GitHub CEO Thomas Dohmke has issued a clear warning to software engineers, learn to work with AI or be prepared to exit the field. In a blog post titled “Developers, Reinvented,” Dohmke said AI is already changing how software is built, and the change is so deep that the very role of a developer is being redefined.
His comments were based on conversations with 22 developers who are already heavily using AI in their work. According to him, their experiences prove that AI is no longer a distant idea but a day-to-day reality. Many of these developers started out sceptical of AI tools like GitHub Copilot, but over time, they began to rely on them as an integral part of their workflow.
Dohmke explained that these developers have evolved from traditional coders into what he called “code enablers” or “creative directors of code.” Instead of spending all their time typing out code, they now guide AI systems on what to build, set the context for the work, and carefully review the output to ensure it meets requirements. The change, he said, is less about doing less work and more about doing different work.
According to him, adopting AI tools early can give developers an advantage rather than making them redundant. With AI, tasks that used to be too complex or time-consuming, such as large-scale code restructuring or coordinating multiple AI agents to build new features, are now becoming possible. Developers who understand how to integrate AI into these processes can take on more ambitious projects than before.
However, Dohmke also cautioned that this transformation brings a challenge. Those who do not adapt risk being left behind. He said the pace of change is fast, and some developers estimate that AI could write up to 90 per cent of all code within the next two to five years. If that happens, the most valued skills will no longer be purely about writing code but will include system architecture, understanding how AI works, managing AI-generated tasks, and ensuring quality control.
This is not the first time the tech industry has sent such a message. Julia Liuson, a senior executive at Microsoft, which is GitHub’s parent company, recently told employees that “using AI is no longer optional.” While some have criticised this approach as a scare tactic to push adoption, it shows the urgency with which many tech leaders view the transition.
Dohmke admitted that not everyone in the profession may find this change appealing. For some, the idea of managing AI systems instead of personally crafting code might feel less satisfying. But he argued that, in a way, developers have always been working at some level of abstraction using programming languages to tell computers what to do. The new model simply raises that level, with developers now instructing AI agents instead of directly controlling every detail.
He also highlighted that this change should not be seen as reducing the worth of a developer’s work. Instead, it expands what’s possible. By using AI as a collaborator, developers can move faster, aim higher, and tackle challenges that once seemed impossible.
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