Will AI Replace Programmers?

Over the past few years, Artificial Intelligence (AI) has been hailed as a job killer. We’ve heard predictions about AI replacing creative professionals, copywriters, UX designers, recruiters, translators and, of course, software engineers.

The rise of AI-powered tools, from large language models to automation and AI-generated code-writing assistants, has made it clear that AI is no longer just a futuristic concept. It’s here, and it’s being widely adopted across industries. But as the dust settles, what’s the reality for programmers?

Increase in efficiency Vs. Loss of Jobs for Programmers

Has AI already replaced software developers, or is it in the process of doing so? While AI has undoubtedly changed how code is written, tested, and deployed, it has also created new challenges and opportunities for IT professionals.

For some people, the boom of AI code generation is a positive shift for these Information Technology professionals because it makes programmers more efficient rather than obsolete.

Others, however, fear a drastic reduction in the demand for entry-level software developers and shifting the job market towards higher-level problem-solving roles. So far, the impact of AI hasn’t fallen across all experience levels.

Is AI making Junior Developers obsolete?

AI coding assistants like GitHub Copilot, ChatGPT, and Tabnine can now generate functional code, debug errors, and refactor codebases in seconds. This has sparked concerns that AI is reducing the need for entry-level programmers.

For junior developers, who traditionally spend a lot of time writing boilerplate code, fixing minor bugs, and learning through trial and error, the use of Artificial Intelligence presents a double challenge:

On the one hand, there are fewer entry-level job opportunities as companies increasingly rely on AI-assisted coding to handle repetitive tasks. On top of this, the path to career growth is also becoming steeper. With the rise of remote work in the pandemic and now, with AI taking over more simple coding responsibilities, junior developers have fewer chances to learn on the job, receive mentorship, and progress into mid-level roles.

A survey by Stack Overflow found that 76% of developers were using or planning to use AI tools in their development process in 2024, up from 70% the previous year.  

Many businesses find that AI-assisted coding allows mid-level and senior engineers to be more productive, reducing the need to hire as many junior developers as possible. Consequently, a growing number of companies are leaning towards hiring experienced engineers who can work alongside AI rather than investing in training junior talent.

That said, junior developers who learn to use AI as a tool rather than a competitor may still carve out opportunities. AI can’t replace the need for problem-solving, creative thinking, and deep system understanding that experienced developers bring to the table.

What about Senior Programmers? Is AI replacing Senior Developers?

For senior developers, the story is different. Rather than replacing them, AI is acting as a force multiplier. Experienced engineers are now using AI-driven development tools and machine learning-powered coding assistants to:

• Automate repetitive coding tasks
• Generate test cases and documentation
• Debug and refactor large-scale applications
• Speed up prototyping and proof-of-concept development

While AI reduces time spent on grunt work, it also makes high-level problem-solving, architecture design, and software scalability even more valuable skills.

Not everything is lost: New jobs emerging in the AI era

While AI may reduce the need for some traditional coding roles, it’s creating new opportunities for programmers in specialised fields. Some of the fastest-growing AI-related roles include:

• AI Engineers, experts in deploying, optimising, and integrating AI models into business applications.
• Machine Learning Engineers have experienced skyrocketing demand for building and fine-tuning machine learning models.
• Experts in AI ethics and compliance work with companies on the responsible use of AI and help them understand AI regulations.
• Prompt Engineers to optimise inputs for AI models to get better, more accurate results.
• AI Product Developers to build software and applications that use AI-driven capabilities.

As AI-powered tools become more embedded in workflows, developers may spend less time writing individual lines of code and more time strategising, optimising, and integrating AI capabilities into applications. Google CEO Sundar Pichai has admitted that AI now writes over 25% of code at Google, but this code is then reviewed by engineers.

What’s Next? Will AI replace Software Engineers by 2030?

By 2030, the role of Artificial Intelligence in software development will likely be even more deeply integrated, with generative AI tools becoming the normal. Below are some of the predictions from AI researchers:

• AI will handle more of the coding process, but human oversight will still be critical.
• Developers will need stronger AI and ML skills to remain competitive.
• The demand for problem-solvers, architects, and AI specialists will rise, while purely execution-based coding jobs (like junior roles) will decline.

For example, Fei-Fei Li, an AI researcher and professor at Stanford, believes that AI isn’t going to replace humans but to augment what we do. “The future belongs to those who know how to work with AI, not against it”, he says.

“Learning about AI development, automation, and strategic problem-solving would be a good idea if you’re a software engineer. All these skills will get you further in your career,” says David Berwick, Software Engineering recruiter, who adds, “Software engineering is much more than writing code. It’s about using your skillset to design, build, and optimise software systems that solve real-world problems”.

AI won’t make programmers obsolete, but it will reshape the IT industry

So, what do you think? Will AI replace programmers? At Adria, we don’t think the job of a programmer will ever be obsolete, but we’ve already noted an increase in the demand for AI developers in the UK.

It’s evident that, in the following years, more AI-related programming roles will continue to emerge, making AI knowledge a must-have skill for future developers. So, those developers who don’t adapt risk being left behind.

Whether you’re an experienced AI engineer or a developer looking to upskill, our team of IT recruitment consultants is here to help if you need help with your job search. Get in touch for a chat about your career options and job market trends, or discuss our latest IT vacancies.