Artificial intelligence is poised to transform software development, with AI taking over most coding tasks. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and Zoho founder Sridhar Vembu predict fewer software engineering jobs in the future. While AI will automate repetitive coding, essential complexity will still require human expertise.
AI Will Write Most of the Code, Says Zoho’s Sridhar Vembu
Zoho founder Sridhar Vembu believes that AI will handle 90% of coding tasks, eliminating repetitive work. In a recent post on X, he stated that most coding involves ‘boilerplate’ code, which AI can efficiently manage. Vembu referred to the concept of ‘essential complexity’ versus ‘accidental complexity,’ suggesting that while AI can reduce accidental complexity, human involvement will remain crucial for addressing core engineering challenges.
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman Predicts Fewer Software Engineer Jobs
Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, has forecasted a future where fewer software engineering jobs may exist. He stated that AI is already handling a large portion of coding tasks in many organizations. While engineers will remain essential for the near future, Altman emphasized that as AI capabilities grow, the demand for software engineers could decline.
“Each software engineer will just do much, much more for a while,” Altman noted. “And then at some point, yeah, maybe we do need fewer software engineers.”
AI as the New Competitive Advantage
In an interview with Stratechery’s Ben Thompson, Altman explained how mastering AI tools has become a key competitive edge. He compared it to the early 2000s when coding expertise was the main advantage. Today, developers are encouraged to excel in using AI to enhance productivity and efficiency.
AI Already Writing Code in Companies
Altman further highlighted that in many organizations, AI is responsible for more than 50% of the code. He predicted that the future will bring ‘agentic coding,’ where AI systems autonomously manage complex coding tasks. While no company has fully implemented agentic coding yet, the progress is evident.
Industry Leaders Echo Similar Sentiments
Other industry leaders share Altman’s perspective. Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei suggested that AI could write all software code within a year. Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg also expressed similar views, emphasizing AI’s growing role in code generation.
The Future of Software Engineering
While AI is streamlining software development, human engineers will remain essential for tackling essential complexity. The shift toward AI-driven coding is inevitable, but the complete replacement of software engineers is still uncertain. The focus now lies in adapting to AI tools and leveraging their potential for greater productivity and innovation.
