Claude Code Creator Boris Cherny Warns AI Could Replace Software Engineering Careers by 2026
For years, landing a role in Big Tech as a software engineer meant long-term security and lucrative starting pay. That certainty is now being questioned. According to Boris Cherny, the developer behind the AI system Claude Code, the traditional software engineer title may vanish before the end of this year.
Boris Cherny says AI tool Claude Code may eliminate the software engineer title by year-end, reshaping tech jobs and expanding AI across industries.
Cherny shared his outlook during an episode of Lenny’s Podcast, hosted by Lenny Rachitsky. He predicted a shift in how work is structured in tech teams. In his view, “software engineer” will gradually be replaced by “builder,” with coding becoming a universal skill rather than a specialized title. He cautioned that the transition will be difficult for many professionals.
Samyukta Lakshmi/Bloomberg via Getty Images
How Claude Code Is Changing Engineering
Released a year ago, Claude Code quickly gained traction among engineers. Unlike basic chatbot-assisted coding, the tool operates agentically—meaning it can carry out tasks independently with limited human direction. A senior engineer at Google reportedly said the system recreated a year’s worth of output in just an hour.
Cherny developed the tool while working inside Anthropic’s experimental division, modeled after Bell Labs. Initially a side project, it spread rapidly among internal engineers before becoming publicly available.
For months, Cherny says, the AI has written all of his code. He still reviews the output, stressing that full autonomy is not yet realistic. Safety and accuracy checks remain essential, particularly when software is widely deployed.
Expansion Beyond Engineers
Cherny expects that by year’s end, many organizations will allow Claude Code to generate all of their code. Earlier this month, Anthropic introduced Cowork, a simplified version designed for non-technical users that can act independently. He previously told Fortune that he uses it to automatically notify colleagues on Slack when shared spreadsheets go untouched.
The technology excels at everyday coordination and administrative workflows, signaling that AI’s reach extends beyond coding teams.
The Printing Press Parallel
Cherny compared AI’s influence to the historical shift brought by the printing press. Before printed books, scribes were among the few who could read and write. Once printing expanded literacy, scribes no longer needed to manually copy texts and could pursue other creative or skilled tasks.
The metaphor has also been invoked by Mark Zuckerberg, who likened social media’s transformation of communication to the invention of print. Historians have noted that printing reshaped religious and political power structures, contributing to events like the Protestant Reformation and influencing the long-term decline of the Catholic Church. Observers argue society is still adjusting to social media’s impact even as another technological wave approaches.
A Broader Shift in Computer-Based Work
Cherny believes AI systems will spread to nearly any job performed on a computer. Just a year ago, agent-based systems were largely unfamiliar to engineers. Today, he says, they are central to daily workflows.
Claude’s integration with Google Docs, Slack, and email is accelerating adoption in semi-technical and non-technical roles. To navigate this disruption, Cherny encourages experimentation and adaptability. He advises professionals to become generalists, combining coding literacy with strengths in design, infrastructure, or business strategy.
He suggests that the most successful individuals will not only be comfortable with AI tools but also curious thinkers capable of approaching problems from multiple angles.
Disruption Ahead
Given the potential scale of labor market changes, Cherny emphasized that decisions about AI’s future should not rest solely with companies. Broader societal discussion is necessary, he said.
Anthropic, he added, treats the impact seriously, employing economists as well as policy and social-impact experts. However, the company has not indicated plans to slow development as it prepares for an initial public offering this year.
In the near term, Cherny expects significant upheaval. “It’s going to be very disruptive,” he said, warning that the transformation will be painful for many workers.
Comments
Post a Comment