AI: The Coming Fragmentation of Software Engineering

The author's wife uses Lovable, an AI tool, to build a social platform. While efficient, the AI frequently gets stuck, requiring human intervention. This observation leads the author to predict a future where software engineering is fragmented: a large pool of low-skilled 'AI prompters' supported by a smaller number of highly skilled specialists who resolve issues and optimize performance. AGI, the author argues, is overhyped; the reality is an AI-assisted development model where AI handles routine tasks, but complex problem-solving and architecture remain crucial human roles. This shift will result in fewer software engineering jobs, but survivors will ascend to higher-level positions requiring stronger architectural design skills and leadership. The future is bright for the adaptable, bleak for the complacent.