AI is changing software development: what programming will be like in the coming years

Artificial intelligence is rapidly changing the approach to software creation. Experts believe that the industry is entering a new stage of development, where the main value is not writing code, but the ability to design, control and develop digital products.

A few years ago, the main question for companies was: buy ready-made software or develop their own, xrust notes. However, the rapid development of artificial intelligence is changing the usual rules of the game. According to industry experts, the world of programming is entering a new phase, where AI is becoming not just a developer’s assistant, but a full-fledged participant in the process of creating software products.

This conclusion was made by OutSystems CIO Tiago Azevedo in an article for Forbes Technology Council. According to him, the availability of modern AI tools has brought the industry to an inflection point. More and more organizations are using automated code generation technologies to create applications much faster and cheaper than before.

From low-code to AI programming

Experts note that the current wave of AI development has become a logical continuation of the concept of low-code platforms. Such systems allow you to create applications with a minimum amount of manual programming. Now artificial intelligence raises the level of abstraction even higher.

Modern tools are capable of converting text descriptions of tasks into working program code. The developer just needs to explain the desired result to the system, after which the algorithms offer a ready-made implementation. If necessary, a specialist can modify or change the received code manually.

This significantly affects the economics of development. Projects that previously required large teams of programmers and months of work can now be implemented with much less effort. For businesses, this means lower costs and shorter time to market for new products.

The role of the programmer does not disappear, but changes

Despite loud statements that AI will supposedly replace developers, experts take a more balanced position. Research authors and industry representatives agree that the need for professional engineers remains high. Only the nature of their work changes.

If previously a significant part of the time was spent on writing standard code, now the emphasis is shifting to architectural design, analysis of business requirements, quality control and security.

A study published in 2026 found that the majority of developers use generative AI on a daily basis. The most noticeable effect is observed when preparing documentation, testing and performing routine tasks. However, the early stages of development — requirements generation and project planning — still require active human participation.

Why AI alone is not enough

class=»notranslate»>__GTAG7__ Along with the benefits come new challenges. Experts say one of the main problems is the unpredictability of code generation results.

Unlike traditional development tools, artificial intelligence systems can create different solutions to the same problem. For small internal projects this is often not critical, but for corporate systems, banking services or government platforms, such variability can become a source of serious risks.

Therefore, companies are increasingly introducing control mechanisms: code reviews, automated testing, monitoring systems and strict procedures for checking changes. Without such measures, the use of AI can lead to the accumulation of technical debt and problems with software support.

Interestingly, many practicing developers share a similar point of view. In the professional community, the idea is increasingly heard that it has become easier to quickly generate code than to ensure its long-term support and security.

The future belongs to the hybrid model

Another important trend is related to the transition from simple AI assistants to so-called agent systems. Instead of a single algorithm that suggests snippets of code, companies are starting to use entire teams of specialized AI agents.

Some are responsible for analyzing requirements, others for writing code, and others for testing and preparing documentation. This approach allows you to speed up development several times while maintaining human control.

According to researchers, the most effective is a hybrid model, in which artificial intelligence performs routine and repetitive operations, and a person makes key decisions, determines the project strategy and is responsible for the final result.

What does this mean for the Russian market

For Russian IT companies, global changes open up both new opportunities and additional requirements. On the one hand, AI allows you to speed up the development of digital services, reduce the workload on teams and increase productivity. On the other hand, the need for specialists capable of competently managing such tools is growing.

Experts expect that in the coming years, the market will be especially in demand for software solution architects, quality engineers, information security specialists and developers who can effectively interact with AI systems.

Thus, the next stage in the evolution of software is not associated with the disappearance of the programmer profession, but with its transformation. Code is becoming cheaper and more accessible, but the importance of engineering thinking, understanding business problems and responsibility for results is only increasing. It is these qualities, according to analysts and industry representatives, that will determine the success of developers and companies in the era of artificial intelligence.

From the news https://www.forbes.com

Xrust AI is changing software development: what programming will be like in the coming years