Software Engineers Are Finished. I'm One of Them.

12 years as a software engineer, and I can't help but feel engineers are cooked. Not now. Give it five to ten years. For now we're fine. AI's made software cheaper, so companies are building more of it, clearing the backlog, still hiring. But I don't think it lasts. The models keep getting better and cheaper to run, and juniors get hit first, because the small tickets we used to train them on are bread and butter for AI. Then it moves up the chain. Mid-level, then seniors. The value isn't in the code anymore. It's in understanding what's going on. This is the first Thoughts in the Motor. Me, my morning drive, whatever's on my mind. Unpolished. Would you tell someone to become a software engineer in 2026? Yes or no, and why? I'm replying to every comment. And help me name the series. Thoughts in the Motor, or something better? If you found this video useful, please do like and subscribe. It helps massively. CHAPTERS 0:00 Cold open 0:22 For now 1:54 It won't last 2:37 Juniors first 3:32 12 years in 6:32 Not the code 8:05 Outsourced thinking 9:24 Dark out here 10:20 What's next TO BE FAIR The five to ten years is my gut, not a forecast. Right now the data says engineers aren't being replaced yet. I went through it here:    • AI Writes 75% of Google's New Code. Are So...   #SoftwareEngineer #AI #ThoughtsInTheMotor Business enquiries: contact@madebymhs.com