AI Expert Says Job Apocalypse Unlikely for Coders

Stanford's Erik Brynjolfsson argues AI will complement rather than replace tech professionals.

Mar. 30, 2026 at 12:23pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

A highly detailed 3D illustration of a glowing, neon-lit AI agent or software bot, surrounded by a network of luminous data cables and circuits. The agent is depicted as a sleek, geometric shape with subtle metallic accents, illuminated by pulsing cyan and magenta lights, conceptually representing the expanding role of AI in the tech industry.As AI transforms the tech industry, new roles and workflows will emerge to harness the power of intelligent software agents.Stanford Today

Contrary to warnings of a tech job apocalypse due to AI, Stanford professor Erik Brynjolfsson believes AI will expand rather than diminish the software development field. Brynjolfsson says AI will create new roles like 'chief question officer' and 'agent fleet manager' while empowering a growing class of 'citizen developers' who can create valuable software without deep coding expertise. He urges everyone, not just computer scientists, to embrace AI as a complement to human skills.

Why it matters

As AI continues to advance, there have been concerns that it will automate many tech jobs out of existence. However, Brynjolfsson's perspective offers a more optimistic view, suggesting AI will create new opportunities and expand the software profession rather than cause widespread job losses.

The details

Brynjolfsson argues that rather than replacing human workers, AI will either substitute or supplement our work. He says too many people are focused on the substitute side, when in reality, AI-driven development will expand the software profession. Brynjolfsson predicts the worldwide software developer population could grow tenfold, as more people create valuable applications without deep coding expertise. He cautions this will require 'guardrails' to ensure safety, privacy, and security, but says the tools themselves can help with that oversight.

  • Brynjolfsson recently shared these observations in an interview on March 30, 2026.

The players

Erik Brynjolfsson

A Stanford University professor, author, and inventor who is considered a leading expert on AI and its impact on the workforce.

Roy Rochlin

A Getty Images Entertainment photographer whose work was used to illustrate the ZDNET article.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“The real value is defining the right questions. Understanding the problems that need to be solved, defining them in a way that really are useful to people. So those who can identify those opportunities are going to be more valuable than ever before.”

— Erik Brynjolfsson, Stanford University Professor

“In some cases, it does replace what they're doing. But at the same time, it helps people be twice or even 10 times more productive.”

— Erik Brynjolfsson, Stanford University Professor

What’s next

Brynjolfsson is launching master classes to help both technical and non-technical people understand the implications of AI and how to leverage it to revolutionize workflows.

The takeaway

Contrary to fears of widespread job losses, Brynjolfsson's perspective suggests AI will create new opportunities and expand the software profession. Rather than automating jobs, AI will complement human skills and empower a growing class of 'citizen developers' to create valuable applications.