Will AI Replace Programmers and Software Engineers?

Written by Coursera Staff • Updated on

Discover answers to the question, "Will AI replace programmers and software engineers?' Explore the benefits and limitations of AI and the future of programming with this guide.

[Featured Image] A programmer sits at their desk and helps their company integrate AI.

Key takeaways

AI is not equipped to replace programmers and software engineers because current GenAI tools have several limitations when it comes to coding.

  • AI impacts software development across automation, debugging, and project forecasting.

  • Several limitations of AI in software development include its lack of innovation, potential for inaccurate code, and potential security risks.

Explore how AI stands to change the way programmers and software engineers work, and some of the current limitations of AI in programming. If you’re ready to enhance your skill set in this field, enroll in the Prompt Engineering Specialization from Vanderbilt University, where in as little as four weeks, you can learn about prompt patterns, ChatGPT, artificial intelligence, large language modeling, and more.

Will AI replace programmers?

As of this writing, AI is not equipped to replace programmers and software engineers. Current GenAI tools have several limitations when it comes to coding, making foundational computer science knowledge and critical thinking skills essential. But pairing these human skills with GenAI can enhance the way you solve problems and generate new ideas.

Learn more about AGI in the video below from DeepLearning.AI’s course, Generative AI for Everyone.

While it's unlikely that AI will completely replace programmers, the technology has already started to impact the way programmers work, particularly when it comes to entry-level and software engineering job requirements.

How soon will AI replace programmers?

While you can expect some changes to these job roles, a complete elimination of these roles is less likely to happen, at least for quite some time. In fact, programmers and software engineers are driving many of the AI advancements we enjoy today.

Impact of AI on software development 

There are certain tasks that GenAI tools are equipped to handle, specifically, more rote technical tasks. Think about it: GenAI tools are large language models (LLMs), which essentially work by continuously predicting the most likely next word (or set of characters) based on the data they’re trained on. These tools were built to replicate routines.

Some examples of how AI is impacting programming roles are:

  • Writing assistance: AI can help write code in common programming languages. It can also explain a line of code and format it as comments to include in your code without impacting the output.

  • Bug detection and fixing: If you run into issues with your code or want to check your work before deploying, AI can identify where bugs are originating and offer solutions to fix them.

  • Project forecasting: This is perhaps more of a project management task. When starting a new project, AI can use historical data to predict how long programming tasks will take, helping create project timelines.

Read more: Project Management Lifecycle: The 5 Phases Explained

Programmers and software engineers can also use these tools early in their careers as they learn how to code and build their skills. If you’re having trouble reading, writing, or understanding a line of code, try asking ChatGPT for an explanation.

Which jobs can’t AI replace? 

While AI is a tool capable of many tasks that humans used to do manually, this technology can’t replace a large swath of jobs, including in industries like agriculture, human resources, education, and construction trades. In industries where AI may decrease the demand for jobs, it may also play a role in creating new kinds of jobs. For example, AI programs can do much of the day-to-day work of an entry-level software developer, which could decrease the number of these types of jobs available. At the same time, an increase in demand for AI technology drives a demand for software developers. In all industries that use AI tools, human supervisors will need to oversee and direct this technology.

Limitations of AI in software development 

Alongside the benefits of using AI come several limitations, which means it’s important for humans to continue playing a strong role in programming and software engineering tasks.

Here are some limitations of AI:

  • Lack of innovation: AI is unable to think critically and generate new ideas; it can only repeat ideas based on the data it’s been trained on. Critical thinking and problem-solving are important programming skills that AI cannot replicate.

  • Inaccurate code: AI is prone to hallucinations, so an AI tool may produce inaccurate code. This can be particularly true with more complex requests.

  • Security risks: AI may learn from user inputs and store data, using that data to improve future outputs. Before using any AI, it’s important to be aware of the system’s data storage and usage to prevent security issues.

  • Copyright and intellectual property concerns: Just as AI can store and use your inputs as data, it may also learn from other users’ copyrighted data. If you’re using AI for business programming tasks, it’s worth knowing what the AI has been trained on to avoid accidental infringement.

When will AI replace programmers?

AI is not in a position to replace programmers, but as a developing technology, its current limitations may become less limiting over time. However, even then, replacing programmers with AI will face another obstacle: human comfort.

Programmers and software engineers develop products that deeply impact society. In order for AI to completely replace these job roles, people in society will need to be comfortable relying on these technologies to create programs that analyze medical records, handle financial systems, fly airplanes, control nuclear power plants, and manage military defense systems.

Because some software engineers work on highly sensitive programs, confidence in AI’s programming capabilities will have to be very high before AI is in a position to replace programmers completely, and reaching this level of confidence will likely take time.

Another important point to remember when you’re trying to forecast when AI will replace programmers: Human programmers are crucial participants in AI development. Even as the technology becomes more advanced, AI programmers and AI software engineers are working on these tools to guide and supervise those advancements.

The future of artificial intelligence and software engineering 

Although it seems unlikely that AI will replace programmers, programmers can empower themselves by incorporating AI into their typical workstreams.

Here are some growing and in-demand AI skills, concepts, and frameworks for programmers and software engineers:

Subscribe to our weekly LinkedIn newsletter, Career Chat, for industry updates, tips, and trends. You can also check out these AI resources:

Accelerate your career growth with a Coursera Plus subscription. When you enroll in either the monthly or annual option, you’ll get access to over 10,000 courses. 

Updated on
Written by:

Editorial Team

Coursera’s editorial team is comprised of highly experienced professional editors, writers, and fact...

This content has been made available for informational purposes only. Learners are advised to conduct additional research to ensure that courses and other credentials pursued meet their personal, professional, and financial goals.