Intel / article

Feeling sad about AI

Source: simonwillison.net
Date: Published Sep 11, 2026

Context

Simon Willison argues that faster code generation changes where experienced software developers contribute value. In his comment about feeling displaced by AI, he describes the discouragement of seeing an complete familiar work quickly, then points to the broader engineering problems that remain after translating a precise specification into code.

His argument is that existing experience helps developers use agents effectively and address those wider problems. It is a perspective on adapting professional skills: becoming less distinctive at one implementation task need not erase the value of accumulated engineering judgment.

Terms in this piece · Glossary

AI agent — An AI system that doesn't just answer once but works toward a goal in a loop — taking actions, reading the results, and deciding what to do next.
agent skill — A reusable instruction file that teaches an agent how to do one job well — the procedure, the tools, and what counts as done.

Read the source simonwillison.net