Are Developers Going to Lose Their Jobs to AI?

There’s been a lot of panic around AI taking over software development jobs. But let’s take a step back and ask: is this really happening, or is it just another overhyped tech cycle?

AI: An Overhyped Autocomplete

Right now, AI tools like Copilot and ChatGPT are essentially very advanced autocomplete systems. They help with boilerplate code, refactoring, and sometimes even generating entire functions—but they don’t think, plan, or debug at the level a real developer does. Writing code is only a fraction of what software engineering involves. Understanding business logic, maintaining legacy systems, making architectural decisions, and actually shipping products are still very human-driven tasks.

Layoffs Are Everywhere, Not Just in Tech

Yes, layoffs are happening in tech, but that’s not because AI is replacing developers. Companies have been cutting jobs for various reasons:

• Overhiring in 2021-2022: Many tech companies went on hiring sprees post-pandemic, expecting continuous hypergrowth. That didn’t happen.
• Economic slowdowns: Higher interest rates and reduced VC funding mean companies are cutting costs.
• Restructuring & efficiency improvements: Businesses always look for ways to optimize resources, AI or not.

Tech isn’t the only industry affected—finance, media, and retail are all seeing layoffs too. This is part of a larger economic trend, not a sign that AI is replacing developers overnight.

AI Investors Want Us to Be Obsolete

There’s a strong incentive for AI companies to push the narrative that developers (and other jobs) will soon be obsolete. The more hype they generate, the more funding they attract. But when you actually use these AI tools, they still make mistakes, require oversight, and fail at complex problem-solving. The reality is that AI is still a half-baked product when it comes to replacing human creativity and problem-solving.

If You Write from Scratch, You’re Safe (For Now)

From my personal experience, I took 4-5 interviews in 2024 and am about to go for my first one in 2025. There is still demand for skilled developers, and my payrolls continue to increase. If you’re someone who understands systems, writes original code, and can solve real-world problems, you’re in a strong position.

The job market is evolving, but AI isn’t making us irrelevant anytime soon. Keep learning, stay adaptable, and don’t buy into the hype. The future of development is still in our hands.