The tech world is currently grappling with the question of whether coding is becoming obsolete due to the rise of artificial intelligence. Microsoft, for instance, now has AI generating 30% of its code, leading to layoffs of software engineers, even those who were involved in training the AI tools themselves. This situation has sparked debate and uncertainty among developers and tech professionals.

Aparna Chennapragada, Microsoft’s Chief Product Officer for Experiences and Devices, argues that coding is not dying but evolving. She suggests that AI is driving a shift toward higher levels of abstraction in programming, where engineers will function more like "software operators" managing AI-driven processes rather than writing code from scratch. Chennapragada emphasizes that foundational knowledge of computer science remains essential, providing a crucial mental model for navigating this changing landscape.

However, this perspective contrasts sharply with the experiences of many laid-off engineers. In Washington state, over 40% of those laid off were software engineers, raising concerns that coders are being asked to build the very tools that could replace them. The story of Jeff Hulse, a Microsoft vice president who automated 50% of his team's code using OpenAI tools only to see many team members laid off, highlights the paradox.

The AI revolution is also impacting project and product managers, who are facing pressure to adapt to a more streamlined, AI-driven environment. Chennapragada suggests that these roles are evolving from coordination to curation, requiring managers to develop a knack for "taste-making and editing" to identify the most promising ideas amidst a flood of innovation.

The experience of a young Google tech worker reflects this shift. She notes that AI can now handle many of the tedious tasks that once required extensive manual coding, allowing engineers to focus on more creative and imaginative problem-solving. Debugging that used to take an hour can now be done in minutes with AI assistance, and complex documentation is being transformed into engaging interactive content.

Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella has stated that nearly one-third of some teams' code is generated by AI. The question remains whether this means humans will be elevated to more creative roles or slowly phased out. While Chennapragada views AI as a democratizing force, many jobless engineers are left wondering if AI is opening doors or closing them. Regardless, it’s clear that coding is changing, and the future of software engineering is likely to look very different from its past.