With AI tools like GitHub Copilot and ChatGPT making headlines, many fear that software engineers are becoming obsolete. But is that really the case? Let’s dive into the ground reality.

The Evolution of Expectations

When I started my first job 12 years ago, fresh out of college, the expectations from an entry-level engineer were minimal. I had a one month training period where nothing was expected from me. Some of my friends even had up to three months training period. I hadn’t even used GitHub before starting my job.

Over the years, I’ve seen each new batch of college graduates come in more knowledgeable than the previous one. And the expectations for these new graduates have also increased as well. They are now assigned work from the first week itself. With AI, the bar is being raised even more. Tools like ChatGPT and GitHub Copilot are enabling them to learn and adapt faster than ever before.

Will Entry-Level Engineers Disappear?

A common narrative is that AI will eliminate entry-level software engineers. I think there’s some truth to this, but not entirely. The expectations for new hires have changed. Interns today perform at levels similar to full-time engineers. I foresee a future where fresh graduates are expected to work at a level closer to today’s senior engineers. The definition of an “entry-level” role is shifting, but the need for software engineers isn’t going away. While some entry-level tasks are being automated, companies still need junior engineers to learn, grow, and eventually handle more complex responsibilities.

How AI is Changing Engineering Workflows

Currently, I use AI for about 40% of my work, and so do many of my colleagues. AI speeds up tasks but struggles with complex projects or large-scale systems. One interesting shift I see is that AI could enable a single engineer to handle both development and testing. Instead of separate roles, an engineer could provide AI with requirements and expected test cases, making the process more efficient. With the help of AI, an engineer will be able to do 2 persons work. I’m hopeful that with AI more avenues will open up which increases more opportunities to engineers.

Are Layoffs Really Due to AI?

Many assume recent tech layoffs are due to AI. But is that really the case?

The same week Meta(Facebook) laid off employees in US, an HR reached out to me about Meta opening a new office in Bangalore, India and hiring 100+ engineers. Apple is planning to hire 20K research and development jobs across the US.

Big companies hired aggressively over the past 2-3 years, leading to a bloated workforce which they may now getting rid of. I believe these layoffs are driven by multiple factors, not just AI. While AI has definitely increased the productivity of engineers, bad hiring practices and cost-cutting play a major role. And companies might be shifting towards hiring cheap labour in developing countries.

If AI Can Code, Why Keep Engineers?

The reality is that AI is great at writing code, but only when given the right requirements. And that’s where the challenge lies. For AI to replace engineers, it needs clear, precise requirements. But in real-world software development, requirements are rarely perfect from the start. Even after finalising a spec, engineers frequently go back to the product team with questions, often discovering things that weren’t initially considered. Software development is an iterative process, and AI doesn’t replace the human judgment required to navigate that.

Limitations of AI

AI has limitations and can make mistakes too. In the current scenario, AI cannot handle large projects or complex tasks effectively. It lacks the deep problem-solving abilities and contextual understanding required for large-scale software development.

Big companies have a lot to lose if AI-generated code leads to errors or security vulnerabilities. Compliance and regulatory requirements add another layer of complexity—mistakes in these areas could result in significant financial and legal repercussions. This is why human oversight remains critical, ensuring that AI-generated solutions meet high standards and business needs.

The Future: Engineers + AI, Not Engineers vs. AI

The speed of development is increasing, and AI is playing a big role in that. But rather than replacing engineers, AI is becoming a tool that allows engineers to do more in less time. Those who embrace AI as a tool rather than a threat will thrive in this fast-changing landscape.

The future isn’t about AI vs engineers—it’s about engineers leveraging AI to build better, faster, and smarter solutions.