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Even super-intelligent AI agents will require software like databases and CRMs as systems of record. Similarly, human careers will persist post-AGI because most jobs are abstract constructs designed to serve other humans, a need that won't disappear. The nature of work will change, but not vanish.
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Contrary to fears of job displacement, Todd McKinnon believes AI will increase the demand for software engineers. While AI will handle more initial code generation, humans will be needed to manage the complexity of maintaining, scaling, and architecting the 10x more software that will be built with these new agentic systems.
Contrary to fears of mass job replacement, AI's primary impact is role transformation. Analysis shows that while 11% of jobs may be eliminated, this is largely offset by the creation of 18% new roles, resulting in a much smaller net job loss and a significant reshaping of how work is done.
As AI agents take over routine tasks like purchasing and scheduling, the primary human role will evolve. Instead of placing orders, people will be responsible for configuring, monitoring, and training these AI systems, effectively becoming managers of automated workflows.
Once AGI can perform any intellectual task, the remaining value for humans lies in what is uniquely human: emotional resonance, empathy, and shared experience. Jobs centered on these skills, like nursing and creative arts, will thrive.
Contrary to fears of AI making SaaS obsolete, the reality is that most enterprise software is deeply flawed. A contrarian view is that AI will provide the tools to finally rebuild these systems better, creating a massive new wave of demand for software development and product design.
AGI won't eliminate all jobs because many roles contain a "Human Premium"—value tied to human involvement that AI cannot replicate. This includes inherent demands for relationship, embodied presence, trust, legal accountability, translation of complex needs, and encouragement for behavior change, ensuring durable roles for people.
The argument that AI will eliminate software jobs by making coding easy overlooks a key reality: most existing software is buggy and frustrating. The demand for better, more reliable products is practically infinite, suggesting AI will augment developer productivity to meet this demand rather than replace developers wholesale.
The future of software isn't just AI-powered features. It's a fundamental shift from tools that assist humans to autonomous agents that perform tasks. Human roles will evolve from *doing* the work to *orchestrating* thousands of these agents.
Excel didn't replace spreadsheet workers; it turned almost every office role into a spreadsheet job. Similarly, AI tools won't just automate tasks but will become integral to most knowledge work, making AI proficiency a universal and required competency.
Historical data from the computer revolution shows that technology rarely replaces entire professional jobs. Instead, it automates routine tasks within a role, freeing up humans to focus on higher-value activities like analysis, judgment, and coordination, thereby upgrading the job itself.
