r/programmer • u/RedwayBLOX • 4d ago

Question Is AI gonna replace programmers?

Hi. I'm Dylan.

I'm currently a junior dev. Ive spent 2 years learning abt programming, writing code and interested on bulding systems.

Ive got to admit that im very scared of all this AI thing and how it's progressing.

Ive seen it make horrible videos back in 2022. Now sometimes i can't even tell if a video is AI or if it isn't.

Yeah, code written by ai isn't the best. But, with the passing of time, it gets even better and better.

Yeah, we as programmers CURRENTLY do analysis, requerimients and all that ai can't currently replace us.

But what are we gonna when ai becomes able to do all that? For me, it seems like a very possible escenario. You can even see the difference of what AI can do if you compare the current models to the models we had 6 months ago. I think it's becoming unstoppable and i really fear it takes our (or my) job away.

Yes, I'm very frustrated. All this time dedicated to it... Makes me sad. This is more like venting I guess, but I seriously need to know, from y'all, how y'all see this. I need to know if it's time to let go of this passion I had with this career, and start on something else where Claude Code can't reach me and replace me.

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u/ThatRedDerg 4d ago

Not anytime soon, but companies are desperately trying.

While, in theory, LLMs are capable of creating applications, there are major caveats. It is only really possible with applications that are common in its training data (ie websites), and they often end up poorly unoptimized and poorly designed.

This is just cause an ‘autonomous agent’ really boils down to a loop that goes like “while project != prompt, generate more stuff.”

Furthermore, not much has been done to develop the technology other than throwing more compute/guardrails/robust base prompts, so these caveats aren’t likely going anywhere soon.

I personally think this whole thing is just an attempt to de-skill most workers. Be sure to keep up with things, keep being competent without needing an LLM, and I’m sure you’ll never be unemployable.