AI agents aren't replacing software engineering but expanding it far beyond code, researchers argue

THE DECODER / 4/26/2026

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Key Points

  • A new paper by researchers at Chalmers University of Technology and the Volvo Group argues that AI agents will not replace software engineering or make developers obsolete.
  • The researchers contend that AI will expand software engineering’s scope well beyond writing and editing code.
  • The article challenges the common narrative that increasing automation directly reduces developer work, suggesting instead a shift in what developers do.
  • The paper frames AI agents as augmenting and broadening the discipline, implying new responsibilities and workflows for engineering teams.

The popular story goes that AI agents are swallowing up more programming work and developers are headed for obsolescence. A new paper from researchers at Chalmers University of Technology and the Volvo Group argues that view misses the mark.

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