The Evolving Role of the Developer: embracing AI as a Partner
The progress landscape is undergoing a rapid change, driven by the increasing capabilities of artificial intelligence. This isn’t about replacing developers; itS about evolving the role. Recent changes are already delivering notable gains in efficiency - less time spent in dialog, faster project completion, and a higher standard for individual output. But teams aren’t disappearing. Rather, their structure is shifting. Collaboration will center on strategic decision-making, ensuring product alignment, and responsibly leveraging AI tools. your focus will move from hands-on implementation to providing direction and oversight.AI is Forging a New Career Path
Looking ahead five to seven years, the traditional “developer” role will likely be unrecognizable. Expect to see more hybrid positions – blending development with design and product thinking. The core skill won’t be writing lines of code,but shaping ideas into functional software with AI as your primary creative tool,perhaps even as a co-creator. Technical proficiency will remain vital, but simply knowing how to code won’t be enough. You’ll need a strong understanding of product strategy, user needs, and how to effectively manage and refine AI’s output. System design and a strategic vision will become paramount. Stop vetting engineers like it’s 2021 – the AI-native workforce is here. This shift may seem daunting to some.However, it also unlocks significant opportunities for those with creativity and strong problem-solving skills.The landscape is changing,and that’s undeniable. But for those willing to adapt, the future looks bright. The decline of entry-level coding positions isn’t a sign of decline; it’s a call to re-evaluate the skills we cultivate, how we organize teams, and what truly defines a accomplished developer. here’s what this means for you: Focus on uniquely human skills: Prioritize creativity, critical thinking, and strategic vision. Embrace a hybrid approach: Learn to work with AI, not against it. Develop product thinking: Understand user needs and translate them into effective solutions. Master system design: Focus on the bigger picture and how different components interact. Instead of lamenting the automation of basic tasks, the industry should concentrate on building skills that are, at least for now, beyond AI’s reach. This means adopting a partnership model with AI,viewing it as a powerful ally rather than a competitor. Roman Eloshvili is the founder of ComplyControl.Stay Ahead with VB Daily Want to stay informed about the latest in AI business applications? VB Daily delivers daily insights on use cases, regulatory changes, and practical deployments. Impress your colleagues and maximize your ROI with the inside scoop.Read our Privacy Policy Explore more VB newsletters
As AI continues to take on more and more new competencies, junior coding, as we knew it, is rapidly becoming a thing of the past. Tasks that used to be the bread and butter for junior developers — such as repetitive scripting, HTML layout or simple DevOps setups — are now being reliably handled by AI assistants like ChatGPT, GitHub Copilot and Amazon CodeWhisperer.
This is not just an upgrade to speed and efficiency — we are looking at a serious structural change here. So where does that leave entry-level developers? And,speaking more broadly,where does it leave the software industry as a whole?
The vanishing beginner level
For decades,software engineering as a field had a fairly predictable pathway: Begin with the basics,build some landing pages,write test cases,troubleshoot minor bugs. As your skills grow,you can move toward architectural thinking and product ownership.
But now AI is vastly changing how the bottom end of that ladder operates,as it can do most junior-level tasks on its own.
Consequently, beginners entering the industry are increasingly being asked to contribute at a level that used to require years of experience. It is not just about writing code anymore — it is about understanding systems, structuring problems and working alongside AI like a team member. that is a tall order. That said,I do believe that there is a way forward.It starts by changing the way we learn.
If you are just starting out, avoid relying on AI to get things done. It is tempting, sure, but in the long run, it is also harmful. If you skip the manual practice, you are missing out on building a deeper understanding of how software really works. That understanding is critical if you want to grow into the kind of developer who can lead, architect and guide AI instead of being replaced by it.
The way I see it, in the near future, the most valuable people in tech won’t be the ones who write perfect code. They will be those who know what should be built, why it matters and how to get an AI system to do most of the work cleanly and efficiently. In other words, the coder of tomorrow looks more like a product manager with solid technical expertise.
Teams are changing,too
Based on everything we covered above,I also feel the need to point out that it is not just individuals who need to rethink their roles. Entire teams are shifting. Where we once had clearly defined roles — front-end developer, back-end specialist, DevOps engineer, QA tester — we will soon see one developer managing a whole pipeline with the help of AI.
AI-augmented developers will replace large teams that used to be necessary to move a project forward. In terms of efficiency, there is a lot to celebrate about this change — reduced communication time, faster results and higher bars for what one person can realistically accomplish.
But, of course, this does not mean teams will disappear altogether. It is indeed just that the structure will change. Collaboration will focus more on strategic decisions, product alignment and making sure AI tools are being used responsibly and effectively. The human input will be less about implementation and more about direction.
AI is creating a new career path
If we look five to seven years ahead, I suspect that the idea of a “developer” as we know it today will have changed into something else entirely. We will likely see more hybrid roles — part developer, part designer, part product thinker. As already mentioned, the core part of the job won’t be to write code, but to shape ideas into working software using AI as your main creation tool. Or perhaps, even as a co-creator.
Being technically fluent will still remain a crucial requirement — but it won’t be enough to simply know how to code. You will need to understand product thinking, user needs and how to manage AI’s output. it will be more about system design and strategic vision.
For some, this may sound intimidating, but for others, it will also open many doors. People with creativity and a knack for problem-solving will have huge opportunities ahead of them.
the landscape is shifting, yes — there is no escaping that fact. But for those willing to adapt, one could argue it is shifting in their favor. The end of junior coding is not the end of learning. It is indeed a sign that we need to reconsider what kind of talents we grow,how we structure teams and what makes someone a great developer.
To my mind, instead of mourning the loss of basic tasks, the industry as a whole should focus on building the skills that cannot be automated. At least, not yet. That means implementing a hybrid approach and learning how to work with AI as a partner rather than a competitor.
Roman Eloshvili is founder of ComplyControl.
