AI may soon handle most software development tasks, with systems expected to plan, write, test, and deliver code much like human engineers within a year.
Some developers are already shifting roles, relying on AI to generate code while they focus more on reviewing work and making key decisions.
Reactions are mixed, as people worry about job security while others see AI as a tool to speed up work and help smaller teams build bigger products.
Just days after reports revealed that AI agents wrote more than one million lines of code to build a full web browser from scratch, a fresh warning has come from the top of the AI industry. Speaking at the World Economic Forum, Dario Amodei, CEO of Anthropic, said that artificial intelligence could soon handle almost everything a software engineer does today. His message was clear and direct. The shift is not years away. It may already be unfolding inside tech companies. Amodei pointed to real changes happening within his own organisation, suggesting the future of software jobs may arrive far sooner than many expect.
SurveyDuring a panel discussion with The Economist and Google DeepMind, Amodei said AI systems are closing in on the ability to manage software projects from start to finish. This includes planning work, writing code, fixing mistakes, testing results, and delivering final products. He believes this could happen within the next six to twelve months. If that timeline holds, it would mark one of the fastest transformations in modern work history.
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Amodei revealed that some engineers at Anthropic no longer write code themselves. Instead, they rely on AI to generate it and then step in to review and refine the output. Their work has shifted toward decision-making and oversight rather than manual coding. This change shows how software roles are already evolving in real time.
He described this progress as a closing loop, where AI no longer needs constant human guidance to complete a full project. Once given a task, the system could move independently from idea to delivery. This raises serious questions about the long-term role of human engineers.
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Still, Amodei stressed that AI is not ready to control everything. Areas like chip production and full model training remain difficult for machines. He further added that because of these limits, the future of AI taking jobs remains uncertain.
However, the response of the developer community has been mixed. While some people fear losing their jobs, others view this as a chance to learn new skills and use AI as a helper to minimize mundane work. The more optimistic section of the community thinks that with the help of powerful AI tools, they will be able to develop products faster and compete with teams that are much larger in size.
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Bhaskar Sharma
Bhaskar is a senior copy editor at Digit India, where he simplifies complex tech topics across iOS, Android, macOS, Windows, and emerging consumer tech. His work has appeared in iGeeksBlog, GuidingTech, and other publications, and he previously served as an assistant editor at TechBloat and TechReloaded. A B.Tech graduate and full-time tech writer, he is known for clear, practical guides and explainers. View Full Profile
