The notion that software engineers are on the way out is a notion that has been circulating in the tech industry for quite some time. However, Todd McKinnon, the CEO of Okta, is not buying into it. McKinnon has expressed his skepticism towards the idea that software engineers will become obsolete in an interview with Business Insider. When asked if he thinks the job market for software engineers will continue to grow in the next few years, McKinnon responded with a resounding “Yes”. According to McKinnon, the AI revolution will lead to an increase in demand for software engineers in the coming years.

“In five years, there will be more software engineers than there are now,”

McKinnon said. This prediction is based on the fact that AI coding tools have taken over many of the responsibilities previously handled by entry-level workers, leading to a shift in the job market for software engineers. Despite this shift, McKinnon feels very confident about the future prospects of software engineers. He believes that the industry has faced similar challenges in the past, and that the demand for software engineers has always increased with each era of technological advancements.

\item The PC revolution
\item The rise of mobile devices

In each of these instances, McKinnon points out that the demand for software engineers has continued to rise, despite the introduction of new tools and technologies. He cites the example of compilers, which were tools that translated code into a language that computers could run, and how they didn’t lead to a decrease in the number of software engineers. \item “You could have said, ‘Todd, there are going to be no more software engineers, because compilers write 100% of the code. The general compilers generate every piece of binary code the computer runs,'”
\item “Instead, software engineers’moved up a level,’ and started writing syntax that made them more productive, McKinnon said.
The CEO also believes that AI will take on more of the “grunt work” and that software engineers will move up a level to focus on more complex problems and systems design. He predicts that this will lead to a new generation of software engineers, who will be building new products and services around the framework of AI. McKinnon’s views are in contrast to some other companies, such as Google and Salesforce, which have stated that they will not be hiring any engineers this year. However, McKinnon challenges these claims, saying that companies selling AI products and services need to demonstrate that they can boost client efficiency. He believes that these companies will eventually hire more software engineers to meet the growing demand for their services.

In conclusion, McKinnon’s predictions about the future of software engineers are based on his conviction that the demand for software engineers will continue to grow with each era of technological advancements. He believes that AI will take on more of the “grunt work” and that software engineers will move up a level to focus on more complex problems and systems design. While some companies may have differing views on the matter, McKinnon’s confidence in the future prospects of software engineers is unwavering. Just watch the data, McKinnon says.