In a groundbreaking revelation on the Joe Rogan Experience podcast, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced that artificial intelligence systems capable of performing the work of mid-level software engineers could arrive as soon as 2025. This development represents a seismic shift in the technology industry’s approach to software development and workforce composition.
Zuckerberg stated that Meta, along with other major tech companies, is actively developing AI systems that can “effectively be a sort of midlevel engineer that you have at your company that can write code.” The Meta chief executive envisions a future where AI-generated code becomes the norm, with artificial intelligence not only writing the code for Meta’s applications but also developing the AI systems themselves—creating a self-reinforcing cycle of AI development.
The financial implications are substantial. According to current salary tracking data, mid-level software engineers at Meta earn close to mid-six figures in total compensation. While Zuckerberg acknowledged that implementing these AI systems may initially be expensive, the long-term cost savings and efficiency gains could be transformative for the company’s operations.
This announcement comes during a week of significant changes at Meta. Just days before the podcast appearance, Zuckerberg announced on Tuesday that Meta would be replacing its third-party fact-checking system with a community notes approach similar to Elon Musk’s X (formerly Twitter). This decision has sparked controversy, with dozens of fact-checking organizations signing an open letter criticizing the move as “a step backward” for the platform.
Additionally, Meta is rolling back its diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives. In an internal memo posted on Meta’s Workplace platform, Vice President of Human Resources Janelle Gale confirmed that “We will no longer have a team focused on DEI,” marking another major policy shift for the social media giant.
The convergence of these announcements—AI automation of engineering roles, changes to content moderation, and restructuring of corporate initiatives—signals a broader transformation in Meta’s strategic direction and raises important questions about the future of work in the technology sector.
Key Quotes
Probably in 2025, we at Meta, as well as the other companies that are basically working on this, are going to have an AI that can effectively be a sort of midlevel engineer that you have at your company that can write code.
Mark Zuckerberg made this statement on the Joe Rogan Experience podcast, providing a specific timeline for when AI could replace human engineers. This matters because it’s one of the most concrete predictions from a major tech CEO about AI’s capability to automate highly skilled professional work.
We will no longer have a team focused on DEI.
Janelle Gale, Meta’s Vice President of Human Resources, announced this in an internal memo on Meta’s Workplace platform. This statement is significant as it represents a major policy shift occurring simultaneously with Meta’s push toward AI automation, raising questions about the company’s broader workforce strategy.
Our Take
Zuckerberg’s announcement is remarkable not just for its ambition, but for its timing and specificity. By naming 2025—less than a year away—he’s making a falsifiable prediction that will either cement or damage his credibility on AI capabilities. The irony is striking: as Meta eliminates human-focused programs like DEI, it’s simultaneously working to eliminate the need for human engineers altogether. This suggests a vision of Meta as an increasingly automated company with fewer human employees across all levels. The real question isn’t whether AI can write code—current systems already do—but whether it can handle the complexity, creativity, and judgment required for production-level engineering. If Zuckerberg is right, we’re witnessing the beginning of a profound transformation in how software is created. If he’s overpromising, it reveals how AI hype may be influencing major corporate decisions.
Why This Matters
Zuckerberg’s prediction represents a watershed moment for the AI industry and the future of software development. If Meta and other tech giants successfully deploy AI systems capable of performing mid-level engineering work by 2025, it could fundamentally reshape the technology job market and accelerate the pace of AI development exponentially.
The implications extend far beyond Meta’s workforce. Coding has been considered one of the most valuable and secure career paths for the past two decades, with millions of professionals and students investing heavily in developing these skills. The prospect of AI automation reaching this level of sophistication challenges assumptions about which jobs are safe from automation and could trigger a broader reevaluation of career planning and education priorities.
For businesses, this development promises significant cost savings and potentially faster development cycles, but also raises questions about quality control, security vulnerabilities, and the loss of human creativity in software design. The self-reinforcing nature of AI writing code for AI systems could lead to unprecedented acceleration in AI capabilities, though it also introduces new risks around transparency and control. This announcement, combined with Meta’s other policy shifts, suggests the company is positioning itself for a more AI-centric, automated future.
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