As Artificial Intelligence (AI) continues to evolve rapidly, a pressing question is emerging within the tech industry: Will AI eventually replace software engineers? With AI tools becoming increasingly capable of writing code, debugging, and automating entire development processes, many are wondering whether human coders will remain relevant in the near future.
To better understand this transformation, let’s explore what some of the world’s leading technology executives have said about the future of software engineering in the age of AI.
Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI: A Gradual but Certain Shift
Sam Altman believes that AI is already transforming the productivity of software engineers. In a conversation with Ben Thompson on Stratechery, Altman said:
“My basic assumption is that each software engineer will just do much, much more for a while. And then at some point, yeah, maybe we do need less software engineers.”
He pointed out that AI is already performing over 50 percent of coding tasks in many companies. According to Altman, the most significant transformation is yet to come with the rise of “agentic coding,” a form of autonomous software development that is still in its early stages.
Dario Amodei, CEO of Anthropic: Rapid Automation Ahead
Anthropic’s CEO, Dario Amodei, predicts a much faster timeline for AI dominance in coding. At a recent Council on Foreign Relations event, he stated:
“We will be there in three to six months, where AI is writing 90 percent of the code. And then, in 12 months, we may be in a world where AI is writing essentially all of the code.”
Amodei’s forecast suggests a complete automation of software development could happen within a year, raising significant questions about the role of human engineers.
Kevin Weil, Chief Product Officer, OpenAI: Transition to AI Supervision
Kevin Weil, speaking on the Overpowered podcast, echoed this rapid pace of progress. He noted that by 2027, the landscape of software development could be unrecognizable.
“Imagine all the things that you can do if you don’t need to be an engineer to create software.”
Weil emphasized that while AI may overtake humans in raw coding tasks, people will still play a critical role in managing and guiding AI systems.
Kevin Scott, CTO of Microsoft: AI Will Write Most Code, But Not All
Microsoft’s Chief Technology Officer, Kevin Scott, estimated that AI will write 95 percent of code within the next five years. Speaking on the 20VC podcast, he said:
“Very little is going to be line-by-line human-written code.”
However, he believes human input remains crucial, especially for solving complex computational challenges. Scott also suggested that AI will empower smaller teams to achieve more with fewer resources, increasing efficiency across the board.
Sundar Pichai, CEO of Google: Human-AI Collaboration in Practice
Google CEO Sundar Pichai revealed that more than a quarter of all new code at Google is currently generated by AI. However, this code is still reviewed by human engineers to ensure quality and accuracy. Pichai views this as a collaborative model where AI enhances productivity without eliminating the need for human oversight.
Bill Gates, Co-founder of Microsoft: Coders Are Still Essential
During an appearance on The Tonight Show, Bill Gates classified coders among the few professions that remain “irreplaceable,” at least for the time being. However, he acknowledged that AI will eventually become dominant in many areas of work. Gates expressed optimism that some responsibilities will always remain in human hands, particularly in areas requiring creativity and judgment.
Aravind Srinivas, CEO of Perplexity: A New Kind of Engineer
Perplexity AI’s CEO, Aravind Srinivas, emphasized a shift in the role of engineers rather than a total replacement. He believes that the days of manually typing every line of code are over. Instead, future engineers will focus on designing solutions, problem-solving, and guiding AI tools effectively.
“People with taste, clarity of thought, and problem-solving skills will really shine in this new era.”
Amjad Massad, CEO of Replit: Focus on Thinking, Not Syntax
Replit CEO Amjad Massad offered one of the most direct perspectives, suggesting that learning to code may soon become less relevant. He stated:
“As AI agents get better, it would be a waste of time to learn how to code.”
Massad advised aspiring professionals to develop strong communication and analytical thinking skills. He argued that success in the AI era will depend on the ability to articulate ideas clearly—both to humans and to machines.
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Conclusion: The Role of the Software Engineer Is Evolving, Not Ending
The consensus among top tech leaders is that while AI will take over many traditional coding tasks, human engineers are far from obsolete. Instead, their roles are shifting. Future software engineers will act more as designers, strategists, and problem-solvers, guiding intelligent systems and focusing on high-level decision-making.
Students and professionals entering the tech industry should consider this shift carefully. Learning how to code is still valuable—but understanding how to think, solve problems, and collaborate with AI will be even more critical in the years to come.
The future of software engineering isn’t disappearing—it’s transforming.
