The rise of Artificial Intelligence (AI) has sparked concerns about the future of coding jobs, with some fearing that automation could replace human coders. However, C Vijayakumar, CEO of HCL Tech, disagrees, stating that fundamental programming concepts will remain essential in the software development world. While AI can enhance productivity, human validation is still crucial, and skills like logic, prompting, and communication are vital to get the most out of AI tools.
According to Vijayakumar, coding skills will not become redundant, and IT firms will continue to need professionals with strong programming concepts. Gartner’s latest report supports this view, predicting that companies will increasingly differentiate between candidates who can think independently and those who rely too heavily on machine-generated output. By 2026, nearly 50% of global organizations will require “AI-free” skills assessments to protect the “human edge” in decision-making and adaptability.
The future of IT talent is at a crossroads, with AI mainstreaming potentially leading to significant job losses or creation. A report by NITI Aayog, the public policy think tank of the Government of India, suggests that the tech services sector could lose 1.5 million jobs or create up to four million new opportunities by 2031, depending on the ability to capitalize on AI-driven opportunities. To mitigate the negative impacts, the report recommends collaboration between government, academia, and industry to build an AI workforce that can “build AI” and “use AI.”
This collaboration could establish India as a global talent hub for AI, contributing to the advancement and shaping of AI for global needs. The report emphasizes the importance of building a skilled AI workforce, which will be essential for creating a trusted AI-augmented services hub that can build the world’s AI backbone. Ultimately, while AI will undoubtedly change the nature of coding jobs, it is unlikely to replace the need for skilled human coders and programmers. Instead, AI will augment human capabilities, and professionals with strong programming concepts, logic, and communication skills will be in high demand.