The prediction that up to 90 per cent of code in 2030 will be written by artificial intelligence is prompting discussion about the future of developers. However, market data and expert opinion point not to a replacement, but to an evolution of the developer’s role towards more strategic and creative tasks.
The vision put forward by GitHub that nine out of ten lines of code could be generated by AI by the end of the decade sounds to many like the announcement of a revolution in the IT job market. However, deeper analysis and current trends suggest that it is not about eliminating jobs, but about fundamentally changing the nature of the programmer’s job.
Tools such as GitHub Copilot are already responsible for generating nearly half of their users’ code, showing that the 2030 forecast is an extrapolation of an existing trend rather than a distant fantasy.
The key shift is from writing code to designing and overseeing it. The role of the developer is evolving from a craftsman focused on the syntax of a particular language to a systems architect who can think conceptually and orchestrate the work of AI agents.
In this model, artificial intelligence becomes a powerful tool that automates repetitive and standard tasks, allowing humans to focus on solving complex business problems and creating innovative solutions.
In the new paradigm, skills that were previously considered secondary are gaining importance. Critical thinking, creativity in designing architectures, iterative planning, and the ability to collaborate effectively in a team are becoming key competences.
The programmer of the future is someone who can ask AI the right questions, verify the quality of the resulting code, integrate it within a larger system and predict the long-term consequences of the solutions adopted.
Interestingly, this transformation could prove beneficial for novice programmers. Instead of spending months learning basic syntax, juniors enter the marketplace using AI assistants right away.
This allows them to understand the software architecture faster and engage in the more strategic aspects of projects from the outset. The learning curve does not disappear, but changes its shape – the focus is on systems thinking and collaboration with intelligent tools.
In conclusion, while the vision of 90% of code being generated by AI may cause concern, it does not mean the end of the programming profession. On the contrary, the demand for AI professionals continues to grow. However, the definition of their role is changing.
Artificial intelligence does not replace human creativity and strategic thinking, but becomes a tool to make the most of them, opening the door to the creation of more advanced and innovative technologies.
