As artificial intelligence tools increasingly write the majority of code at leading tech companies, a seemingly paradoxical question has emerged: why are these same companies still aggressively hiring software engineers?
Boris Cherny, creator of Claude Code at Anthropic, addressed this apparent contradiction in a recent social media exchange that has resonated across the tech industry. His response offers insight into how the role of software engineers is evolving rather than disappearing in the age of AI-assisted development.
The Paradox
The question came from a developer who pointed out the apparent incongruity: Claude Code, Anthropic’s AI-powered coding tool, now writes nearly 100% of Claude’s codebase. Yet Anthropic maintains over 100 open developer positions on its jobs page. The implication was clear—if AI can write all the code, why hire more engineers?
Engineering Beyond Code
Cherny’s response reframes the fundamental nature of software engineering work. “Someone has to prompt the Claudes, talk to customers, coordinate with other teams, decide what to build next,” he explained. “Engineering is changing and great engineers are more important than ever.”
This perspective highlights a crucial shift in how we should think about software development. Writing code has always been just one component of engineering work—arguably not even the most critical one. The real value engineers provide lies in understanding user needs, making architectural decisions, coordinating across teams, and determining product direction.
The Evolving Role of Engineers
Cherny’s observation suggests that rather than replacing engineers, AI coding tools are eliminating the commodity aspects of software development. What remains—and what becomes more valuable—is the uniquely human work: strategic thinking, customer empathy, cross-functional collaboration, and technical leadership.
In this model, engineers become more like orchestra conductors than individual instrumentalists. They direct AI tools to implement their vision, but the vision itself—what to build, how it should work, and why it matters—requires human judgment, creativity, and understanding of context that AI cannot replicate.
Implications for the Industry
This evolution has significant implications for how we think about the future of software development. Rather than a future with fewer engineers, we may be heading toward one where engineers are freed from routine implementation work to focus on higher-level problem solving and innovation.
The shift also suggests that the skills most valued in engineers are changing. Technical expertise remains essential, but skills like product thinking, customer centricity, effective communication, and strategic decision-making are becoming equally—if not more—critical.
For Anthropic and companies like it, the message is clear: they’re not hiring despite AI writing their code. They’re hiring because in an AI-enabled world, skilled engineers who can effectively leverage these tools while providing strategic direction are more valuable than ever.