Vibe Coding with AI Sparks Fierce Debate over the Future of Developer Jobs

Vibe Coding with AI: What It Means for Developer Jobs

Generative AI is moving beyond writing snippets of code to building entire applications. This shift has sparked fresh debates about the future of software development jobs. A new phrase capturing this trend is vibe coding, introduced by Andrej Karpathy, a key figure in AI development. He describes vibe coding as an approach where you "fully give in to the vibes," letting AI handle the code so much that it grows beyond human comprehension.

Karpathy used an AI tool called Composer from Cursor AI, which supports multi-file code generation and editing. Other tools like JetBrains and GitHub Copilot have recently added AI coding agents, and OpenAI acquired the AI app generator Windsurf for $3 billion. While Karpathy suggested vibe coding is fine for quick projects, many in tech see it as a sign of major change coming to developer roles, especially in startups.

Is the Developer Role Disappearing?

Some industry leaders believe AI will soon dominate coding. At Y Combinator, a survey revealed that 25% of startups say over 95% of their code is AI-generated. Y Combinator’s CEO, Garry Tan, warned that if companies don’t adopt AI coding, they risk falling behind.

Ken Schirrmacher, CTO at passwordless authentication startup ObligeAI, shared that vibe coding happens simultaneously across multiple screens in his team. He highlighted how AI can compress what once took years into mere weeks or months, ending the era of developers writing tens of thousands of lines solo from scratch.

On the more extreme side, Anthropic's CEO predicted AI will write 90% of code within months and nearly all code within a year. But not everyone agrees that human developers will vanish immediately.

Where Human Developers Still Matter

Some argue that while AI speeds up prototyping, real product scaling requires human expertise. Experienced developers remain essential to refine, secure, and maintain AI-generated code. AI can introduce security flaws that humans need to catch, at least for now.

Industry veterans see AI tools as collaborators rather than replacements. Nick Cassidy from Stellarus Group says the definition of "developer" is broadening. Tools now let citizen developers build AI-powered apps, which changes how teams work but doesn't eliminate the need for skilled engineers.

David Strauss, CTO at Pantheon.io, noted that AI-assisted prototypes make it easier to communicate ideas with engineers. This improves collaboration and speeds up development cycles.

Looking Forward: A Gradual Shift, Not an Overnight Change

Some experts expect AI to eventually handle most coding tasks, but not for several years. Challenges like security, quality control, and creative problem-solving still require human input. Advanced AI systems might manage validation and code reviews, but human oversight will remain important.

Fetch.ai’s CEO Humayun Sheikh predicts that agentic AI platforms combined with blockchain and future tech like quantum computing will automate software development further. However, building and maintaining this infrastructure will still need human effort.

Historical shifts in IT, such as the move from mainframes to cloud, didn’t eliminate roles but transformed them. Similarly, developers will evolve into roles that emphasize platform engineering, prompt design, and managing AI tools.

Why Creativity and Problem-Solving Still Need Humans

Lars Maaløe, CTO at healthcare AI company Corti, points out a key limitation of AI: it tends to produce average, familiar solutions rather than truly creative ones. This means human ingenuity remains critical for pushing innovation beyond routine tasks.

Generative AI has created new roles like prompt engineering, which blend technical skills with creative input. These emerging roles could define how software development looks in the near future.

What Product Development Professionals Should Keep in Mind

• AI tools will speed up coding but won’t replace the need for strategic thinking and product oversight.
• Collaboration between AI-generated prototypes and engineering teams can accelerate delivery.
• Expect developer roles to evolve—focus on adaptability, AI tool fluency, and creative problem-solving.
• Learning about AI coding tools and prompt engineering can future-proof your skills.

For those interested in developing AI skills relevant to product development, Complete AI Training offers courses tailored to various job roles and skill levels.

In short, vibe coding reflects a shift toward AI-assisted development where human roles change but remain essential. Embracing these tools while sharpening problem-solving and creative abilities will be key to thriving in the evolving landscape.