Vibe coding trends spark debate over the future of software engineering

The rise of ‘vibe coding’—the process of generating software through Large Language Model (LLM) prompts—is sparking debate regarding the future of software engineering. While some argue AI makes development significantly easier, others fear it may lead to the replacement of human engineers. Gartner has predicted that 60% of organizations will adopt smaller software engineering teams by 2029, up from 15% this year, as AI boosts productivity.

However, data suggests a discrepancy between industry perception and actual practice. While a Stack Overflow 2025 Developer Survey indicates that 84% of developers use AI tools, only 15.19% of respondents reported that prompt-led development, or vibe coding, is part of their professional work. This suggests that many developers use AI for minor tasks, such as explaining error messages, rather than for primary code generation.

Experts note that while AI can automate certain tasks, it still produces errors and security risks that require experienced engineers to identify. Rather than simple replacement, some companies are using AI to shift roles; for example, IKEA retrained customer service staff to become interior design advisors following the introduction of an AI chatbot.