The Rise of AI and the Shrinking Job Market for Software Engineers
WARNING: THIS IS ALL SPECULATION/EXPRESSION OF THOUGHT AND NOT AN ENDORSEMENT OF ANY ONE SYSTEM OR PATH AS I UNDESTAND THE WORLD IS MUCH MORE DYNAMIC THAN MY OWN SOLO VIEWS OR THROUGHTS
Software engineering landscape is undergoing a large shift and I've been seeing it and engaging in it the entire time. AI tools like GitHub Copilot, ChatGPT, and Cursor are accelerating development at a pace not seen since the late 90s, automating routine coding tasks, and even writing full applications with minimal human intervention. This automation is reducing the demand for traditional software engineering roles, a trend that will likely continue as AI capabilities improve. According to a report from McKinsey, up to 45% of all tasks performed by software engineers could be automated in the next decade (McKinsey & Company, 2023).
As a result, we are already seeing the early signs of a contraction in software development job growth. Companies that once hired large teams of engineers are now shifting toward AI-augmented development, cutting costs and increasing efficiency. This is leading to an overall reduction in software engineering jobs, particularly at the entry and mid-level.
In contrast to the declining demand for traditional engineering jobs, the rise of the solopreneur is accelerating. With AI reducing the technical barrier to entry, individuals can now build and launch software products with little to no team. No-code and low-code platforms further empower this shift, enabling solo developers to build fully functional applications without years of software engineering experience.
We’ve seen similar paradigm shifts before. Indie games boomed in the 2010s, driven by tools like Unity and Unreal Engine, allowed solo developers and small teams to compete with industry giants. Now, with AI-driven coding tools, independent developers can create complex applications, automate customer support, and market their products—all with minimal overhead (Andreessen Horowitz, 2024). This is opening new doors for self-sufficient software developers who don’t need to depend on corporate jobs.
In general AI-powered robotics and automation are steadily reducing the global need for traditional jobs. Manufacturing, logistics, healthcare, and even creative industries are experiencing the effects of AI augmentation. While this trend raises concerns about job displacement, it also presents an opportunity for a world where people work less and focus more on passion-driven projects.
Instead of a dystopian future of mass unemployment, we should envision see the rise of widespread independent contracting, flexible work arrangements, and either supplimental/universal basic income (UBI) models to support those transitioning away from traditional employment (World Economic Forum, 2023).This end method of roles is obviously highly speculative but... The goal should not be to replace humans but to free them from tedious, repetitive labor so they can focus on high-level creativity, innovation, and artistic expression.
So, on to vibe coding, a term that could define the next great creative movement in technology. Just as Impressionism broke from academic traditions in art, and Dadaism rejected the logic and rationality of pre-war Europe, vibe coding represents a new wave of creative software development where expression takes precedence over function.
Vibe coding is the art of creating software for expression rather than pure utility. It’s about building interactive experiences, generative art, procedurally driven soundscapes, and experimental interfaces that aren’t constrained by commercial viability. This movement is already visible in:
Generative AI Art: Artists using tools like RunwayML and Stable Diffusion to create unpredictable, living pieces of code-driven artwork.
Algorithmic Music Composition: AI-generated beats and melodies that allow musicians to explore new creative frontiers (MIT Technology Review, 2024).
Experimental Games and Interactive Media: Small teams or solo developers crafting games-as-art instead of traditional commercial gaming products, akin to what indie pioneers did in the early 2010s.
It's promise you it's already happening, go search whatever social media you use for "vibecoding".
Vibe coding is not just an emerging niche subculture; it is a natural response to automation and obsession utilizing new tooling. As AI handles the tedious aspects of software development, I believe human creativity will take center stage. This shift mirrors historical moments where technological advancements didn’t kill art but instead gave rise to new forms of expression. The printing press didn’t destroy writing; it led to the novel. Photography didn’t end painting; it sparked Impressionism and later modern art movements.
The thought is that at least some portion of us will instead of writing code for the sake of functionality, will write code for the sake of experience, meaning, and expression while solving real world needs or not. Think about where we started, like that but better is the hope.
It's yet to be seen but, as AI reduces the need for traditional software roles (or at least we think it does), solopreneurs will rise, and independent contracting and boutique roles will further become the norm. Vibe coding will be the creative revolution that defines this era of technological change. The rigid constraints of productivity-focused programming will give way to software as art, experience, an obsession. In a world where AI can do the routine, it will be humans who bring the soul.
The future of software isn’t about making charts go up; it’s about expression regardless of this possible future.
~WARNING: Some of this content was written with an ai assistant for drafting and review and general vibe check~
Author: Will Blew
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