I’ve known hundreds of software developers during my career in financial services. Maybe even thousands. What nearly all of them share is the pride and respect they have for the craft. Good code takes time, discipline, and judgment.

So, what happens now that AI can generate working code in seconds and then test it, fix it, and deploy it? Many are asking if the coding profession is on borrowed time.

History tells us that when building becomes easier, the world needs more builders. E-commerce opened new markets, so more people started selling. Cloud computing widened what was possible, so businesses built more software. AI is now bringing that same expansion to software development. It makes code easier to produce and puts more value into the decisions that can’t be automated away. That is the human part.

AI will eliminate the idea that a developer’s value is typing code. The developer role is evolving into something broader and more strategic: software engineering. Great engineers define the problem, design for resilience, and embrace system-level thinking. They guide and validate complex architecture to ensure the product is safe and accurate for customers. High-quality engineers know when a feature is ready and when an AI-generated answer is wrong. They understand when a faster release creates more risk. That judgment is still important.

Together, AI and developers can turn more good ideas into secure, reliable, and valued products. At Synchrony, we’re already seeing this happen. In early pilots with our engineering teams, busywork and rework has shrunk and quality risen, with an estimated 25% faster delivery, 30% fewer defects, 120% more unit tests, and nearly 40% fewer security vulnerabilities.

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