Key Takeaways:

• GitHub CEO Thomas Dohmke says developers must adapt to working with AI or risk being left behind.
• AI use is becoming standard in coding, debugging, and project planning, with many developers already integrating it deeply into their workflows.
• Surveys suggest AI could generate up to 90% of code within two to five years, shifting the developer role from writing code to managing AI output.
• The transition is already underway, with developers moving toward orchestration, quality assurance, and strategic design work.
• Industry leaders see this as a reinvention opportunity rather than a threat, but those unwilling to adapt may find fewer career options.

In a direct and unapologetic message to the developer community, GitHub CEO Thomas Dohmke stated that programmers unwilling to embrace artificial intelligence may have no future in the profession. His remarks, based on findings from interviews with 22 developers, emphasize that AI is no longer an optional add-on—it is rapidly becoming an essential tool for software development.

This is inline with recent news we reported this morning – TCS is cutting more than 12,000 jobs, its largest reduction to date, with many positions in middle and senior management. In our coverage we mentioned:

Analysts say this reflects a broader challenge in the sector: the responsibility for reskilling is increasingly shifting from employers to individuals. Those who can proactively acquire AI-related competencies, such as machine learning engineering, prompt engineering, and data science, will be better positioned in the evolving job market.

We have warned about this before when we told you the management of Amazon and Microsoft have said the exact same thing – the best-trained users of AI have the best employment future. It’s why we launched AI Agent Event but there are lots of other conferences that could help, as well.

The news does however fly in the face of thoughts from Wharton professor, Ethan Mollick, who says AI probably won’t replace you, yet.

It does however align perfectly with Om Malik penned recently, “Don’t be surprised if normalization of profitable layoffs becomes the next big Silicon Valley export to broader economy.”.

Dohmke outlined a four-stage progression that developers are experiencing as they incorporate AI into their work. The journey often begins with the AI Skeptic, who experiments with AI on a limited basis, perhaps for small code snippets or quick fixes, but remains unconvinced of its value. The next stage is the AI Explorer, who uses AI for debugging and boilerplate code and begins to understand its strengths and limitations.

The third phase, the AI Collaborator, represents a deeper partnership with AI tools, using them for multi-step tasks, sharing best practices with colleagues, and actively working alongside AI to shape project outcomes. Finally, the AI Strategist treats AI as an integral partner—directing its work, refining prompts, validating results, and orchestrating complex builds from a higher-level design perspective.

One developer described this shift by saying, “Maybe we become less code producers and more code enablers. My next title might be Creative Director of Code.” Dohmke sees this as a realistic direction for the industry. In this model, the human developer’s primary role is not to type out every line of code, but to ensure that the AI’s work is correct, efficient, and aligned with the project’s goals.

Industry research supports the idea that this change is happening quickly. Half of the developers Dohmke spoke with believe that within two years, AI will be responsible for generating about 90% of code, with the remainder handled by humans. The rest predict this milestone will arrive within five years. This accelerated pace is not just theoretical—it reflects the integration of tools like GitHub Copilot and other AI-assisted platforms into daily development processes.

Rather than viewing this as a threat, Dohmke says many developers in his research see AI as an opportunity to take on more ambitious work. By automating routine coding tasks, AI can free developers to focus on architecture, design, and strategic problem-solving. However, for those unwilling to adopt these tools, the consequence may be professional irrelevance.

This perspective is echoed by other industry leaders. JetBrains CEO Kirill Skrygan, speaking in a separate interview with ITPro, noted that AI is transforming development roles into ones that place more emphasis on oversight, planning, and quality control. He stressed that developers need to position themselves as AI supervisors and integrators rather than fearing replacement.

The rise of AI in software development is not without its challenges. While 84% of developers say they use or plan to use AI tools regularly, concerns remain about code accuracy, security vulnerabilities, and the potential loss of foundational coding skills. Critics argue that relying too heavily on AI could lead to complacency or an inability to solve problems without automated assistance.

Dohmke acknowledges these concerns but frames them as part of the necessary evolution of the profession. He emphasizes that AI’s role is to assist, not to eliminate, the developer. The responsibility for ensuring code quality, managing project risk, and meeting client expectations will still rest squarely on human shoulders. What will change is how developers meet those responsibilities—more through orchestration than manual coding.

The impact of this shift extends beyond the day-to-day work of developers. Educational institutions, boot camps, and corporate training programs will need to adapt their curricula to include prompt engineering, AI-assisted debugging, and code validation as core skills. Employers may begin hiring for “AI development strategy” roles that blend technical knowledge with leadership and design thinking.

For the developer community, the takeaway is clear: the profession is at a crossroads. Those who lean into AI adoption will likely find themselves equipped to tackle more complex and creative challenges, while those who resist may face a shrinking pool of opportunities. As Dohmke put it, “This is no longer a question of productivity. It’s a question of reinvention.”

Learn how AI Agents can supercharge your company’s profits and productivity at TMC’s AI Agent Event in Sept 29-30, 2025 in DC.

Rich Tehrani serves as CEO of TMC and chairman of ITEXPO #TECHSUPERSHOW Feb 10-12, 2026 and is CEO of RT Advisors and is a Registered Representative (investment banker) with and offering securities through Four Points Capital Partners LLC (Four Points) (Member FINRA/SIPC). He handles capital/debt raises as well as M&A. RT Advisors is not owned by Four Points.

The above is not an endorsement or recommendation to buy/sell any security or sector mentioned. No companies mentioned above are current or past clients of RT Advisors.

The views and opinions expressed above are those of the participants. While believed to be reliable, the information has not been independently verified for accuracy. Any broad, general statements made herein are provided for context only and should not be construed as exhaustive or universally applicable.

Portions of this article may have been developed with the assistance of artificial intelligence, which may have contributed to ideation, content generation, factual review, or editing.