WILL AI REPLACE CODERS OR WORK ALONGSIDE THEM?

With AI as a tool, not a threat, this could be the beginning of an exciting new era for tech careers

- ANINDITA ACHARYA

If you're a programmer, chances are you've asked yourself this question at least once: Will AI replace me? Honestly, it's a thought that's been weighing on professionals across the globe, especially with how fast AI is advancing.

To stir the pot further, Replit CEO Amjad Masad recently said that AI is progressing so quickly that learning to code might soon become pointless. "As AI agents get better, it would be a waste of time to learn how to code," he said.

Then there's Google revealing that AI already writes about 25% of its code. And Anthropic's CEO Dario Amodei took it up a notch, predicting that AI could be generating up to 90% of code in just six months, essentially automating the bulk of software development within a year.

A recent Pew Research Center report backs this up, stating that over the next 20 years, nearly half of software engineers could see their jobs impacted by AI. So where does that leave us? Two options: either we adapt and upskill or risk being left behind.

But here's the silver lining—OpenAI CEO Sam Altman said recently that he is less interested in replacing coders (100% automation) and more focused on making them 10x more productive.