The artificial intelligence boom is fundamentally reshaping the software development landscape, creating new career opportunities even as it disrupts traditional tech roles. Kesha Williams, head of enterprise architecture and engineering at Slalom, exemplifies this transformation. After 30 years in tech and contemplating retirement, the generative AI revolution has reignited her passion for the industry.
In a November virtual roundtable hosted by Business Insider, Williams joined six other developers from major tech companies including Amazon, Meta, Anaconda, and others to discuss AI’s impact on software development careers. While AI coding tools have led to decreased hiring in some traditional tech positions, they’ve simultaneously opened entirely new career pathways.
The emergence of “AI engineer” roles represents one of the most significant developments in the past two to three years. According to Shruti Kapoor, a lead member of technical staff at Slack, this position sits between machine-learning engineer and traditional software engineer roles. “I’m starting to see more and more companies where ‘AI engineer’ is one of the top-paying jobs available for software engineers,” Kapoor noted.
The financial incentives are substantial. Data from Levels.fyi, a compensation comparison platform for tech workers, reveals that over the past two years, entry-level AI engineers earn 8% more than their non-AI counterparts, while senior AI engineers command nearly 11% higher salaries.
Internal career transitions are becoming increasingly common. Neeraj Verma, head of applied AI at Nice, reported that over 20% of developers at his company have moved to AI-related positions in the past two years, with approximately 100 becoming experts in prompt engineering. Nice has created dedicated training programs to facilitate these internal career shifts, enabling senior developers with strong coding abilities to apply their skills in innovative ways.
The AI job landscape extends beyond engineering roles to encompass machine-learning engineers, prompt engineers, and AI researchers. Importantly, Kapoor emphasized that AI engineering doesn’t necessarily require a specific tech background—professionals from accounting, product management, and other sectors have successfully pivoted into AI roles.
However, the rapid pace of change means today’s hot jobs may evolve quickly. Igor Ostrovsky, cofounder of Augment, predicts that software development will transform more rapidly in the next five years than ever before. Even prompt engineering, which saw explosive demand in 2023, may become obsolete as AI models learn to optimize their own prompts. The key to career longevity, developers agree, lies in adaptability, continuous learning, and creative problem-solving abilities.
Key Quotes
I’ve been in tech for 30 years, and before gen AI, I was ready to retire. I think I’ll stay around just to see where this goes.
Kesha Williams, head of enterprise architecture and engineering at Slalom, captures how the AI revolution has reinvigorated veteran tech professionals, transforming potential retirement into renewed career enthusiasm.
One of the biggest things I’ve noticed in the last two to three years is the rise of a job title called ‘AI engineer,’ which did not exist before, and it’s kind of in between a machine-learning engineer and a traditional software engineer.
Shruti Kapoor from Slack identifies the emergence of an entirely new career category that bridges traditional software development with machine learning, representing one of the most significant structural changes in tech hiring.
Software development will change in five years much more rapidly than anything we’ve seen before. How you architect, develop, test, and maintain software — that will all change, and how exactly you interact with AI will also evolve.
Igor Ostrovsky, cofounder of Augment, emphasizes the unprecedented pace of transformation ahead, warning that current AI interaction methods may become obsolete within years, making adaptability the most valuable skill.
I think prompt engineering is more of a sign that some developers have the desire to learn and are eager to figure out how to interact with artificial intelligence, but it won’t necessarily be how you interact with AI in three years or five years.
Ostrovsky’s observation about prompt engineering highlights how even newly created AI jobs may have limited lifespans, as AI systems become sophisticated enough to handle tasks that currently require human expertise.
Our Take
This roundtable discussion reveals a paradox at the heart of AI’s impact on employment: the same technology threatening traditional software development jobs is creating lucrative new opportunities for those willing to adapt. The 8-11% salary premium for AI engineers reflects genuine scarcity in a market where demand vastly outpaces supply. What’s particularly noteworthy is the democratization of access—workers from non-technical backgrounds can transition into AI roles, suggesting that domain expertise and problem-solving abilities may matter more than pure coding skills. However, the potential obsolescence of prompt engineering serves as a cautionary tale: in the AI era, no specialization is permanent. The real winners will be those who embrace perpetual learning and view their careers as continuous evolution rather than linear progression. Companies must balance investing in current AI skills while preparing for technologies that don’t yet exist—a challenging but necessary strategic imperative.
Why This Matters
This story highlights a critical inflection point in the technology industry where AI is simultaneously disrupting and creating career opportunities. The emergence of AI engineer roles with premium compensation packages—up to 11% higher for senior positions—signals a fundamental shift in how companies value technical skills. The fact that 20% of developers at Nice have transitioned to AI roles in just two years demonstrates the velocity of this transformation.
For businesses, this trend underscores the urgency of upskilling existing talent rather than solely recruiting externally. Companies like Nice that invest in training programs position themselves competitively in the AI talent war. For workers, the message is clear: adaptability trumps specialization. The potential obsolescence of prompt engineering jobs—once considered cutting-edge—illustrates how quickly AI skills can evolve. This creates both opportunity and anxiety, as professionals must commit to continuous learning to remain relevant. The broader implication is that AI isn’t just automating tasks; it’s fundamentally restructuring career trajectories, compensation models, and the very definition of valuable technical expertise in the modern economy.
Recommended Reading
For those interested in learning more about artificial intelligence, machine learning, and effective AI communication, here are some excellent resources:
Recommended Reading
Related Stories
- The Impact of AI on Software Engineering Jobs and Market Outlook
- Tech Workers Are the Real Winners in the AI Talent War, With Pay Set to Soar by 2024
- Sam Altman’s Bold AI Predictions: AGI, Jobs, and the Future by 2025
- Cornerstone Unveils AI-Powered Platform for Employee Career Growth by 2024
- Microsoft Pay Data Reveals Significant Salary Premiums for AI Workers