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As AI continues to take on more and more new competencies, junior coding, as we knew it, is rapidly becoming a thing of the past. Tasks that used to be the bread and butter for junior developers — such as repetitive scripting, HTML layout or simple DevOps setups — are now being reliably handled by AI assistants like ChatGPT, GitHub Copilot and Amazon CodeWhisperer.
This is not just an upgrade to speed and efficiency — we are looking at a serious structural change here. So where does that leave entry-level developers? And, speaking more broadly, where does it leave the software industry as a whole?
The vanishing beginner level
For decades, software engineering as a field had a fairly predictable pathway: Begin with the basics, build some landing pages, write test cases, troubleshoot minor bugs. As your skills grow, you can move toward architectural thinking and product ownership.
But now AI is vastly changing how the bottom end of that ladder operates, since it can do most junior-level tasks on its own.
As a result, beginners entering the industry are increasingly being asked to contribute at a level that used to require years of experience. It is not just about writing code anymore — it is about understanding systems, structuring problems and working alongside AI like a team member. That is a tall order. That said, I do believe that there is a way forward. It starts by changing the way we learn.
If you are just starting out, avoid relying on AI to get things done. It is tempting, sure, but in the long run, it is also harmful. If you skip the manual practice, you are missing out on building a deeper understanding of how software really works. That understanding is critical if you want to grow into the kind of developer who can lead, architect and guide AI instead of being replaced by it.
The way I see it, in the near future, the most valuable people in tech won’t be the ones who write perfect code. They will be those who know what should be built, why it matters and how to get an AI system to do most of the work cleanly and efficiently. In other words, the coder of tomorrow looks more like a product manager with solid technical expertise.
Teams are changing, too
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