## GitHub CEO Urges Software Engineers to Embrace AI or Face Career Obsolescence **Report Provider:** The Times of India (TOI Tech Desk) **Date:** August 8, 2025 (Published) **Topic:** Technology / Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Software Development ### Key Findings and Conclusions: GitHub CEO Thomas Dohmke has issued a strong directive to software engineers, emphasizing that **embracing AI tools is no longer optional but essential for career survival.** He stated, "Either you have to embrace the AI, or you get out of your career." This underscores a significant shift in the software development landscape, where AI is rapidly becoming central to the entire coding process, from writing and reviewing to deployment. Dohmke argues that AI should be viewed as a **powerful collaborator** rather than a threat. The traditional role of a software engineer is evolving, with AI-powered tools like GitHub Copilot automating routine coding tasks. This automation frees up developers to focus on higher-level problem-solving, prompt engineering, system design, and quality control. ### Significant Trends and Changes: * **Evolution of Developer Roles:** Dohmke outlines four stages of developer evolution in the AI era: * **AI Skeptic:** Dabbling with code completions and basic prompts. * **AI Explorer:** Using AI for debugging and boilerplate generation. * **AI Collaborator:** Co-creating with AI across multi-step tasks. * **AI Strategist:** Delegating and verifying complex implementations with multi-agent workflows. * **Shift from Code Production to Code Enablement:** Developers are moving from writing code to architecting and validating AI-generated solutions. The focus is shifting towards becoming "code enablers" or "Creative Directors of Code." * **AI-Generated Code Expectation:** A compilation of interviews with 22 AI-savvy developers suggests that **90% of code written by AI is feasible and expected within the next 2-5 years.** * **Half of interviewed developers** believe a 90% AI-written code scenario is likely within **5 years**. * The **other half** expect this scenario within **2 years**. * **Reinvention of Computer Science Education:** Dohmke calls for a reinvention of computer science education to include AI fluency, agent orchestration, and human-AI collaboration as core skills. ### Important Recommendations: * **Embrace AI Tools:** Software engineers must actively learn and leverage AI tools to enhance productivity and innovation. * **Adapt to Evolving Roles:** Developers should prepare for a transition from direct code production to higher-level strategic roles involving AI collaboration and validation. * **Focus on Higher-Level Skills:** Cultivate skills in prompt engineering, system design, and quality control, which are becoming increasingly critical. * **Educational Institutions:** Computer science programs need to integrate AI-centric skills into their curricula. ### Notable Risks and Concerns: The primary risk highlighted is **career obsolescence** for software engineers who fail to adapt to the AI revolution. Those who do not embrace AI tools and the evolving nature of their roles risk being left behind. ### Material Financial Data: No specific financial data or figures were presented in this news report. ### Key Quotes: * "Either you have to embrace the AI, or you get out of your career." - Thomas Dohmke, GitHub CEO. * "Maybe we become less code producers and more code enablers. My next title might be Creative Director of Code." - An interviewed developer. In conclusion, GitHub CEO Thomas Dohmke's message is a clear call to action for software engineers to proactively engage with AI. The future of software development, as envisioned by Dohmke and the developers he interviewed, involves a symbiotic relationship between humans and AI, where engineers leverage AI to augment their capabilities and redefine their professional identities.
GitHub CEO Thomas Dohmke to software engineers: Either you ..., or get out of your career - The Times of India
Read original at The Times of India →GitHub CEO Thomas Dohmke has issued a stark warning for software engineers. In a blog post titled ‘Developers, Reinvented’ Dohmke has urged the software engineers to either embrace the AI revolution or risk their careers. “Either you have to embrace the Al, or you get out of your career” said the GitHub CEO.
The statement made by Dohmke clearly indicates the growing shift in the software development landscape. He stresses on the fact that AI tools are no longer optional and are slowing becoming central to how a code is written, reviewed and deployed. Thomas Dohmke emphasis that the traditional role of a software engineer is evolving and with the rise of AI-powered tools such as GitHub Copilot, routine coding tasks are becoming increasingly automated, which means that developers now have more free time and they can now focus on higher-level problem solving and more.
Developers reinvented: From coders to AI strategistsIn the blog post, GitHub CEO Thomas Dohmke has also outlined four stages of evolution of developers in the AI era:- AI Skeptic – Dabbling with code completions and basic prompts. - AI Explorer – Using AI for debugging and boilerplate generation- AI Collaborator – Co-creating with AI across multi-step tasks- AI Strategist – Delegating and verifying complex implementations with multi-agent workflowsAt the highest level, developers are shifting from writing code to architecting and validating AI-generated solutions, focusing on prompt engineering, system design, and quality control.
Thomas Dohmke essentially argues that engineers should not view AI as a threat but as a powerful collaborator tool. The "either you..." part of his statement implies a choice: either you learn to leverage AI to become more productive and innovative, or you will be left behind.The future of software development The blog post which is a compilation of interviews with 22 AI-savvy developers suggest that 90% of the code written by AI not only feasible but expected within the next 2–5 years.
“When we asked developers about the prospect of AI writing 90% of their code, they replied favourably. Half of them believe a 90% AI-written code scenario is not only feasible but likely within 5 years, while half of them expect it within 2 years,” reads the post.Thomas Dohmke emphasis so rather of fearing obsolescence, engineers have chance to reinvent their role.
“Having experienced the skill and effort that goes into effectively managing the work of agents, it was now clear to them this will be the value-add activity, rather than leading implementation. “Maybe we become less code producers and more code enablers. My next title might be Creative Director of Code,” Thomas Dohmke wrote, citing one of the developers who GitHub interviewed.
Along with this, the blog post also calls for a reinvention in computer science education. Thomas Dohmke urge institutions to teach AI fluency, agent orchestration, and human-AI collaboration as core skills."Developers worldwide are already moving from skepticism to confidence, reshaping their roles, practices, and mindsets as they partner with AI.
For them, what started as fear of AI replacing them is switching to pragmatically embracing the ambitious reality of AI, viewing it as a growth opportunity. As we build the tools of tomorrow we can usher developers through this reinvention of their role in ways that are intuitive, delightful, and cater to developers’ curiosity, keeping them fulfilled and happy during the transition," concluded Thomas Dohmke.
