AI Set to Surpass Software Engineers

Monzo co-founder and Y Combinator partner Tom Blomfield has sparked intense discussion with a bold prediction: AI could soon make software engineering jobs obsolete. Drawing a vivid comparison, Blomfield likened today’s coders to “well-paid farmers” on the brink of being replaced by the AI equivalent of a combine harvester.

In a recent blog and posts on X, he argued that AI coding tools are quickly surpassing human capabilities, challenging even those who once doubted their impact. Blomfield, who has extensively tested these technologies himself, described them as “astonishing.”

Looking ahead, he predicts that software teams may soon be made up entirely of AI agents—with humans initially supervising. Within five years, he expects some of these teams to operate autonomously, making traditional coding seem as old-fashioned as driving vintage cars for fun.

But Blomfield warns this disruption won’t stop with engineers. He sees it as a warning sign for other high-skilled professions—including medicine, law, accounting, and architecture—that could soon face similar upheaval.

While optimistic about AI’s potential to revolutionize healthcare and extend human life, he also raises concerns about the short-term fallout. Millions could find themselves displaced, he warns, and society remains largely unprepared for the speed and scale of what’s coming.