Latest news with #CursorChat
Indian Express
5 days ago
- Business
- Indian Express
The tech job market is changing: Here's what software engineers need to know in 2025
Artificial intelligence is becoming the new reality of the job market. If you are aiming to become a software engineer—or aspire to be one—you should expect that automation and intelligent systems will be an integral part of the workplace by the time you are ready to start your first job. In fact, according to estimates, 60 per cent of current jobs will require significant adaptation due to AI. This means that to remain competitive, you will need more than just critical thinking skills—you will also need digital fluency and a solid understanding of AI. For those already in the workforce, AI will play a crucial role in reinventing careers. As the job market is rapidly changing and new roles are emerging, here are five key shifts that every software engineer should know about. For years, the process of writing computer programs—also known as coding—was done entirely by humans. But AI is now changing the landscape of software development. Today, it's possible to write code using only a text prompt, thanks to generative AI tools like ChatGPT. This marks a major departure from traditional coding methods, where code generation tools were largely structured and domain-specific. The new approach has been referred to as 'vibe coding' by Andrej Karpathy, an OpenAI co-founder who previously led AI efforts at Tesla. Vibe coding focuses on the 'vibe' of the software rather than the code itself. This means you no longer need to master programming languages or understand complex data structures—a simple natural language prompt can do the trick. Vibe coding relies on standard patterns in technical language, which AI systems use to assemble original code from their training data. With tools like GitHub Copilot or CursorChat, you can input a few prompts and let the AI do the job. As vibe coding gains more prominence, it could signal a gradual shift toward using natural language as a viable tool for developing certain types of software. However, don't expect vibe coding to replace experienced software engineers or developers anytime soon. Still, as AI models continue to improve, vibe coding may further blur the line between AI and human programmers. If you look at what's currently happening at Silicon Valley's top tech companies—and even at Indian IT firms—they are no longer announcing sudden layoffs or letting people go abruptly, as they did two years ago. Those high-profile exits often triggered PR disasters and damaged company morale. Instead, many companies are now opting for silent layoffs or quiet firing, a more calculated approach where roles are made less desirable—often targeting employees over the age of 40, for example—thereby demotivating them to the point that they choose to resign on their own. It's all happening, but without making much noise. This new tactic allows companies to offer severance packages while requesting employees not to disclose the details of their exit. The goal of silent layoffs is to minimise public backlash and avoid drawing negative attention to the company. Although compensation in tech remains among the highest across industries, salaries for software engineers have stabilised. The days of a gold rush to hire engineers—with exponential pay increases driven by remote work demand and tech hiring booms—are largely over. Software engineers and data professionals are still in high demand, but salary growth has slowed compared to previous years. In fact, the salary gap between employees who stay in their roles and those who switch jobs has shrunk to its lowest level in 10 years, according to The Wall Street Journal, citing the latest federal data. As hiring budgets stall and companies put the brakes on internal 'moonshot' projects, the better-than-expected annual salary increase a tech worker can expect has diminished. Even Counteroffers that are still common in tech but are not as aggressive as they were during the hiring frenzy of the past few years. However, top-tier engineers—especially those with expertise in AI or cloud technologies—can still command premium compensation. The right skills are what you need to stand out from the crowd and land a job—especially when opportunities are limited and competition is sky-high. Simply switching jobs might no longer guarantee a better position as it once did, but having the right skills still can. AI and Machine Learning – Even if you are not from a computer science background, understanding how AI integrates into workflows is something you should know. Cloud and DevOps – Tech companies are paying top dollars if they have an expertise in cloud security, AWS/Azure platforms, and scalable infrastructure. Cybersecurity and Compliance – With increasing data hacks and changing regulations, security specialists are in high demand and can draw premium salaries. Data Storytelling and Analytics – Data is the new oil but insights are just as important for running a successful business. If you have a knack for numbers and know how to turn them into actionable strategies, you have a strong chance of succeeding in your career. Your career progress often depends on the nature of your new role. fsSome people take a new job for better long-term career opportunities, while others may be motivated by short-term financial gain. Whatever option you choose, always consider