This week, I came across a quote from Mark Zuckerberg: “AI will soon replace mid-level software engineers” (Forbes, 2025). I paused – not because I was shocked, but because it’s happening faster than expected.
Google reports that over 25% of its new code is now AI-generated.
Salesforce saw a 30% boost in engineering productivity and decided to pause hiring. (Sources: Forbes & Business Insider)
As the CEO of a tech recruitment agency, I see how these changes are reshaping hiring every day. We’re not just looking for coders anymore – we’re looking for systems thinkers who know how to use AI wisely.
But this isn’t just my view. Here’s how Lukasz Brzezowski, VP of Engineering and Site Lead at LoopMe, describes it:
“I fully agree that AI is reshaping, not replacing software engineering. In our teams, IntelliJ AI Assistant has become a go-to tool for fast prototyping and working with unfamiliar tech, often outperforming Stack Overflow or generic chatbots in speed and context.”
“It’s less reliable for complex refactoring and always needs an experienced eye to verify output and make production-ready adjustments. When used by skilled engineers, it boosts velocity significantly, but it doesn’t eliminate the need for sound engineering judgment.”
“We’re also discussing how it affects junior developers: if they’re curious and ask “why,” AI can be a powerful accelerator; if not, it risks short-circuiting their growth”.
“Importantly, code generation is only a small part of what engineers do – design, debugging, reviews, communication, and aligning with business goals still require human insight. Emerging tools like JetBrains’ Juni show where things are heading: AI agents that can take on sequences of tasks, not just code snippets, but always with the developer steering the process.”
“For us, the most valuable engineers are those who combine technical skill with systems thinking – and know how to harness AI effectively, not blindly.”
Couldn’t agree more!
So maybe the question isn’t “Will AI replace me?”
It’s: “How do I evolve to stay relevant and valuable?”
No one-size-fits-all answer, but I’d start here:
• Invest in soft skills
• Think in systems, not snippets
• Keep learning – AI is a tool, not a teacher
One last thought: Maybe it’s time to rethink your role in tech – before someone else does it for you?
