AI Apocalypse Tweets Are Everywhere—Here's What I'm Actually Seeing
Lately, my feed has been flooded with dramatic predictions: software engineering is dying, web development jobs will vanish in six months, and developers everywhere are in the midst of an identity crisis because "nobody writes code anymore" thanks to AI.
One tweet boldly claimed the end is just months away. Others paint a picture of doom, where traditional coding skills become obsolete overnight.
Yet amid the noise, there's a quieter, more grounded conversation happening—one about adaptation, evolution, and the enduring value of human expertise. As someone who's been building production-ready web applications for eight years, I see both sides clearly. Here's my take on where we really stand in this AI era, and why I'm more optimistic than pessimistic.
The Hype vs. Reality of AI in Web Development
The pessimists aren't entirely wrong to notice change. AI tools have transformed how code gets created. "Vibe coding"—describing what you want in natural language and letting AI generate an app—has made prototyping fun and fast, especially for personal projects.
But as one web dev expert pointed out in a recent 30-minute lecture to students, vibe coding has serious limits for client-facing, production-grade work. AI-generated code can include deprecated functions, outdated patterns, security gaps, or inefficient architecture. Without deep understanding, you're gambling on reliability, maintainability, and scalability.
The real shift isn't elimination—it's elevation. Developers who thrive will pivot from rote syntax memorization and boilerplate writing to higher-level roles:
- Debugging and refining AI output
- Orchestrating complex systems
- Ensuring code quality, performance, and security
- Architecting solutions that align with business goals
The ability to read, understand, and improve code remains incredibly valuable—perhaps more than ever.
My Own Journey and the Client Perspective
With eight years of hands-on experience across languages, frameworks, and the full development lifecycle (many apps live in production), I occasionally feel the same uncertainty. What if my skills become "deprecated," like that old syntax we replace with modern alternatives?
Then I close Twitter-X, open my inbox, and respond to real client requests—feature updates, performance tweaks, redesigns. The work keeps coming.
Clients still value a knowledgeable partner who can cut through the AI hype. The web is full of flashy promises: "Build your site in minutes—no code needed!" It echoes the DIY website builders that exploded over a decade ago (and have improved since). I tried them myself back then and quickly saw the trade-offs: limited customization, poor performance, and frustrating constraints when needs grow beyond basics.
Many small business owners start with high hopes, build something quick, then abandon it. The result? Neglected sites that look dated and hurt their brand. I reach out to these folks, offering modern, maintainable solutions that truly represent their business online.
Yes, I use AI every day—it's an incredible accelerator. But the biggest risk isn't the tool; it's operator error. If you don't know what to ask, what good output looks like, or how to fix issues, frustration follows.
It's like when I lived in Switzerland and learned German as an expat. I could prepare questions, but real conversations threw curveballs I wasn't ready for. AI is similar: it spits out code, but without context and expertise, you can't tell if it's brilliant or broken.
Living in the Present: Why Skilled Developers Still Matter
Business owners have finite time. Most would rather focus on serving customers than wrestling with AI prompts, debugging hallucinations, or learning platform quirks to save a few bucks.
In the present—and for the foreseeable future—there's real demand for experienced developers who deliver reliable, high-quality results. AI augments us; it doesn't replace the judgment, creativity, and accountability we bring.
My advice? Limit the doom-scrolling on social media. The pessimistic prophecies make for viral tweets, but they don't reflect the day-to-day reality of clients who need trustworthy web solutions.
Final Thoughts
AI is reshaping web development, but it's not the end—it's an evolution. Tools like these make us faster and more capable, but human expertise remains the difference between a quick hack and a production-ready application that drives real business value.
If you're a business owner tired of abandoned DIY sites or wrestling with AI on your own, let's talk. With years of proven experience and smart use of modern tools, I help clients build web presences that last—professional, performant, and future-ready.
The future isn't here yet. Let's build something great in the present.
If everything seems under control, you're just not going fast enough. - Mario Andretti