Andrew Wilkinson argues that advanced AI models have achieved AGI-like capabilities in programming. He quotes Anthropic's CEO, suggesting that the role of a programmer is shifting to that of an architect, and many current programmers are in denial because their paycheck depends on not understanding this shift.

As AI handles more code generation, the core identity of software engineers as hands-on "builders" is being challenged. This commoditization of a key skill forces a transition to roles like "conductor" or "idea guy," an identity many have historically disdained, creating a significant professional and psychological crisis.

AI coding has advanced so rapidly that tools like Claude Code are now responsible for their own development. This signals a fundamental shift in the software engineering profession, requiring programmers to master a new, higher level of abstraction to remain effective.

The shift to AI-driven development has demotivated engineers whose identity is tied to the craft of coding, with some quitting rather than becoming "prompters." This emotional resistance creates a significant opportunity for developers who embrace a new identity centered on product building.

Leading engineers like OpenAI's Andre Karpathy describe recent AI tools not as incremental improvements but as the biggest workflow change in decades. The paradigm has shifted from humans writing code with AI help to AI writing code with human guidance.

The significant job disruption from AI is not a distant threat but a current reality. Replit's CEO states that due to the power of coding agents, one skilled 'business journalist' can now replace a five-person team of data, engineering, and ops specialists. This revolution is happening now.

The most dangerous long-term impact of AI is not economic unemployment, but the stripping away of human meaning and purpose. As AI masters every valuable skill, it will disrupt the core human algorithm of contributing to the group, leading to a collective psychological crisis and societal decay.

AI coding tools democratize development, making simple 'coding' obsolete. However, this expands the amount of software created, which in turn increases the need for sophisticated 'engineering' to manage new layers of complexity and operations. The field gets bigger, not smaller.

Experience alone no longer determines engineering productivity. An engineer's value is now a function of their experience plus their fluency with AI tools. Experienced coders who haven't adapted are now less valuable than AI-native recent graduates, who are in high demand.