“AI is coming for your job!”
You’re probably familiar with this common catchphrase already. You hear tech companies replacing their human employees with AI, agencies boasting of how AI has streamlined their work processes, and enterprises predicting massive layoffs year on year.
There’s so much anxiety built up, and you’re not sure if you should change career before ChatGPT wears the hat of a Senior software developer.
You’re not alone; most developers feel the same way. AI has rapidly improved in the past few years and is now capable of writing strings of accurate code based on simple instructions. This is changing the tech industry—and putting you on your toes.
But should you really worry about your job? We’ll find out in this article.
Growing Adoption of AI for Coding
In October 2024, Google’s CEO, Sundar Pichai, said AI currently generates more than a quarter of the company’s new code. As if the news wasn’t brutal enough for software developers, CEO Satya Nadella announced that 20 to 30% of Microsoft’s code repositories were likewise written by AI.
But it’s not just them. Microsoft’s CTO, Kevin Scott, expects all code to be AI-generated by 2030. Mark Zuckerberg believes AI is currently as good as a mid-level engineer and should be able to take over all of Meta’s coding needs by 2026.
OpenAI’s CEO, Sam Altman, echoed similar takes when he said agentic AI programs in some companies already automate 50% of coding. And Anthropic’s CEO, Dario Amodei, predicts AI will write about 90% of all code by September 2025.
Most Tech leaders have said AI will bring more job opportunities instead of taking them away. But this growing trend of top companies replacing their software engineers with agentic AI, coupled with growing tech layoffs every month, paints a different picture.
So, is AI only a threat and no positives? Not really.
AI has Something Good for Software Developers Too
While AI has strongly disrupted the software development world, it’s not all gloom and doom.
First, let’s talk about time management and productivity.
Writing ten thousand lines of code, which makes up a mid-level software, cumulatively takes three months without using AI. In contrast, if you use AI, you will likely spend less than a month on the same project.
AI-code generators like GitHub Copilot or ChatGPT can help generate base codes for game loop, object classes, and rendering, which would have gulped a massive chunk of your time.
Modern AI programs can also act as code autocompleters—predict and suggest the following line of code based on what you’ve already typed and the programming language. That’s similar to the autocomplete feature on Google Mail and Apple iMessage, and it can save you hundreds of valuable minutes.
Second, unlike before, faster development is now possible.
“As a developer, one of your top concerns is most likely having to hunt down a single syntax that’s disrupting an entire code you spent a week writing. So, you subconsciously cut down your writing speed to avoid making the mistakes in the first place—constantly second-guessing each line”, Sean Shapiro, Managing Partner at Axia Advisors, says.
AI coding assistants, such as GitHub, utilize integrations like AI pair programmer to flag code bugs, logic flaws, and potential security issues. This means you can now code faster without worrying about possible errors—after all, you can just screen it with your assistant later and get it fixed in a second.
Third, AI is here to push human creativity a step further.
Imagine a future where AI-coded algorithms rapidly prototype and design intricate graphics for t-shirts, streamlining the creation process for custom apparel businesses. This doesn't necessarily signal the end for creative professionals, but rather a shift towards leveraging these powerful tools to enhance efficiency and explore new design possibilities.
Likewise, AI coding assistants will not take away the humane aspect of software development. Instead, it’ll equip you to explore and diversify your perspectives on coding in ways you’ve never thought of before. This includes manipulating codes outside the playbook, breaking away from rigid conventions, and experimenting with unconventional logic or structures that may have seemed too risky or time-consuming before.
Fourth, more free time means more chances to take on more Gigs.
As a software developer, time is one of your greatest luxuries. The faster you complete projects, the more time you have to reach out for other contracts and skyrocket your earnings. Companies also value developers with a shorter turnaround time, so long as the quality remains the same or even better.
Should You Still Worry About Your Job?
Now to the big question: the answer is a Yes and a No.
A YES if you do not evolve with the AI revolution and use AI to streamline your work.
Lacey Jarvis, COO at AAA State of Play, says, “Maybe the problem is not about AI taking your job as a software developer. Maybe the problem is about other developers using AI to get better at coding than you if you refuse to join the trend. Developers utilizing AI will deliver faster, work smarter, and be more productive. And that means they’ll have more edge over you in the job market.”
Backing this up, a recent employment data cited by The Wall Street Journal says one in four tech companies are looking for candidates with AI skills. Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, also recently advised students to focus on learning how to use AI tools. Your coding proficiency matters, but in the long run, your ability to interact with AI tools and use them to your benefit will take precedence.
On the other hand, it’s a NO. You don’t necessarily need to worry about your job if you’re a step ahead of AI.
While AI can flesh out lines of code, solve complex mathematical operations, and fill in functions, it is currently unable to replicate human creativity, thoroughly understand humane contexts and expectations, or handle the nuanced decision-making involved in software development.
Your ability to deliver on all these fronts, in addition to seeing AI as your assistant instead of a competitor, makes you extremely valuable to any recruiter.
Rise of AI in Coding: 3 Steps to Keep Your Desk
AI is changing how we code and build software. Adapting to these changes can help you keep your desk. Here’s how to:
Use AI as Your Coding Buddy, Not A Competitor
The purpose of every technological advancement is to enhance and streamline your workflow.
So, focus on using AI to get better at what you do instead of hinging on the potential of it taking away your job. Embrace features like auto-complete, code rendering, and bug fixing to eliminate repetitive tasks that usually consume much of your time.
Of course, you shouldn’t let AI do the heavy lifting of your coding process. That can kill your developer’s creativity and slowly drive you to depend entirely on AI for coding.
Upskill, Code Smarter
The rise of AI as coding tools isn’t a reason to panic, but to evolve and deepen your expertise. Use the time off you get from using AI as a coding buddy to upskill and refine your skills. Take creative courses to rethink how you code, debug, and deploy software.
You might also need to learn emerging technologies like AI/ML, cloud infrastructure, and cybersecurity to position yourself as an irreplaceable asset in the tech industry. Given that AI is still nascent, these sectors add a cherry to your language proficiency.
Proactively Implement Financial Cushion Strategies
According to Shawn Plummer, CEO at The Annuity Expert, “While AI may not necessarily take away your job, the anxiety and uncertainty surrounding job displacement can, unfortunately, lead to increased financial stress. There’s also a subconscious need to cut your expenses ahead of a possible job loss, delaying major budgeted plans, and fishing for financial safeguards.”
In this case, you might need professional assistance to manage your financial obligations, especially if you’re considering a career transition or upskilling. Resources such as mobile app finance trackers, Invoice management courses, and financial literacy platforms can also be instrumental in helping you regain control of your finances.
Diversifying your portfolio is another method to stay afloat. Besides hunting for programming Gigs, try to build valuable tech products, launch your software development courses, set up a monetized YouTube channel to teach about programming, and so on.
Wrapping Up
Artificial Intelligence is here to stay—that’s a cliche statement you’ve probably heard over the years, but there’s nothing truer. Staying off the trend instead of adopting AI to streamline your coding process is the same as handing the winning edge to other software developers. That’s the real threat to your job, not necessarily an AI program that can code.
To avoid this, see AI as your coding assistant rather than a competitor. Upskill, get better at what you do, engage in creative and challenging tasks to refine skills, and learn AI/ML, cloud infrastructures, and cybersecurity to become an authority in the tech space. Lastly, use proactive measures such as debt relief programs and portfolio diversification to keep your finances in place until there’s economic certainty.
