My old job is dead. I have heard it said here, but now I have seen it for myself: AI can write better code than me, faster and cheaper.
That said, my value now is steering it to produce the right things. Without someone experienced at the helm, the AI will steer itself randomly, going wherever the wind blows.
There is more work for me to do now than before, because the AI can be working several problems at the same time. Other have likened it to having an endless supply of what one hopes to find in fresh-faced junior engineers: eager to please, filled with boundless energy, curious about everything they see, willing to ask questions for feedback and guidance. Better than most fleshy juniors that I have known in at least one of those dimensions.
If anything, I expect the market will contract to support only those with a real gift and passion for this kind of work. Sure, vibe coding will continue to dominate one-off projects, but I suspect “real” engineering will remain the realm of individuals who have dedicated their time to learning the underlying systems deeply.