In light of ongoing debates about whether artificial intelligence (AI) will make programmers obsolete, Lu Weifeng, Vice President and Secretary-General of the China Software Industry Association, shared insights at a press conference hosted by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology. He emphasized that relevant authorities are highly attuned to the career development needs of professionals in the field.

Lu clarified that while AI is transforming how software is developed, it is not set to replace programmers entirely across all job functions. At present, the software industry is adjusting both its talent capability framework and job requirements in tandem. From a skills perspective, the significance of pure coding abilities is diminishing, whereas there is a growing demand for skills in requirement breakdown, human-machine teamwork, and cross-disciplinary integration. This shift has given rise to new roles, such as frontline deployment engineers.

In terms of job structure, basic coding tasks are increasingly being automated through intelligent tools. As a result, professionals are now expected to take on broader responsibilities, both upstream and downstream in the development process. Simultaneously, new positions—such as specialists in generative AI system applications—are continuously emerging.

Looking ahead, employment opportunities in repetitive, entry-level development roles will likely face pressure. Conversely, there will be a pronounced shortage of high-end, multi-skilled talent capable of navigating this evolving landscape.