Career Safety in the Age of AI Layoffs

In his recent article, Remo Jansen explores the evolving role of software engineers amidst the rise of AI-driven coding tools. He argues that the value of an engineer is shifting from the manual act of writing code to problem-solving, domain expertise, and product judgment. Rather than fearing obsolescence, Jansen suggests that developers should embrace AI as a tool to increase their leverage. He emphasizes that career safety is not about protecting specific tasks from automation, but about building portable value through deep industry knowledge, effective communication, and the ability to orchestrate AI agents. By moving up the abstraction layer—from implementation to architecture and system design—engineers can remain essential. Ultimately, the author concludes that coding was always a mechanism for creating value, not the destination itself, and that the future belongs to those who can use AI to solve complex business problems more efficiently.