The common message from software development giants is this: Programming is transforming from manual labor to managing digital agents.
GitHub CEO Thomas Domke has issued a stern warning to the global tech industry: developers who don’t embrace artificial intelligence should be ready to abandon the profession. His statement, published on the company blog under the title “Developers Reinvented”, reflects not only a technological transformation, but a radical reevaluation of the role of programmers themselves.
The blog is based on interviews with 22 developers who have already deeply integrated artificial intelligence into their workflows. Their experiences demonstrate that artificial intelligence is not an abstract future, but a current necessity. One interviewee put it bluntly: “Either you embrace AI or you leave the profession.” Domke places this thesis at the heart of his article.
This isn’t the first time AI companies have exploited the threat of job extinction as a marketing tool. Instead of promoting their products through practicality and usefulness, these companies often tell users: if you don’t embrace AI, you’ll be out of business. For example, Microsoft top executive Julia Liuson previously stated that “using AI is no longer an option.”
Let’s all remember that Microsoft owns GitHub.
Domke writes that many developers were initially skeptical of tools like GitHub Copilot, as if they were just another fad. But over time, they’ve evolved into “AI strategists,” delegating the more mundane parts of programming to AI and focusing on design, developing effective queries, and validating results. According to the CEO, developers now call themselves “creative code directors” rather than programmers.
It’s not just a change in tools. Domke argues that the developer’s role is shifting from writing code to designing and auditing AI-generated code. Those who adapt first don’t lose value; on the contrary, they gain an advantage. Rather than simply speeding up processes, developers are now using AI to expand their ambitions, including redesigning large systems and using multiple AI agents on a single feature.
Domke believes that up to 90% of code could soon be generated by AI, likely within two to five years. In this new environment, systems design skills, “AI literacy,” and the ability to delegate and ensure quality will be critical. In other words, programming is transforming from manual labor to managing digital agents.
He admits that not everyone likes this prospect: “Not everyone wants to change. And that’s okay.” But Domke himself draws a clear conclusion: those who aren’t ready will have to look for another profession.
Follow us on Google News to receive daily updates on cybersecurity. Contact us if you would like to report news, insights or content for publication.
