Mark Zuckerberg says in 18 months coding will be done by AI

Mark Zuckerberg says in 18 months coding will be done by AI, it will be better than work of most engineers

In a recent conversation with Dwarkesh Patel, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg shared a bold prediction: within the next 12 to 18 months, artificial intelligence (AI) will be responsible for writing the majority of Meta's code, surpassing the capabilities of most human engineers. (AI will do the job of mid-level engineers in 2025 at Meta, says Mark Zuckerberg)

AI's Advancing Role in Software Development

Zuckerberg emphasized that AI is evolving beyond simple code autocompletion. He envisions AI systems capable of autonomously running tests, identifying bugs, and producing high-quality code that exceeds the performance of even top-tier human developers. This shift is already underway at Meta, particularly within the Llama project, where AI is being integrated into the company's development tools. (AI now writes a big chunk of code at Microsoft and Google — and it could be coming for even more at Meta)

Industry-Wide Adoption of AI in Coding

Meta is not alone in this transition. Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella revealed that AI now writes between 20% and 30% of the code for some of the company's projects, depending on the programming language. Similarly, Google CEO Sundar Pichai stated that over 30% of new code at Google is AI-generated, an increase from 25% in October. (AI now writes a big chunk of code at Microsoft and Google — and it could be coming for even more at Meta)

Implications for the Software Engineering Workforce

The growing reliance on AI for coding tasks raises questions about the future of software engineering roles. Zuckerberg noted that AI at Meta is already matching the capabilities of mid-level software engineers, suggesting that AI could effectively replace these positions by 2025. This trend indicates a shift in the responsibilities of human engineers, who may need to focus more on higher-level problem-solving and oversight of AI-generated code.

Preparing for an AI-Driven Future

As AI continues to take on more complex coding tasks, the role of human engineers is expected to evolve. Rather than performing routine coding duties, engineers may increasingly engage in strategic planning, creative problem-solving, and supervising AI systems. This transition underscores the importance of adaptability and continuous learning in the tech industry.