Waze cofounder Uri Levine envisions a future in which Artificial Intelligence drives increased demand for software engineers rather than making their roles obsolete. In a recent interview, Levine told Business Insider that far from reducing opportunities, the productivity enhancements introduced by Artificial Intelligence will actually create a greater need for engineers to help organizations better leverage these new technologies. He argued that fears about extinction of the profession are misplaced and that the next wave of technological progress will result in companies seeking even more engineering talent.
Levine´s perspective comes as tech firms increasingly promote their use of Artificial Intelligence tools that can generate code—once a primary task for many junior engineers. The industry has seen instability, with some companies slowing hiring or scaling back engineering teams, and job seekers reacting with everything from lucrative referral offers to pursuing ´panic´ graduate degrees. Nevertheless, Levine maintains that the current hiring lull is a temporary response, often due to companies’ uncertainty in how best to utilize engineering talent in this evolving environment. Long-term, he expects firms will resume and increase hiring as they integrate Artificial Intelligence more deeply into operations.
His viewpoint is echoed by Okta CEO Todd McKinnon, who has said software engineers will only become more numerous as technology advances. Both leaders point to history and the ´infinite demand for automation´ as evidence that productivity tools tend to expand, not contract, workforce needs. Levine also notes that while coding remains a useful skill, adaptability has overtaken it as the most critical trait for tech workers. As Artificial Intelligence reshapes but does not replace engineering work, success hinges on the ability to adapt rapidly, embrace learning from mistakes, and apply sound judgment—qualities Levine says matter more than ever in a fast-changing digital world.
