As a developer with almost 11 years of experience — spanning roles as a backend engineer, frontend specialist, cybersecurity consultant, and iOS architect — I have witnessed profound changes in the industry. Specifically, over the last three years, the pervasive influence of AI has been overwhelming.

Two years ago, I published an article on Medium titled 'Why ChatGPT are the worst tool to use (as a software engineer)' In it, I argued why relying heavily on tools like ChatGPT was suboptimal for professional software engineering practice. Today, after engaging deeply with the community and observing industry trends, my initial skepticism remains strong — and frankly, I'm becoming increasingly weary of the constant AI narrative.

But I'm certainly not alone in feeling this way. Many of my peers share a growing concern: that AI has become the dominant topic across every conversation, while the companies we work for seem keen on integrating artificial intelligence into everything. The rapid pace is impressive, but it feels like we are prioritizing novelty over sound architectural principles.

However, my concern extends beyond mere implementation. The core issue is the corporate narrative itself — the attempt to convince everyone that software engineers, programmers, and architects are obsolete. Headlines citing mass layoffs (e.g., 'Amazon cuts 20K due to AI') often fail to address a critical truth: these companies may be attempting to mask structural missteps. They over-hired during the pandemic boom, and now they face necessary adjustments.

I remember vividly how essential developers were during the COVID-19 period; businesses desperately needed scalable systems for remote operations. The talent was in high demand — compensation packages rarely saw such exponential growth, even for new graduates. What is happening now is a natural contraction back toward pre-pandemic staffing levels, and companies are using 'AI' as an excuse to justify this shift.

This leads me to my primary concern regarding AI. The issue is the indiscriminate adoption of these tools across all software verticals. Since their debut, I have observed a concerning pattern: new developers are utilizing generative AI without sufficient code review or an adequate grasp of underlying security principles. This practice is demonstrably increasing vulnerabilities across the industry — a risk that is acutely visible to anyone with my background in cybersecurity.

Coupled with this is the relentless cycle of fear. Since late 2022, we have constantly been bombarded by headlines — often every six months — predicting that software developers will become obsolete due to AI's capabilities. It is exhausting. Many of my colleagues and I are weary not just of the technology itself, but of this narrative of obsolescence."

What I genuinely miss, and what feels lost today, is the intellectual challenge of development. Before, it was about solving a complex puzzle — like mastering a Rubik's Cube or playing chess; it demanded pure, focused thought. Today, the metric has shifted from intellectual depth to sheer velocity. You must deliver 'N' features by Friday, regardless of your tenure in the industry.

This unsustainable pressure is leading companies to overlook foundational quality. The unspoken consensus seems to be: it doesn't matter if the code has vulnerabilities; we can fix it later in production, which is a dangerous acceptance that rapidly accrues technical debt.

Furthermore, I worry about the sheer homogeneity of modern coding output. There is a palpable trend toward 'Vibe Coding,' where developers pull basic applications from GitHub — a to-do list, a calculator, a landing page — and lack originality. The projects are visually and functionally identical; they merely repeat templates with generic readmes.

Ultimately, the core issue isn't the tool; it's the mindset. It's seeing a culture where people focus more on superficial metrics (like token usage or visible activity) rather than genuine critical thinking and architectural design. We need to shift our focus back from output volume to intellectual depth.

Ultimately, I urge every reader of this article to take the time to reconsider a foundational truth. Software developers remain absolutely indispensable. We must not fall prey to corporate narratives designed to minimize our value or distract from structural inefficiencies. After all, consider the hard data: global estimates suggest that only approximately 0.3% to 0.4% of the world's population is skilled in programming — that means one in every 250 to 300 people. This rarity and specialization underscores our crucial, irreplaceable role at the core of the modern economy

In closing, many of my colleagues — disillusioned by the ceaseless AI hype and corporate pressure — have started discussing a radical career shift: trading coding for farming, embracing an agrarian life in the countryside. To which I can only reply with a knowing nod; frankly, we are far from being the first group to consider such a retreat.