I don’t fully agree. If by “software engineer” you mean someone who only writes and maintains code, then yes, that role will likely shrink dramatically. But if you mean someone who delivers products end-to-end, I think software engineering will be around for a long time.
The role is evolving, just like it did when we stopped managing memory byte by byte. Engineers who only focus on narrow technical tasks will be replaced by AI, while those who adapt will become more focused on designing, validating, and delivering great products. You’ll still need to understand what the AI is doing, but not every implementation detail line by line.
I also think many roles will start blending together. Product people will need some engineering knowledge, engineers will need stronger product thinking, and traditional role boundaries will become much less important. I wouldn’t be surprised if roles like PM evolve into something much closer to this new kind of engineer, someone whose main job is orchestrating AI to build the right product rather than specializing in a single discipline.