Will AI replace Software Developers?
AI can do 94% of the work Software Developers do at least twice as fast. People already use it for 6 of their 19 tasks, while 10 more are ready but barely used so far. 3 still need a person.
AI is already doing this6 · 42% of time
People already use AI for these tasks in real work, based on Anthropic's analysis of how Claude is used.
- Modify existing software to correct errors, adapt it to new hardware, or upgrade interfaces and improve performance.Mostly assisted18% of time
- Analyze user needs and software requirements to determine feasibility of design within time and cost constraints.Mostly automated6% of time
- Analyze information to determine, recommend, and plan installation of a new system or modification of an existing system.Mostly automated5% of time
- Consult with customers or other departments on project status, proposals, or technical issues, such as software system design or maintenance.Mostly assisted5% of time
- Prepare reports or correspondence concerning project specifications, activities, or status.Mostly automated5% of time
- Store, retrieve, and manipulate data for analysis of system capabilities and requirements.Mostly automated4% of time
AI could do this next10 · 52% of time
AI can speed these up by at least half, but real use has not caught up yet. These are next in line.
- Design, develop and modify software systems, using scientific analysis and mathematical models to predict and measure outcomes and consequences of design.23% of time
- Develop or direct software system testing or validation procedures, programming, or documentation.10% of time
- Confer with systems analysts, engineers, programmers and others to design systems and to obtain information on project limitations and capabilities, performance requirements and interfaces.8% of time
- Coordinate installation of software system.4% of time
- Monitor functioning of equipment to ensure system operates in conformance with specifications.4% of time
- Determine system performance standards.1% of time
- Obtain and evaluate information on factors such as reporting formats required, costs, or security needs to determine hardware configuration.1% of time
- Supervise the work of programmers, technologists and technicians and other engineering and scientific personnel.1% of time
- Train users to use new or modified equipment.1% of time
- Specify power supply requirements and configuration.under 1% of time
Still needs a person3 · 6% of time
No real AI use, no proven AI speedup and no robot that can do it yet. This is the part of the job to build on.
- Confer with data processing or project managers to obtain information on limitations or capabilities for data processing projects.4% of time
- Supervise and assign work to programmers, designers, technologists, technicians, or other engineering or scientific personnel.2% of time
- Recommend purchase of equipment to control dust, temperature, or humidity in area of system installation.under 1% of time
Your week is not the average
Describe what you actually do and get a personal report: your own tasks, what AI can already do, what stays yours and a 90 day plan.
What this means
AI can already do almost all of this work at least twice as fast. People in this job already use it heavily. Expect the role to shift toward deciding what to do, checking AI's work and owning the result.
What to do next
- Do the 6 tasks AI is already handling with AI yourself. Your peers already are, and it is quickly becoming the baseline.
- Get ahead on the 10 tasks AI could do next. These move as tools improve, so learning them early pays off.
- Build on the 3 tasks that stay human. This is where your judgment, skill and relationships matter most.
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