What We Tend To Forget About Writing Code in the Age of AI

AI tools like GitHub Copilot, Cursor, and autonomous coding agents are transforming how we write software. As these tools grow more capable, a new narrative has begun to emerge — one that suggests software engineers may no longer be necessary, that students should stop learning to code, and that businesses built on software could face an existential threat.

And this isn’t just coming from fringe thinkers — it’s echoed by some of the most influential voices in tech: Mark Zuckerberg, Sam Altman, Jensen Huang, and others.

Naturally, this causes anxiety. Should students still learn programming? Will software jobs disappear? Will AI make human coders obsolete?

Here’s what we often forget in this conversation:

The true value of software was never in the code — it’s in the real-world problems it solves.

Software Is a Means, Not the End

Every impactful software system exists because it solves a problem:

• Managing payroll
• Running HR operations
• Connecting communities
• Optimizing logistics
• Empowering creators
• Entertainment

The job of a builder is to understand the problem deeply and use software as a tool to solve it.

Now, AI helps us write software faster. That’s not a threat — it’s leverage. But leverage only works if you know where and how to apply it.

Why Fundamentals Still Matter

You don’t need to memorize every syntax rule anymore. AI agents can autocomplete and scaffold projects for you. But if you understand software fundamentals — how backends, frontends, APIs, databases, and auth flows work — then you gain creative control.

You're no longer just coding — you're orchestrating systems.

Example:

Suppose you're a backend developer, and you understand frontend architecture conceptually. Even if you’ve never written React or Vue, you can instruct an AI assistant to:

• Design a component that hits your API
• Handle loading, errors, and display
• Match your design intent across devices

You don't need to be an expert in both — you just need to understand the architecture and the flow.

That’s where fundamentals matter: they make AI 10× more effective for you — and you 10× more employable.

If you understand software from first principles — not just at the syntax level, but as a system of moving parts — then AI becomes your co-pilot, not your crutch.

This means:

• You can deliver better results, faster
• You can adapt to any tech stack
• You can bring end-to-end clarity to product building

And that’s what companies want. That’s what gets you hired.

Problem Solving + AI = Superpower

If you develop a problem-solving mindset, understand engineering from first principles, and pair that with AI…

You gain a superpower.

You can:

• Build faster than ever
• Switch stacks with confidence
• Go from idea to MVP in days
• Scale solutions infinitely, because software scales

You no longer need to wait for the “perfect” stack or team.

You can build whatever you want, with whatever tech you want, at record speed.

That’s what modern builders look like.

That’s what the future of software creation looks like.

Final Thoughts

Software is still one of the greatest tools humanity has.

It scales infinitely. And now, with AI by your side, you can scale your ideas just as fast.

To compete with nations like China and the USA, our country needs more builders and entrepreneurs. Don’t wait for perfect conditions — leverage what you have, use what you know, and build something people truly want.