There is a strange tension in the air lately.
AI feels magical. At the same time, it makes many developers uneasy. We watch models write code, design systems, and even reason about architecture.
It’s not unreasonable to ask:
What happens to developers when AI gets this good?
This post is not about fear, nor hype. It’s a reflection—from someone living through the transition.
AI Feels Like Magic — Until You Look Closer
When people talk about AI, they often imagine a magician waving a wand. You type a prompt, and a perfect result instantly appears.
But that illusion fades quickly once you actually work with AI.
AI does not decide what to build.
It does not know why something matters.
It does not understand value unless someone explains the context.
AI cannot define its own goals. Someone still has to decide direction, constraints, and priorities.
So if AI could truly solve everything on its own, would the world eventually be left with only AI?
At least in 2026, the answer is clearly no.
In Turbulent Times, Focus on What Doesn’t Change
We are living in a period of rapid technological change. When everything moves this fast, the instinct is to chase every new tool.
Ironically, this is when focusing on unchanging fundamentals matters most.
Problem-solving still matters
Tools change constantly. Languages, frameworks, and now even “who writes the code” keep shifting.
But one skill remains stubbornly irreplaceable:
the ability to identify real problems and define them clearly.
AI can generate solutions. It cannot tell you which problems are worth solving.
Curiosity beats fear
Developers who survive transitions aren’t the ones who resist new tools.
They are the ones who experiment, fail, and ask better questions.
Curiosity and adaptability have always been a competitive advantage.
In the age of AI, they may be the strongest ones.
So What Does a Developer Look Like in 2026?
Will developers disappear?
More realistically, the role is evolving, not vanishing.
The modern developer is no longer just someone who writes code line by line.
Instead, they increasingly act as a conductor.
The 2026 developer is:
- Someone who orchestrates AI agents
- Someone who supervises multiple AI systems doing “traditional” development work
- Someone who reviews outputs and takes responsibility for the result
- Someone who translates vague business needs into structures AI can understand
In short, developers are becoming designers of intent, not just implementers.
My Coding Workflow Has Already Changed
This shift isn’t theoretical—it’s already happening.
My own workflow looks different now:
- I write a spec document first
- I define coding style and architectural constraints upfront
- Only then do I ask AI to implement
The result surprised me.
I spend less time fighting implementation details
and more time thinking about business logic, edge cases, and trade-offs.
AI is very good at execution—
if the problem is defined clearly.
That’s the key.
What matters now isn’t how fast you type code,
but how well you design, specify, and communicate intent.
The Tool Has Never Been the Point
Humanity has always built tools to solve problems.
From stone tools to compilers to AI models,
technology has never been the hero—problem-solving has.
Every technology is created by humans.
And ultimately, every technology exists for humans.
That’s why I believe this remains true in every era:
People who solve problems do not disappear.
AI Is a Powerful Assistant, Not a Desire-Driven Being
AI doesn’t want anything.
It doesn’t want a better life.
It doesn’t want recognition.
It doesn’t want happiness.
It moves only when given objectives.
The clearer the context, the better it performs.
That makes AI an incredibly capable assistant—and sometimes a developer.
But not an autonomous agent with values of its own.
(Also, realistically speaking: using AI well still costs money.)
A Question That Still Lingers
If AI can produce everything,
what happens when there is no one left to judge something as “valuable”?
Value does not exist in isolation.
It requires a being that can experience it.
Even in a future filled with AI-generated goods and services,
the world only works if there are:
- beings who create value (AI)
- and beings who perceive value (humans)
Whether AI can ever develop true desire is a fascinating question—
but that’s a topic for another day.
A Final Thought
AI is changing what it means to be a developer.
Feeling anxious about that change is completely natural.
But by focusing on fundamentals,
by staying curious instead of fearful,
and by riding the wave instead of resisting it,
we can survive—and even thrive—in this chaotic era.
Stay strong, fellow developers. 🐇🎩
Top comments (1)
I think the AI bubble will burst, but not in the same way previous tech bubbles did. AI is here to stay, but it’ll settle into a more practical role as a tool rather than a revolution. The hype will fade, and AI will just be one of many tools we use to improve efficiency and decision-making, rather than being the defining tech of the next era.
The model itself isn’t sustainable, especially from an environmental standpoint. Training large AI models consumes massive energy, leading to a growing carbon footprint. For AI to remain viable long-term, we’ll need more energy-efficient methods and sustainable practices.