AI won't replace developers, it'll just let Karen in accounting prompt away Bob's entire client base with disposable ChatGPT scripts

The discourse surrounding AI replacing developers has become misdirected, with two camps debating the issue. Meanwhile, a more significant concern is emerging: developer irrelevance. The market no longer requires as many developers as it used to, not because AI has replaced them, but because the gap they filled is closing from a different direction. For instance, Karen, a small restaurant chain owner, can now use ChatGPT to solve problems that previously required a developer like Bob, who runs a small development shop. With AI-generated tools, Karen can treat code as consumable, regenerating it as needed, rather than maintaining it. This shift affects 95% of developers who work on simple tasks like building CRUD apps or integrating APIs, which AI is becoming proficient in handling. As a result, the profession may split into complexity surgeons and literate business users, with the latter treating code like disposable spreadsheet cells.