'Saying AI will replace developers is like saying calculator will replace CAs': Techie's post goes viral, others say learn prompt engineering

Amid mounting reports of layoffs in the IT sector, a data engineer’s Reddit post has gone viral after challenging the narrative that artificial intelligence will soon replace developers.

“Saying AI will replace developers is like saying calculator will replace CA,” the engineer wrote, dismissing the fear-mongering around AI gobbling up tech jobs.

The engineer argued that AI would first replace unskilled, non-IT roles before making a dent in skilled developer jobs. “I see a lot of propaganda by delusional people saying AI will replace IT jobs in the future. If that were true, AI would first replace some unskilled non-IT jobs. As a data engineer, I just use ChatGPT to clear doubts—like we once used Google,” the post read.


Citing personal experience, the engineer said current AI tools are limited. “Whenever I put a client requirement in ChatGPT, it often goes blank. Even for coding, it gives only basic code. It can’t understand client-specific environments, which differ every time,” they noted.

The post quickly drew reactions from fellow techies.

One quipped: “Being a data engineer and not being able to extract intended data from an LLM is astonishing.”

Another suggested he improve his prompt engineering: “Buddy, ChatGPT isn’t the best AI tool for your use case. Try Claude Code, Roo with Claude 4 API, or even Kiro. The tools are evolving, but so should we.”

A third added: “It’s not AI, it’s you. Remember—AI won’t replace you, but people who know how to use it will.”

Some, however, agreed with the original post, stressing that while AI can support developers, it still lacks the depth and adaptability of human expertise.

Meanwhile, the broader IT industry is reeling from large-scale layoffs. Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) cut 12,000 jobs in July, Microsoft has axed 15,000 so far this year, and Intel is preparing to slash 15–20% of its workforce—impacting nearly 10,000 employees. Similar cuts are unfolding in automotive and manufacturing.

According to Indeed Hiring Lab, tech job postings in July 2025 were down 36% compared to early 2020. While AI and machine learning roles remain in demand, traditional and entry-level tech jobs are rapidly shrinking. Brendon Bernard, senior economist at Indeed, warned that many positions are “losing steam,” urging job seekers to adapt and rethink career strategies.