Waze cofounder Uri Levine isn’t worried about software engineers going extinct.
“We will actually need even more engineers to leverage on the next generations in productivity,” the serial entrepreneur told Business Insider.
Levine’s theory about the future of engineers comes at a time when tech companies are boasting about their use of AI tools to generate code, a key part of the job for entry-level workers in the field. Amid a growing sense of instability in the industry, some job seekers are offering large sums of money to those who help them land a role, while others pursue “panic” Master’s programs in lieu of finding a job.
Levine said that if some companies are holding off on hiring engineers at the moment or scaling back engineering teams, it may be because they don’t have an immediate need for those roles or haven’t figured out how to leverage them. In time though, Levine said companies will likely start hiring engineers again.
His stance on engineering echoes that of Okta CEO Todd McKinnon, who previously told BI there will be more software engineers in five years than there are today. McKinnon said that software engineers’ jobs have evolved before, and that demand for the role has always increased as technology develops.
The Okta CEO said that “infinite demand for automation” and tools that enhance productivity will lead to higher demand for workers. Levine similarly said that increased productivity will lead to increased demand for workers.
Prioritizing different skills
While Levine doesn’t think AI will replace software engineers, he said AI may reshape jobs. In previous eras of technological revolution though, the workforce has managed to find ways to leverage the technology.
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While coding is still an important skill to learn for those wanting to enter the tech space, Levine said it’s “way less” important than it used to be. The key for engineers and workers in general is “adaptability,” Levine said.
“The most important learning today is the ability to adapt,” Levine said, adding that the world is changing more rapidly today.
Adaptability also means being willing to make mistakes. The more mistakes you make, the more you grow and build resilience, he said. In regard to choosing the right major, Levine, who teaches a university entrepreneurship class in Madrid, said “nothing replaces common sense.”
“End of the day, use your brain,” Levine said.
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