After 18 years of professional coding, I'm convinced my job won't exist in 10 years.

Not because the industry is dying - but because it's evolving faster than most developers realize. Here's what I'm doing about it (and why you should care):

The AI Wake-Up Call

The wake-up call came gradually, then all at once.

First, GitHub Copilot started finishing my functions before I could think them through. Then GPT-4 began writing entire components I would have spent hours writing.

The pattern was clear: AI wasn't just helping developers - it was replacing entire categories of development work. Code that once took days to write was being generated in seconds. Debugging sessions that would consume afternoons were being resolved in minutes with AI assistance.

I watched as junior developers leveraged these tools to produce work that would have previously required years of experience. The writing was on the wall.

The Crossroads Decision

I had two choices:

• ❌ Deny the change and hope my experience would protect me
• ✅ Evolve with the technology and find new ways to create value

I chose evolution.

Many of my colleagues doubled down on traditional development. They insisted that "real programming" couldn't be automated, that AI was just another overhyped trend that would fizzle out. I watched them dig their trenches deeper while the tide continued to rise.

Today, I run an AI agency building AI products for clients. I'm working with the wave instead of against it.

The Unexpected Advantage

But here's the twist: My coding background isn't becoming irrelevant - it's becoming my competitive advantage.

I understand what's possible, what's practical, and what's just AI hype. I can look at a business problem and quickly determine if AI is the right solution, and if so, which approach would work best.

The biggest opportunity isn't replacing developers.

It's bridging the gap between AI capabilities and business needs.

Most business owners see AI as magic. Most AI enthusiasts don't understand business constraints. I speak both languages, and that translator role has become increasingly valuable.

Building the Bridge

This is why over the summer I'm building a course teaching AI to non-technical business owners.

They don't need to code. They need to understand:

• What AI can actually do for their business
• How to evaluate AI solutions
• How to implement AI without getting burned

The demand for this knowledge is enormous. Business leaders know they need to incorporate AI, but they're paralyzed by technical complexity and fear of making expensive mistakes.

By distilling my technical knowledge into business-friendly language, I'm creating value that pure AI enthusiasts or traditional developers can't match.

The Ultimate Lesson

The irony? My 18 years of coding taught me the most important lesson:

Technology is just a tool. The real value is in solving human problems.

AI is the most powerful tool we've ever had. But it still needs humans who understand problems worth solving.

When I look back at my career, the most valuable projects weren't the ones with the cleanest code or cleverest algorithms. They were the ones that solved real human problems effectively. That fundamental truth hasn't changed - and won't change, even as AI transforms how we implement solutions.

A Message to Fellow Developers

To my fellow developers reading this:

Your coding skills aren't obsolete. They're your foundation for the next phase.

But clinging to syntax and frameworks while ignoring AI is like being a typewriter repair expert in 1995. You might be the best in a rapidly shrinking field.

Instead, leverage your understanding of systems, logic, and problem-solving to become an AI-augmented developer. Your knowledge of what makes good code will help you prompt, direct, and validate AI-generated solutions.

The developers who thrive won't be those who memorized the most syntax - they'll be those who can orchestrate AI to build more complex, powerful solutions than any individual could create alone.

A Warning to Business Owners

To business owners:

AI isn't coming for your industry - it's already here.

The question isn't whether you'll use AI. It's whether you'll understand it well enough to use it strategically before your competitors do.

You don't need to become a technical expert, but you do need enough understanding to make informed decisions. The companies that treat AI as a buzzword to sprinkle into marketing materials will be outpaced by those that truly grasp its potential.

The Future Belongs to Translators

The future belongs to those who can:

• Understand AI capabilities and limitations
• Bridge technical and business perspectives
• Adapt faster than the technology evolves
• Focus on human problems worth solving

The code will write itself. The strategy won't.

As we enter this new era, I've found unexpected peace in letting go of my identity as "just a programmer." What I do will change dramatically in the coming years, but the core of why I do it - solving problems with technology - remains unchanged.

The question isn't whether your job will change - it's whether you'll change with it.