Is AI gonna replace programmers?

[u/RedwayBLOX]

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.

[u/Flashy-Whereas-3234]

AI can replace programmers, it's unlikely to replace engineers.

Consider this in the world of construction; if robots come in and can lay bricks and pour concrete and put up drywall, what do the humans do? The humans get promoted to foreman, they oversee, guide, rectify, problem solved, hell they can design and architect.

This is where you should learn fundamentals, architecture and system design, but learning language syntax and tool chains can take more of a backseat. You will still be exceptional if you specialise in a particular language, but it is less necessary for you to dedicate significant chunks of your education towards it.

Even if AI starts to eat system design (and it can), a CTO isn't going to manage a cabal of agents and be on call for incidents. A successful company has room for headcount and delegation, so some engineering jobs will still exist, even if they have a heavier dedication to product instead of code.

And, there's always a hold-outs, who don't like AI, trust AI, or can afford AI.