Meta CEO, Mark Zuckerberg announced plans to switch the coding tasks at his organization from mid-level software engineers to AI.
Speaking on an episode of the Joe Rogan Experience podcast Friday, Zuckerberg revealed that AI systems capable of performing multiple complex coding tasks are to be developed by Meta and other leading tech organizations.
Undergoing the major shift, the company will be able to save millions in capital as midlevel software engineers earn compensation packages of around $500,000.
The co-founder acknowledged that in the initial phase, the shift will be expensive however he is affirmative that in due course most codes of his apps including AI will be developed by AI engineers.
The announcement comes as Meta undergoes broader organizational changes within its diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) teams. Similar to Platform X, Meta plans to replace its third-party fact-checking system with community notes, a move that has drawn criticism from fact-checking organizations, labeling it a “backward step.”
Threat to employment
Amid growing concerns that AI tools pose an existential threat to humanity, the steps being taken by Meta are further seen as a threat to employment. The integration of AI into tech workflows is expected to lead to a decrease in junior and entry-level coding positions within the organization.
Pressed about the issue of loss of human jobs, Zuckerberg evaded the question and stated the shift as a step to ‘augment’ workers. He stressed that future people would be much more creative. It suggested that people in the future would concentrate on more strategic and creative aspects of development.
The shift suggests that with AI handling routine tasks, engineers will focus on higher-level problem-solving and overseeing AI-generated outputs. Furthermore, due to the extraordinary ability of humans to solve complex issues that AI cannot handle, the replacement of human engineers in the long run is unlikely.
Organizations shifting to AI
Sundar Pichai, Google CEO, announced that AI generates around 25 percent of all new code at Google, with human engineers intervening for final reviews.
Marc Benioff, CEO of Salesforce, announced in December that the software giant would not be hiring software engineers in 2025, crediting AI technology, including its own Agentforce AI model, for the productivity gains.
In the era of embracing AI, Fintech company Klarna announced the discharge of 22 percent of its workforce. CEO Sebastian Siemiatkowski stated that the reduction was natural due to the 20 percent annual attrition rate common in tech firms.