whether the company offers long-term stability or if it's hiring aggressively but cutting just as quickly. Also, think about whether the perks and flexibility are worth as much—or even more—than a higher base salary. Anuj Bhatia is a personal technology writer at who has been covering smartphones, personal computers, gaming, apps, and lifestyle tech actively since 2011. He specialises in writing longer-form feature articles and explainers on trending tech topics. His unique interests encompass delving into vintage tech, retro gaming and composing in-depth narratives on the intersection of history, technology, and popular culture. He covers major international tech conferences and product launches from the world's biggest and most valuable tech brands including Apple, Google and others. At the same time, he also extensively covers indie, home-grown tech startups. Prior to joining The Indian Express in late 2016, he served as a senior tech writer at My Mobile magazine and previously held roles as a reviewer and tech writer at Gizbot. Anuj holds a postgraduate degree from Banaras Hindu University. You can find Anuj on Linkedin. Email: ... Read More
Fast Company
08-06-2025
- Fast Company
Vibe coding lets anyone write software—but comes with risks
Whether you're streaming a show, paying bills online or sending an email, each of these actions relies on computer programs that run behind the scenes. The process of writing computer programs is known as coding. Until recently, most computer code was written, at least originally, by human beings. But with the advent of generative artificial intelligence, that has begun to change. Just as you can ask ChatGPT to spin up a recipe for a favorite dish or write a sonnet in the style of Lord Byron, now you can ask generative AI tools to write computer code for you. Andrej Karpathy, an OpenAI co-founder who previously led AI efforts at Tesla, recently termed this ' vibe coding.' For complete beginners or nontechnical dreamers, writing code based on vibes—feelings rather than explicitly defined information—could feel like a superpower. You don't need to master programming languages or complex data structures. A simple natural language prompt will do the trick. How it works Vibe coding leans on standard patterns of technical language, which AI systems use to piece together original code from their training data. Any beginner can use an AI assistant such as GitHub Copilot or Cursor Chat, put in a few prompts, and let the system get to work. Here's an example: 'Create a lively and interactive visual experience that reacts to music, user interaction, or real-time data. Your animation should include smooth transitions and colorful and lively visuals with an engaging flow in the experience. The animation should feel organic and responsive to the music, user interaction, or live data and facilitate an experience that is immersive and captivating. Complete this project using JavaScript or React, and allow for easy customization to set the mood for other experiences.' But AI tools do this without any real grasp of specific rules, edge cases, or security requirements for the software in question. This is a far cry from the processes behind developing production-grade software, which must balance trade-offs between product requirements, speed, scalability, sustainability, and security. Skilled engineers write and review the code, run tests, and establish safety barriers before going live. But while the lack of a structured process saves time and lowers the skills required to code, there are trade-offs. With vibe coding, most of these stress-testing practices go out the window, leaving systems vulnerable to malicious attacks and leaks of personal data. And there's no easy fix: If you don't understand every—or any—line of code that your AI agent writes, you can't repair the code when it breaks. Or worse, as some experts have pointed out, you won't notice when it's silently failing. The AI itself is not equipped to carry out this analysis either. It recognizes what 'working' code usually looks like, but it cannot necessarily diagnose or fix deeper problems that the code might cause or exacerbate. Why it matters Vibe coding could be just a flash-in-the-pan phenomenon that will fizzle before long, but it may also find deeper applications with seasoned programmers. The practice could help skilled software engineers and developers more quickly turn an idea into a viable prototype. It could also enable novice programmers or even amateur coders to experience the power of AI, perhaps motivating them to pursue the discipline more deeply. Vibe coding also may signal a shift that could make natural language a more viable tool for developing some computer programs. If so, it would echo early website editing systems known as WYSIWYG editors that promised designers 'what you see is what you get,' or 'drag-and-drop' website builders that made it easy for anyone with basic computer skills to launch a blog. For now, I don't believe that vibe coding will replace experienced software engineers, developers, or computer scientists. The discipline and the art are much more nuanced than what AI can handle, and the risks of passing off 'vibe code' as legitimate software are too great. But as AI models improve and become more adept at incorporating context and accounting for risk, practices like vibe coding might cause the boundary between AI and human programmer to blur further.
