AI vs Software Engineers:
Why You’re Not Getting Replaced
As AI tools become more powerful and accessible, it’s natural to wonder: are software engineers at risk of being replaced?
At 42 Berlin, we take a different view. We believe that AI isn’t here to replace software engineers—but to push them into a new era of creativity, problem-solving, and collaboration.
And if you learn how to work with AI, not just around it? You’ll be ready for whatever comes next.
The Human Edge:
Creativity, Context, and Ethics
AI can automate repetitive coding tasks. It can optimise, refactor, and even generate lines of code. But what it can’t do—at least not on its own—is make judgment calls, navigate ambiguity, or design for real humans in messy real-world contexts.
“AI can assist in coding tasks,” says Pedro Ruiz, a software engineer at 42 Berlin, “but it doesn’t replace the need for human creativity and problem-solving.”
Writing code is just one part of building great software. Understanding users, working in teams, making ethical decisions, and architecting systems that scale—that’s where humans still lead.
Demand for Software Engineers Is Growing, Not Shrinking
Despite the hype, the job market tells a clear story: we still need software engineers. Lots of them.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects a 17% growth in software development jobs between 2023 and 2033—far above the average across all occupations.
The World Economic Forum’s Future of Jobs Report shows that roles like software developers and AI specialists are among the fastest-growing globally, with 86% of companies expecting AI to reshape their business by 2030.
In other words: AI is transforming how we work, not making us obsolete. But it is changing what success looks like in tech.
Learning to Work With AI at 42 Berlin
At 42 Berlin, we’re helping students prepare for this shift from day one. We don’t just teach students how to code. We teach them how to learn collaboratively, independently, and continuously.
Our peer-to-peer model and project-based curriculum put students in real-world problem-solving mode, where they’re expected to use every tool available to them including AI:
“We encourage students to use tools like DeepSeek to support their learning,” Pedro explains. “It’s about learning how to work alongside AI effectively, not relying on it to do your thinking for you.”
AI as a Collaborator, Not a Crutch
Used well, AI makes engineers more efficient. It speeds up prototyping. It eliminates grunt work. And it frees people up to focus on the more complex aspects of software development, such as system architecture and user experience design.
That’s why we integrate AI into the learning experience at 42 Berlin, not just as a feature of the curriculum, but as part of the mindset we help students build.
Our goal isn’t to teach students how to copy prompts. It’s to help you understand what AI can do, what it shouldn’t do, and how to bring it into your workflow with purpose.
Staying Future-Ready
The tech world moves fast. New tools, new languages, new frameworks and now, new teammates like GenAI.
What doesn’t change? The need for adaptable, curious engineers who can solve problems, collaborate across disciplines, and keep learning.
That’s exactly what we’re building at 42 Berlin: a generation of developers who are fluent in both code and context. Who know when to use AI and when to trust their own judgment. Who are ready not just to keep up with change, but to lead it.
Curious how we teach future engineers to thrive with AI?
Explore our Curriculum.
🎧 Featuring Pedro Ruiz | Watch the full episode on YouTube.
📍 Filmed at 42 Berlin, Neukölln.
