“AI will be the end of programmers everywhere,” an article I recently read declared.
The author argued that with AI and a trend called “Vibecoding,” even people with no technical background can now build applications. Instead of writing code, they just tell the AI what they want and tweak its output until they get the right result.
To prove their point, they shared their own experience. With zero programming knowledge—no Python, java script, or C++—they managed to build a podcast transcription and summarization tool, a social media organizing app, a website to check if furniture would fit in their car, and even a fridge-scanning app that suggests lunch ideas for their son.
At first glance, that might sound like AI is replacing programmers. But that assumption misses the bigger picture. Many people think programming is just about making simple apps or websites, which are things Microsoft Excel could probably handle. By that logic, memorizing a list of medicines would make someone a pharmacist, or holding a chisel and hammer would turn someone into a sculptor.
If we assume programming is dying just because AI can spit out some basic code, we are oversimplifying the reality of software development. Anyone who has built real software knows it is not just about writing a few lines of code – it is about solving complex problems. AI is not here to replace programmers; it is here to raise the bar.
Like in every other industry, AI is reshaping programming. Sure, those who only learned basic coding from short courses might struggle, but experienced developers see AI as a powerful tool. Apps like ChatGPT and GitHub Copilot help automate repetitive tasks like debugging, formatting code, and writing boilerplate, ultimately freeing developers to focus on the difficult things like system architecture, performance optimization, and data security.
But no matter how advanced AI gets, it cannot replace human reasoning, creativity, or problem-solving. Building real applications is not as simple as typing a prompt and letting AI do the rest. It takes structured thinking and decision-making that only experienced developers can provide.
Yes, technology will change how programmers work, but it won’t make them obsolete. AI still needs human oversight. Developers will be the ones verifying data accuracy, fixing errors, and making key decisions about security, ethics, and system design.
So no, AI is not taking over programming. It’s just raising the skill level needed to stay in the game.
