI-driven roles in software engineering, with 80% of engineers needing to upskill by 2027. In regions like India, where much of IT work involves service-based tasks, AI poses both a challenge and a call for rapid upskilling. The future points toward engineers managing AI agents—less boilerplate, more strategic thinking.
Summary:
AI is transforming software development, raising fears of job loss but also optimism about evolving roles. While AI may handle routine coding, experts stress the enduring need for human engineers in design, strategy, and oversight. Upskilling is essential, as future engineers will increasingly manage AI agents and focus on higher-order problem-solving.
