Zuckerberg Predicts AI Could Replace Human Coders in 18 Months
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| Created by Dinesh |
Just a couple of years ago, AI coding tools like GitHub Copilot and ChatGPT were seen as helpful sidekicks for developers — tools that boosted productivity. Today, they're being talked about as possible replacements. There's no need to panic, but it's clear that AI is already doing a big part of software development. Even top tech CEOs around the world are praising its growing role.
30% of Code Already Written by AI — And Growing Fast
According to Sundar Pichai, the CEO of Google, more than 30% of the new code written at the company is now created with the help of AI. That’s a big jump — up from 25% in October 2024. In just six months, AI-generated code at Google grew by 5%. This isn’t a slow shift — it’s moving fast.
At Microsoft, the story is similar. CEO Satya Nadella shared that 30% of their code is now written by AI too. In fact, he even told Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg that some of their projects might be written "entirely by software."
Meta’s Llama Project: 100% AI-Generated Code Soon?
Mark Zuckerberg is pushing AI automation as far as it can go. In a talk with Dwarkesh Patel, he said that Meta is building its own AI coding tools to help with the Llama AI project. These tools are being made to take full control of the work in the near future.
“I think sometime in the next 12 to 18 months, we will reach the point where most of these codes that are going towards these efforts [Meta’s Llama projects] will be written by AI,” he said.
Zuckerberg added that today’s AI is already as good as a mid-level engineer, and soon, it will be better than the top coders in the company.
“If you give it a goal, it can run tests, it can find issues, it will write higher quality code than an average very good person on the team already.”
He made it clear this isn’t about autocomplete anymore. Meta’s vision is to let AI handle the entire software lifecycle — from goal-setting to testing to deployment.
Others Agree: AI Will Dominate Coding Within Months
It’s not just Meta, Microsoft, or Google. Other top AI leaders are echoing the same message. Dario Amodei, CEO of Anthropic, predicted in March 2025 that:
“Within 3–6 months, 90% of code will be generated by AI… and by the end of the year, all code will be.”
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman also revealed that in some companies, over 50% of the code is already written by AI. This convergence of predictions across multiple companies isn’t coincidental — it’s a signal that the shift is already happening.
Companies Are Already Replacing Humans with AI
This isn’t just about AI assisting humans. In some companies, AI is already taking human jobs — and not just entry-level ones. At Duolingo, CEO Luis von Ahn announced that the company will gradually replace human contractors with AI, stating:
“We’ll gradually stop using (human) contractors to do work that AI can handle.”
At Shopify, the shift is even more aggressive. CEO Tobias Lütke has made it clear that AI is now the default team member. He told employees that no new hire should be approved unless they can prove that AI can’t do the job.
“Before asking for more headcount and resources, teams must demonstrate why they cannot get what they want done using AI.”
He added that this expectation applies to every role — even top leadership:
“Reflexive AI usage is now a baseline expectation at Shopify.”
So, Will AI Replace Developers?
It already is — at least partially. And if the trend continues, we’re moving toward a reality where:
- AI writes most or all of the code
- Human engineers become system designers, reviewers, or prompt writers
- Junior developer roles get squeezed out
- Teams are smaller, faster, and more AI-driven
What used to be a tool is quickly becoming a team member. And soon, it could be the lead engineer.
But There’s a Catch…
While many CEOs frame AI as a productivity booster, the data shows it’s rapidly absorbing actual job functions. The narrative that AI will “just assist” developers is becoming harder to defend when executives are already shifting budgets away from hiring humans.
Yes, there will always be a need for critical thinkers, architects, and ethical oversight — but the bulk of hands-on keyboard coding? That future is being handed over to machines.
Final Thoughts: The Next 12 Months Will Define the Next 12 Years
Zuckerberg says AI will write 100% of the code for Meta’s flagship AI project within 18 months. Anthropic thinks 90% of all code will be AI-generated by the end of 2025. Pichai and Nadella have already crossed the 30% threshold.
The momentum is real. Developers who embrace this shift, learn to collaborate with AI, and evolve their roles will thrive. Those who resist or ignore it might find themselves competing with code-writing bots that never sleep, never forget, and never burn out.
This isn’t sci-fi — it’s already here.
Human Developers vs AI Developers (2024–2025+)
| Aspect | Human Developers (2024) | AI Developers (2025+) |
|---|---|---|
| Code Creation | 100% Human | 30%–90% AI-generated (depends on company) |
| Speed | Depends on skill & experience | Near-instantaneous for repetitive tasks |
| Cost | High (salary, benefits, etc.) | Lower operational cost once deployed |
| Creativity & System Design | High | Limited, but improving |
| Error Detection & Testing | Manual effort | Automated, fast iterations |
| Availability | 8–10 hours/day | 24/7, no fatigue |
| Learning Curve | Years of education & experience | Trained on billions of code examples |
| Ethical Reasoning | Human-led | Needs human oversight |
| Collaboration | With humans | As tool or team member |
| Future Role | System architect, reviewer, strategist | Code generator, tester, deployer |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Is AI going to replace all software developers?
2. What is the percentage of code written by AI?
4. What are the benefits of implementing AI in coding?
AI tools assist programmers with:
- Automating repetitive tasks.
- Suggesting improvements to code.
- Writing sections of code faster than human developers
- Handling routine testing and debugging processes .This permits programmers to concentrate on more significant problem analysis and creativity.
5. Can AI help in any kind of programming language?
Yes, AI tools can help with many programming languages like Python, JavaScript, Java, C++, and more. As AI keeps improving, it will be able to work with even more languages and frameworks.
6. What are the different ways in which AI is involved in the Meta Llama project?
Meta is creating its own AI tools to support the Llama AI project. These tools will help with every part of software development, including writing, testing, fixing issues, and deploying the code. Zuckerberg believes that in 18 months, AI will be able to generate 100% of the Llama project's code on its own.
7. Already, is AI replacing any jobs in tech companies?
Yes, AI is already taking over some jobs in companies like Duolingo and Shopify. These companies use AI to replace tasks that were usually done by contractors or junior developers. This helps them save money and work more efficiently with fewer employees.
8. What will AI do regarding the market for developers?
While AI’s growth in software development may lead to job loss in some areas, entry-level jobs may stay the same. People who learn how to work with AI tools will still be in demand, especially for jobs that need creativity, problem-solving, and ethical thinking.
9. So how much faster is AI going to change the landscape in software development?
AI's impact on software development is growing fast and is already quite significant. By 2025, experts say that AI could write 90% or more of the code at some companies, changing the way development teams work.